Milan, Italy – – Intesa Sanpaolo has launched the sixth edition of its “Imprese Vincenti” (Winning Companies) program, an initiative designed to recognize and support the best Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The program kicked off in Milan, recognizing ten companies from Milan and the surrounding province of Monza and Brianza for their achievements in growth, innovation, sustainability, and international expansion.
The ten companies honored at the inaugural event – Bitcorp, Eure Inox, Forind Avio Elettronica, Goppion, Isaac, Mechanica, Ristogest, Selite, Serenis Health, and Tecam – represent a diverse range of sectors, including services, industry, aerospace, mechanics, agri-food, and healthcare. These firms presented their business stories and strategic choices to an audience of entrepreneurs, highlighting their commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, innovation, digital transition, and local impact.
Intesa Sanpaolo’s “Imprese Vincenti” program provides selected SMEs with support from the bank and its partners to navigate various stages of business development. This support encompasses investments in intangible assets, international growth, sustainability initiatives, innovation, digital transformation, and extraordinary finance operations. A key addition to the 2026 edition is a collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni, introducing a “Special Mention for Protection” awarded at each stage of the tour to a company demonstrating excellence in risk management. Isaac received this recognition in Milan.
The program’s expansion reflects Intesa Sanpaolo’s ongoing commitment to Italian SMEs, a cornerstone of the national economy. Approximately 18,000 SMEs have applied to the program since 2019, with 4,000 applications received this year alone. The 150 “Imprese Vincenti” selected for 2026 – including ten foreign companies – collectively represent approximately 150,000 employees and €35 billion in revenue.
The tour will continue with 15 stops across Italy, culminating in a final event for sharing best practices in Italian entrepreneurship. The 2026 edition places a specific focus on risk culture through the partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni, with a special mention awarded at each tour stop. The program will also leverage the activities of the “Community of Winning Companies,” supported by research conducted in collaboration with The European House Ambrosetti.
“The ten SMEs from Milan, Monza and Brianza that we are awarding today are a concrete expression of the strength and quality of our production system and of Made in Italy,” said Pierluigi Monceri, Regional Director for Milan, Monza and Brianza at Intesa Sanpaolo. “These companies are able to grow and compete thanks to innovation, openness to foreign markets and ESG pathways, generating economic and social value for the territories.”
Monceri added, “With the sixth edition of Imprese Vincenti starting today in Milan, we reaffirm our commitment to support these excellences as an engine for sustainable development for the country.”
Milan’s Innovation and Internationalization Prowess
Data released by Intesa Sanpaolo’s research department in conjunction with the Milan event highlights the region’s strong performance in innovation and internationalization. The province of Milan registers 179 patents per million inhabitants, significantly exceeding the national average of 87. Approximately one-fifth of Italy’s innovative startups – around 2,500 – are located in Milan.
Milan and Monza and Brianza also demonstrate a strong export orientation, exceeding €72 billion in exports in 2024, representing 11.6% of the national total. The province of Monza and Brianza exhibits particularly high export levels, approaching 50%. The region also boasts a significant foreign presence, with 7,325 companies controlled by Milanese investors operating abroad, accounting for approximately 18.5% of the Italian total.
Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the Milanese economy shows resilience. Intesa Sanpaolo forecasts that growth in 2026 will be driven by consumer spending and increased investment, benefiting from lower interest rates and the return of hyper-amortization incentives. Key sectors expected to lead this growth include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, aerospace, utilities, electronics, advanced services, tourism, healthcare, and the agri-food supply chain.
The Imprese Vincenti program’s partner ecosystem includes Bain & Company, Elite-Gruppo Euronext, Gambero Rosso, Cerved, Microsoft Italia, Coldiretti, Nativa and Circularity, Digit’Ed, Tinexta, and Aiccon. Intesa Sanpaolo’s specialized functions – International Banks Division, Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center, and Intesa Sanpaolo Assicurazioni – are also actively involved.
