Invest in Lazio: Heart of Italy Cradle of innovation

The Dutch company Newcold has rapidly become one of the world’s leading automated logistics and cold chain companies. In Lazio, it operates facilities in Borgorose and Ferentino. The Ferentino site, adjacent to Froneri (the world’s second-largest producer of packaged ice cream), is set to become operational in 2026, creating an unparalleled cold storage hub in Italy.

Sony’s Rome laboratory, established through a scientific agreement with the “Enrico Fermi” research center, exemplifies successful public-private collaboration. The Sony Computer Science Laboratories (Sony CSL) in Rome focus on three main research areas: sustainable cities, information systems to combat misinformation, and the role of artificial intelligence.

Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda has over 30 production sites worldwide. In Rieti, Lazio, it has significantly expanded its capacity for plasma-derived products. The Rieti site has become one of Takeda’s most important globally, employing 750 people (with an additional 100 in Rome) and exporting to over 50 countries.

Danish biopharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has invested in the Anagni site in Lazio, acquiring three fill-and-finish facilities from the American company Catalent for a total of $11 billion. One of these specialized sterile filling sites is in Anagni, with full operational capacity expected by 2026.

Also in the pharmaceutical sector, the U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson has allocated €125 million out of a total of €580 million earmarked for Italy to support a 25% increase in production capacity at its Latina site. This facility features a portfolio of innovative therapies for patients around the world. It produces over 4 billion tablets per year across approximately 30 different products, with 97% of this output destined for export. Recognized by the World Economic Forum as an Industry 4.0 model site, it employs just under 4,000 people, the majority of whom are involved in R&D. The site earned a bronze medal in the 2024 Best Workplaces ranking for the quality of its work environment. The plant’s economic impact is estimated at nearly €65 million.

Another example of a successful foreign investment in Lazio is Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between French company Thales and Leonardo. By the end of the year, the company will complete the construction of an industrial facility at the Tecnopolo Tiburtino, entirely dedicated to the production, assembly, testing, and integration of satellites. The project involves a €100 million investment, with additional support from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) through PNRR funds. This true space factory will feature extensive use of digital technologies and Industry 4.0 systems, and will host the Space JOINTLAB—an innovative and collaborative space for small and medium enterprises and research centers within the Tiburtino hub. The Space Smart Factory will be one of the largest in Europe and part of a network of interconnected space factories, as well as a space-ready incubator environment.