The regional companies in the Health and Wellness industries represent a very dynamic and competitive sector, also connected to quality of life and high quality services. The exports of the regional cluster amount to 4.48 billion euros with a 22.6% growth in the period 2020-2023.
The biomedical district in Mirandola (Modena) is highly competitive with about 5,000 employees and relevant foreign companies (e.g. Medtronic, B.Braun, Fresenius, Baxter, Evotec-Rigenerand). Orthopaedic prosthetic products in the Bologna area represent another local excellence. The pharmaceutical sector is also very strong, with leading players such as Chiesi, Alfasigma and Doppel. The Wellness Valley is mainly concentrated in the Romagna area with leading global companies such as Technogym. Another key asset is the high quality services in Emilia-Romagna, 1st in Italy for the efficiency of the health system (Demoskopika, 2020), with Scientific Institutes of Excellence (IRCCS) in Orthopedics, Neurology, Oncology and Surgery.
An analysis by Ernst & Young (2023) highlights seven strategic sectors where the Emilia Romagna region demonstrates
distinctive and internationally relevant strengths: Pharma & ATMPs (Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products), Biomedical Technologies, Big Data & Digital Health, Orthopedics, Neurosciences, Nutraceuticals, Animal Health.
Main specializations
Top companies
| BIOMEDICAL | PHARMA | WELLBEING | PACKAGING |
|---|---|---|---|
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Innovation ecosystem
The regional production system is strongly oriented towards Industry 4.0, supported by the innovation ecosystem that is able to create collaborations and synergies between knowledge system and business. Here are some key actors:
Clust-ER HEALTH – The health & wellness industries cluster of the Emilia-Romagna region
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.
Regional High Technology Network
Discover the High Technology Network industrial research offering in ‘Health and Wellness’
Scientific institutes of excellence (IRCCS)
IRCCS Orthopedics
Bologna - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
www.ior.it
IRCCS Neurology
Bologna
www.ambo.ausl.bologna.it
IRCCS Oncology
Reggio Emilia
www.ausl.re.it
Meldola (FC)
www.irst.emr.it
IRCCS Surgery
Bologna - Policlinico di Sant'Orsola
www.aosp.bo.it
EIT Health
EIT Health is a community of innovators dedicated to improving the lives of people and patients connecting world-class organisations across Europe from the three worlds of business, research and education. ART-ER is among the associate partners.
| HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESULTS OF THE REGIONAL SMART SPECIALIZATION STRATEGY 2014-24 (Updated October 2024) |
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|---|---|---|
1,182Funded R&D Projects |
520million euros of total investment |
389million euros of public funds |
Main international Trade Fairs
International events related to Health and Wellness in Emilia-Romagna include: Cosmoprof, RiminiWellness, Cosmofarma, Expodental, Exposanità, Sana, and many others.
Key facts
| Health and Wellness in Emilia-Romagna | ||
|---|---|---|
| Employees (2023, Infocamere)
137,745 |
Local units (2023, Infocamere)
33,160 |
Export (2023, Istat Coeweb)
4.48 bln € |
| Import (2023, Istat Coeweb)
1.86 bln € |
Trend export 2020-23 health industry +22.6% |
Trend export 2020-23 biomedical products +41% |
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1st region in Italy for the efficiency of the health system (Source: Demoskopika, 2020) |
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Info-sheets "Invest in health and wellness in Emilia-Romagna"
Main international trade fairs
Main international trade fairs in Emilia-Romagna related to Health and Wellness include: Exposanità, Cosmoprof, Cosmofarma, Expodental, Rimini Wellness, B.T. Expo
News
Emilia-Romagna attended Italy-US Tech Business and Investment Matching Initiative
The event took place in Washington D.C. on October 25 and was part of a wider national mission aimed at strengthening the relationships among clusters, ecosystems and investors.
Medtronic, from 400 to 560 employees in 4 years
Medtronic, US multinational leader in medical technologies, invested heavily in two companies of its group that are part of the regional biomedical district of Mirandola (Modena): Bellco and Mallinckrodt.
