TOP 500 Modena: HPE Group showcase the strategy for AI development and talents attraction

On 6 March 2025, we had the honour of participating in Top 500 Modena, an exclusive event organised by PwCItaly. The data were provided by Camera di Commercio di Modena, clustered based on the supply chains of Confindustria Emilia Area Centro, and analysed by the Marco Biagi Department of Economics at Unimore, in collaboration with Il Resto del Carlino.

The first part of the event highlighted how Emilia-Romagna stands out as Italy’s leading region in terms of innovation, number of patents and exports per capita, earning it the title of Innovation Valley. The study focused on the top 500 companies headquartered and/or operating in Modena and its province, selected on the basis of their revenues in 2023, with approved financial statements available.

The data used for the analysis referred to financial years closed between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. Key valuation metrics included:

• Company size (assets and employees)
• Absolute and relative financial performance
• Debt levels, cost and sustainability.

The second part of the event was a roundtable discussion, where the top executives Federica Minozzi from Iris Ceramica Group, Andrea Bozzoli from Hpe Group and Carlo Filippo Villani, from Villani, shared their strategies for sustainable growth. Topics ranged from AI-driven transformation to the critical role of sustainability and people in shaping the future of business.

During the interview with our CEO, we had the opportunity to share case studies that demonstrate how AI is being integrated into our products and processes. We also emphasised the importance of university partnerships and the continuous investment in technical and soft skills training.

A truly insightful event that reinforced how innovation, talent and sustainability are the key drivers for tackling future challenges.