The regional companies in the building and construction industry have become international leaders in terms of product quality and design innovation and are at the cutting-edge as regards research into materials and production technologies. 

Exports of regional tiles and ceramics are worth 93% of the national total. The Italian ceramics industry is concentrated between the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia - the Sassuolo district, with 135 companies, almost 20 thousand employees, turnover of 5.3 billion euros - and also in Faenza (Ravenna) and Imola (Bologna). 

The region is also home to the Italian companies operating in the production of machines and systems for the ceramics industry as well as in a series of related production areas, including earth moving machinery, cranes and hoisting equipment, and in the production of building material. 

Production of high quality furniture and furnishings is another excellence with larger concentration in Forlì (upholstered furniture district), Rimini and Imola.

Main specializations

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Map Emilia Romagna Housing sectors

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Map Emilia Romagna Housing sectors

Top companies

Here are some top regional brands and companies:

CERAMICS CONSTRUCTION 
BUILDING PRODUCTS
FURNITURE
WOOD PRODUCTS
BUILDING MACHINERY
SERVICES
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Immagini top brand colonna 1, loghi: Marazzi, Imola Tiles, Fiandre, Panaria group, Florim., Iris Ceramiche, Atlas Concorde, Del Conca, Emil Ceramica, Caesar
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Immagini top brand: Pizzarotti, Garc, CMB, Cefla, Renner, Prisma, Iren, CementRossi, Paver, Consorzio Innova,  Scrigno, Focchi
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Logos furniture and wood products in Emilia-Romagna: Poltronesofà,  Kastamonu, casadei, Marinelli, Dorelan, Alpi, Atl, Paolo Castelli, Saib
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LOGOS BUILDING MACHINERY AND SERVICES: Hiab, SCM, Manitou, Magni, Said, MCA, Open Project, Interpump, Ii Orton, Policreo

 

Innovation ecosystem

The building and construction sectors are supported by the regional innovation ecosystem that is able to create collaborations and synergies between knowledge system and business. Here are some key actors:

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Logo Clust-ER Build Edilizia e costruzioni

Clust-ER BUILD – Building and Construction

www.build.clust-er.it

Clust-ER Associations are communities of public and private bodies (research centers, companies, training institutes) created to support the competitiveness of the most important production systems in Emilia-Romagna.

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logo Clust-ER Urban - Economia urbana - Urban economy

Clust-ER URBAN – Urban economy

en.art-er.it/clust-er-urban-economy

Clust-ER Associations are communities of public and private bodies (research centers, companies, training institutes) created to support the competitiveness of the most important production systems in Emilia-Romagna.

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Logo rete alta tecnologia Emilia-Romagna

Regional High Technology Network

www.retealtatecnologia.it

Discover the High Technology Network industrial research offering in ‘Building and construction’

Smart Specialisation Strategy - S3

BUILDING AND CONTRUCTION - RESULTS OF THE REGIONAL SMART SPECIALIZATION STRATEGY

From 2014 to October 2024

Funded R&D Projects

1,939

Million euros of total investment

550

Million euros of public funds

351

 

Main international trade fairs

International events related to housing in Emilia-Romagna include: Cersaie, Saie, Tecna, InOut, Geofluid, Restauro, Key, Ecomondo, Pipepilne & Gas Expo, GIC, Asphaltica, R2B

KEY - The Energy Transition Expo

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Rimini, IT

RESTAURO - International exhibition on Economics, Conservation, Technologies and Valorization of Cultural and Environmental Heritage

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Ferrara, IT

CERSAIE - International Exhibition of Ceramic Tiles and Bathroom Furnishings

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Bologna, IT

GEOFLUID - Drilling & Foundations

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Piacenza, IT

INOUT - The hospitality community

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Rimini, IT

SAIE - The Building Fair. Design, construction, plant engineering

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Bari, IT

ECOMONDO - The green technology expo

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Rimini, IT

PIPELINE & GAS EXPO - Exhibition & conference dedicated to the mid-stream and gas & oil, water distribution networks

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Piacenza, IT

GIC – ITALIAN CONCRETE DAYS

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Piacenza, IT

Key facts

Building and construction in Emilia-Romagna
Employees (Infocamere, 2023)

380.3k

Local units (Infocamere, 2023)

150.0k

Export (Istat Coeweb, 2023)

6.3 bln €

Import (Istat Coeweb, 2023)

1.8 bln €

Percentage of national exports in clay building materials (2023, Istat Coeweb)

92%

Info-sheets "Invest in housing in Emilia-Romagna"