More than 1,300 firms which invest in research and new technologies. A sector that is weathering the crisis

An army of enterprises specialising in advanced technology, with over 1,300 hi-tech companies in the province of Pisa, employing over 9,000. Figures that guarantee the number one position in Italy for the city of the Leaning Tower: “of the 19 local labour systems which at the national level specialise in service activities involving special technology,” explains the local Chamber of Commerce, which has conducted a survey on the subject, “Pisa occupies the top spot.”

The Tuscan city’s high-tech firms operate above all in services and benefit from the presence of major university and research facilities. According to the survey conducted by the Pisa Chamber of Commerce, out of a sample of 237 firms, most of the high-tech ones belonged to the small business category (over 70% have fewer than 11 employees).

It is the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector that makes up the lion’s share, with over half of the firms specialising in that specific segment. They chiefly produce niche products (in 54.6% of cases) and work mainly for other firms (in over 70% of cases), while 18% also count on public-sector customers.

According to the Pisa Chamber of Commerce, almost all firms (90%) carry out research on an experimental basis, while 18% have applied for patent. Pisa’s high-tech sector appears to be withstanding the recession, given that in 2009 and 2010 employment grew by around 7% and during the same two years turnover likewise showed positive performances, with high-technology firms achieving +10.6%, while ICT firms gained +4.3%. Turnover forecasts for the current year are reassuring too, with an expected increase of 13.4%.