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Analysis
Overall, despite being a large, highly developed, wealthy nation, Italy is not an ICT leader. Strengths include wealth, relatively well developed infrastructure, huge domestic market, high rate of adoption for certain technologies, such as mobile telecommunications, well-educated populace. Weaknesses include small size of firms, somewhat cumbersome legal system, lack of ICT training and education, and the profusion of quality, competitive ICTs available for import.
The Italian government does seem to be aware of the deficiencies, and has a comprehensive plan for improving the situation. A just-released report shows that Italy's GDP growth for 2005 was flat, and perhaps the inability to take advantage of ICTs, both producing and using, to make businesses more competitive, is a contributing factor. Ultimately, Italy has a legacy of incomparable, well-designed, well-crafted products, and it would be desireable to see that extended to ICTs as well.
