Ignazio Castiglioni, Co-Founder and CEO of HAT SGR, was featured in an article by Nicola Carosielli discussing the role of private equity in supporting Italy’s technology sector.
In the article, Castiglioni outlines how private equity today is not merely a financial instrument, but a strategic lever to accompany the industrial transformation of companies, helping them scale, digitalize, and strengthen their managerial capabilities. Italy’s ecosystem of highly specialized SMEs, with deep vertical expertise and hard-to-replicate technological know-how, represents a unique competitive advantage, yet these companies often require the capital and skills to grow on an increasingly global stage.
With Italy’s digital market exceeding €84 billion in 2025, driven by cloud, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, Castiglioni highlights the decisive role private equity can play in fostering innovation and enhancing productivity. The challenge, he notes, is not only technological but also organizational — requiring structured processes, proper data governance, and adequate managerial competencies. In this context, private equity can help bridge the gap by providing companies not only with financial resources, but also with strategic vision, governance, and operational expertise. Combining investment, innovation, and industrial development, Castiglioni concludes, can generate lasting value and strengthen Italy’s national technology ecosystem.
