Barrese: Italian design as a driver of international competitiveness for SMEs

The furniture-design and home system sector represents a supply chain made up of thousands of SMEs globally recognised for their quality and creativity.

“Over the past five years, we have disbursed more than €26 billion to distinctive Made in Italy supply chains – furniture, clothing, agri-food and automation” said Stefano Barrese. “Today Intesa Sanpaolo’s support remains focused on access to credit, investment in innovation and attention to foreign markets, offering SMEs the most suitable tools for the current environment”.

This support is part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Italian companies in a complex macroeconomic context marked by geopolitical tensions.

Support for companies in the design and home system supply chain is part of a broader commitment that also includes the Supply Chain Development Program, one of Intesa Sanpaolo’s key tools to support the real economy.

The programme involves:

• more than 240 Made in Italy supply chains
• over 32,000 employees
• around 7,700 suppliers
• total turnover exceeding €32 billion

“Like finance, creative language cuts across supply chains, naturally engaging with key Made in Italy sectors, from tourism to food and fashion, from high-end manufacturing to art. Italian design and creativity remain a key driver of competitiveness and value for our companies in international markets; we observe this as a bank even in challenging times, where memory, art and beauty become drivers of economic revival for these sectors” commented Stefano Barrese.

An analysis by Intesa Sanpaolo’s Research Department, in light of an uncertain and complex macroeconomic scenario affecting both international dynamics and domestic consumption, highlights how expansion into foreign markets remains a priority for Italian furniture and design companies. This makes further diversification of export markets increasingly necessary.

This path can build on the high quality of Italian production, rooted in manufacturing expertise and know-how, combined with the strength of the design sector, where Italy – with €6.2 billion in turnover – is a European leader.

“In this context, companies must increasingly develop strong adaptability and extreme flexibility,” said Stefano Barrese. Diversification is becoming a key factor for businesses and, in this perspective, “financing creativity” is essential.

Together with Salone del Mobile.Milano, Intesa Sanpaolo supported the reissue of the book Le fabbriche del design, published by Allemandi. A classic in sector publishing, the volume retraces the industrial and cultural roots of Italian design.

Intesa Sanpaolo’s activities continue during the Salone with the talk Italian furniture and design – The role of finance in maintaining global excellence, scheduled for 23 April 2026.

This initiative completes a series of events promoted by the Bank to highlight the economic, cultural and international contribution of Italian design, strengthening the dialogue between the financial system and the production supply chain.

Main image photo credits: © copyright FTK, Technology For the Kitchen Salone del Mobile.Milano 2024 ©Diego Ravier

Photo credits Maurizio Tosto