NetZero Milan vuole diventare il riferimento per la transizione e l’industria

On October 20th, NetZero Milan, the second edition of the Expo Summit by Fiera Milano, commenced at Allianz MiCo. This event, running until October 22nd, convenes industry, finance, institutions, research, and innovation to discuss the pivotal role of electrification in the economy. Focused on technological solutions, investments, and policies to align energy security with industrial development, the 2026 edition is sponsored by the European Parliament, European Commission, Ministry of Environment and Economic Security, and the Made in Italy Ministry of Enterprises.

The summit was opened by a video contribution from Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, the Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security, who emphasized the need for an energy and environmental transition that can drive development and growth in a context where digital transition reshapes the economy and society. For the minister, energy independence, electrification, and green technologies must steer nations into a new phase of European history.

Fiera Milano's president, Carlo Bonomi, stressed that an efficient transition requires an industrial policy that unites energy, innovation, infrastructure, and investments. NetZero Milan aims to center the relationship between energy transition and industrial competitiveness, creating a meeting point between institutions and businesses, with the goal of progressively making NetZero Milan an ongoing rendezvous on energy and competitiveness themes.

Among other speakers at the inaugural event, Paolo Gentiloni, President of the Global Advisory Council of the European Investment Bank, highlighted Europe's significant commitment to the climate transition, citing various measures such as Next Generation Europe investments, three-quarters of which are dedicated to the transition.

For Italy specifically, this amounts to 70-80 billion euros. Gentiloni also noted that, along with Japan, Europe is among the realities most consistently following the path of decarbonization. Each citizen of Europe represents 6% of the world's population, and EU emissions account for 6%. During the same event, Enrico Letta, Rector of IE University in Madrid and President of the Institut Jacques Delors in Paris, pointed out that completing the single market is a factor of security and an objective to reduce the EU's energy dependence.

Letta also mentioned some EU-wide initiatives like the One Europe, One Market program, confirmed by European Council President Antonio Costa, and the Industry Accelerator Act, both aimed at reducing the EU's exposure to the current energy crisis, which is more acute in Europe than in the United States and China. Federico Pasini, Chief Operating Officer of the Italy China Foundation, concluded by outlining a potential future that looks eastward: while China relies on coal as its primary energy source—making up around 60% of primary energy use in 2024—China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and sees itself as a technological partner for Europe.