Business Insights from Italy, published by The European House – Ambrosetti in collaboration with important Italian institutions, offers updates on the national macroeconomic scenario, the main industrial sectors, and policies aimed at foreign investors.
The August 2026 edition delves into the latest data on the Italian economy, the new hyper-depreciation scheme, and the specialised infrastructure construction sector.
The Italian economy maintains a positive trajectory
In the second quarter of 2026, Italian GDP grew by 0.2% compared to the previous quarter and by 1.0% year-on-year, accelerating from the 0.8% recorded in the first quarter.
Annual growth was in line with that of the euro area and above the levels recorded in France and Germany. The quarterly performance was mainly supported by the services sector and domestic demand, which more than offset the negative contribution of net exports.
The better-than-expected result also led to an upward revision of the acquired growth for 2026, from 0.6% to 0.8%.
At the same time, over the last ten years, Italy has strengthened its ability to attract greenfield investments: the number and overall value of announced projects have increased, as well as their average size, indicating a growing capacity to attract larger and more capital-intensive investments.
New hyper-depreciation for investments
Among the measures recently introduced to support businesses, this edition delves into the new hyper-depreciation scheme, provided for by the 2026 Budget Law.
The measure aims to strengthen the productive capacity of companies, while simultaneously supporting their digital transformation and transition to more energy-efficient systems. Eligible investments can be made between 1st January 2026 and 30th September 2028.
The incentive provides for an increase in the tax-deductible cost of 180% for the investment portion up to 2.5 million euros, 100% for the portion between 2.5 and 10 million, and 50% between 10 and 20 million euros.
The measure concerns investments in goods intended for technological and digital transformation and in new goods for the self-production of energy from renewable sources intended for self-consumption.
The sector of specialised infrastructures
The sector focus for August is dedicated to specialised infrastructure construction, which includes high value-added activities such as tunnels and underground works, bridges and viaducts, railway and underground infrastructures, geotechnics and hydraulic works.
The sector generates approximately 40 billion euros in revenue and has recorded a growth of 61% between 2021 and 2024. Italian companies are present in 73 countries, with 640 international projects and a total portfolio worth 104 billion euros.
Specialised engineering skills, international experience, and the increasing adoption of technologies such as BIM, digital twins, structural monitoring, and predictive maintenance contribute to the positioning of the sector in international markets.
The edition also includes an in-depth analysis of the favourable tax regime for new residents in Italy and the tools available for international investors.