Artificial intelligence is shifting the rules of competition. The question is: are Italian businesses ready to enter the playing field?
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations produce, innovate, and compete. In a landscape dominated by large models developed by global tech giants, Italian companies can count on a distinctive asset: the wealth of data generated by their own activities, from production processes to supply chain relationships.
The Manifesto “IA: la partita è aperta” stems from this awareness. Created by the IFAB Foundation under the guidance of Professor Luciano Floridi and with the contribution of the International Scientific Board, the document proposes a concrete vision for AI adoption. This vision is based on leveraging proprietary data and strategically using open-source solutions to develop customized, controllable applications capable of generating real value.
Through analysis, use cases, and eleven operational recommendations, the Manifesto offers businesses tools and perspectives to approach innovation with greater awareness, turning the potential of artificial intelligence into a lasting competitive advantage.
The purpose of this Manifesto
Artificial intelligence is entering the production and organizational processes of companies at an increasingly rapid pace. Yet, especially within the fabric of Italian SMEs, it continues to be perceived as a complex, expensive technology, or one reserved only for large tech firms.
The Manifesto was created to overcome this vision and propose a different approach: AI is not a resource accessible only to those who develop the most advanced models, but a lever for innovation that is already available today to all organizations that know how to add value to their data and expertise.
Through analysis, concrete examples, and operational recommendations, the document shows how businesses can build a lasting competitive advantage by leveraging two strategic assets: proprietary data and open-source technologies. This is a journey that fits into the broader European context of innovation and technological sovereignty.
What you will find in the document
The Manifesto offers an updated overview of the main European strategies dedicated to artificial intelligence, exploring the role of new infrastructures, AI Factories, and initiatives that are contributing to the construction of an increasingly autonomous and competitive European ecosystem.
At the heart of this reflection is the value of proprietary data, a resource that companies produce every day through processes, products, and supply chain relationships. This is data that, if properly leveraged, can become the foundation for developing AI solutions that truly fit business needs.
The document also explores the contribution of open-source as an enabling factor for innovation, highlighting how code availability and freedom of customization can foster greater control, technological independence, and long-term sustainability.
From innovation to practice: the cases shared in the Manifesto
Alongside the analysis, there are application cases developed by companies within the IFAB network in the agrifood, manufacturing, services, and energy sectors, together with eleven recommendations developed by the Foundation’s International Scientific Board to guide businesses through all stages of artificial intelligence adoption.
These are experiences developed by companies that have transformed their information assets into tools for decision support, operational efficiency, and innovation – from forecasting agricultural production to monitoring soil health, from industrial predictive maintenance to document automation, all the way to applications in the energy sector and the management of complex phenomena, the cases presented show how AI can be integrated into business processes to meet specific needs and generate measurable results.
The contribution of IFAB
IFAB works to make the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, big data, and supercomputing accessible to businesses, fostering the connection between scientific research, advanced infrastructure, and the production system. Thanks to its network of companies, technological partners, and research centers, the Foundation guides organizations and stakeholders in developing innovation pathways based on data and emerging technologies.
This is a role that finds in the DAMA Tecnopolo Data Manifattura of Bologna, one of the most important European ecosystems dedicated to supercomputing and artificial intelligence, a unique context for transforming knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure into concrete growth opportunities.
Download the Manifesto
Artificial intelligence is not a future prospect: it is a transformation already underway that is redefining business competitiveness models.
Discover the analysis, application cases, and eleven recommendations developed by IFAB’s International Scientific Board to help organizations leverage their data and approach the challenges of innovation with greater awareness.
This Manifesto would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of IFAB Network member companies, which shared successful case studies and demonstrated innovation leadership in their respective sectors. Special thanks to: Regione Emilia-Romagna, auticon, Barilla Group, ENI, E4 Computer Engineering, Expert.ai, Fastweb+Vodafone, IBM, Legacoop Bologna, PwC, and Tampieri Group.
Fill out the form to download and receive the Manifesto ‘IA: la partita è aperta’ for free.
