On April 3rd, INSME Secretary General Giovanni Zazzerini took part in a panel discussion organized by Confapi Padova, in collaboration with Microsoft Italy—a gathering of key players in the digital innovation ecosystem of Italy’s small and medium-sized industrial sector. The event, hosted at the Infocamere headquarters in Padua was dedicated to exploring how Artificial Intelligence and digital solutions can enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness for SMEs. Together with experts from Microsoft, Var Group, and representatives of leading institutions in technology transfer, participants engaged in a dialogue focused on actionable strategies and innovation opportunities.
Titled The Digital Future of SMEs – Artificial Intelligence, Data Management, Process Automation, the event shed light on the transformative potential of AI for smaller businesses. In his remarks, Zazzerini addressed the persistent gap between large corporations and SMEs in adopting AI technologies. He emphasized that, while smaller enterprises may lag behind, AI offers a tangible opportunity to unlock gains in productivity, competitiveness, and innovation. However, this transformation requires a thoughtful and realistic approach. He advocated for starting with small, low-cost pilot projects that allow companies to test and refine AI applications before scaling up. Zazzerini also highlighted the importance of building strategic partnerships with technology providers, academic institutions, and innovation experts to access specialized knowledge and capabilities that SMEs may not possess in-house. At the same time, he stressed the need to invest in the development of internal digital skills and to foster a company culture that embraces experimentation and continuous learning. A key theme of his intervention was the role of support ecosystems, in fact, networks, business associations, and public programs play a fundamental role in guiding SMEs through their digital transformation journey. INSME is firmly committed to this mission, acting as a connector between entrepreneurs, institutions, and innovation ecosystems both in Italy and internationally.
The event drew a broad and engaged audience of entrepreneurs, professionals, and institutional stakeholders, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of making advanced technologies like AI accessible and actionable for SMEs.
INSME’s participation reaffirmed its dedication to promoting inclusive innovation and supporting the digital resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises across borders.
Source: INSME Secretariat
