The City

Milan is one of the leading metropolitan areas in Italy: in terms of dimensions, economic importance, cultural level and political influence. "Greater Milan" is very much the centre of the Italian economy, comparable in importance with the largest developed regions in Europe.

The "Greater Milan" area is the most developed Italian territory, excelling in its traditional production and industrial sectors, and especially in the tertiary sector, particularly as regards services to companies, encouraging the development of highly specialised activities.

Milan's economy is powered by its advanced tertiary sectors e.g. fashion, design, finance and publishing.
As regards economy and finance, Milan is the home of 326,000 active companies, Italian and foreign bank institutes and the Italian Stock Exchange. The city's GDP is equivalent to no less than 10% of national GDP. Finally, publishing and communication are represented by 700 publishers, 30% of the national supply as regards periodicals and 12% of daily newspapers, as well as Rai and Mediaset headquarters and satellite TV stations. Other leading Milan economic sectors include advanced research (health and biotechnologies) and the chemical and mechanical industries.

The Italian biotechnologies compartment comprises 222 companies (with more than 14,000 employees, of whom almost a third are employed in R&D), generating a 4 billion euro turnover, with 1.2 billion euro invested in R&D. All of which place Italy in fourth position in Europe in terms of number of companies, and in fifth position as regards turnover.

Milan represents the main Italian biotech district, with Lombardy comprising approx. 50% of national companies, including top Research Centres (CERBA -European Centre for Advanced Biomedics Research - soon to be realised) and various leading University Departments.
Milan is also the "health capital", with 1,897 companies operating in the Health sector (with more than 30,000 employees), centres of excellence in medical therapy and research: 3 Medical Faculties (Milan University of Studies, Milan-Bicocca University of Studies, San Raffaele Life-Health University), Polyclinic Foundation and 9 major recovery and care institutes.

Milan is also first in another area - the Tertiary Sector.
In the city this constitutes an active and multifaceted activity, a stimulus and impulse towards innovation and intervention in various fields, based on equity, social justice, subsidiarity and sustainable development, with the aim of improving the community's quality of life.
There are some 6,000 voluntary work and Tertiary Sector organisations in the "Greater Milan" area. Milan has also been chosen as the site for the headquarters of the national agency for ONLUS (non-profit organisations), reporting directly to the government, whose main tasks include the analysis of laws relative to the Tertiary Sector, promotion of training and study activities, and support for information campaigns aimed at providing greater visibility for the non profit world.
Milan boasts one of the greatest "Trade Fair Systems" in Europe, comprising Fiera Milano (new complex at Rho - 345,000 sq.m. - and the municipal district - 115,000 sq.m.) and Novegro Exposition Park - 13,000 sq.m.). Every year, Fieramilanocity and Fieramilano exposition spaces host an average of 75 events, with approx. 4 million visitors a year, generating an annual income equal to approx. 4 billion euro.

Milan also boasts structures of primary importance for hosting major international congresses and important company conventions in terms of both spaces and services offered, together with operators enjoying the very highest professional standards. Over the last decade there has been a considerable increase in the provision of congress spaces, increasing from 139 units to 199 units (+43.1%).
Important structures include the "Milano Convention Centre", constituting the largest congress centre in Italy, able to host up to 25,000 persons, the Pole Star Congress Centre, situated within the new Fiera di Milano, Spazio Villa Erba, the Congress and Training Centre within Palazzo Mezzanotte and Palazzo delle Stelline. It is also important to note that Milan's congress system comprises a wide range of hotels together with the Trade Associations headquarters.

The "Exhibition hall" congress centre is currently being constructed within PII Santa Giulia. This complex will occupy a surface area of approx. 32,000 sq.m., with a maximum capacity of 8,000 seats.