The discussion on financial instruments and strategies to strengthen the European audiovisual industry continues at Palazzo Barberini, as part of the European Investment Hub at MIA – Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo.
The session “APA: Italian Fund for Audiovisual Industry” explored the role of investment, intellectual property and specialised lending in fostering the growth and competitiveness of Italian companies.
Concluding the discussion on future objectives, Gloria Giorgiani and Mario Mauri of APA emphasised that the true value of companies lies in protecting and enhancing their intellectual property (IP). To prevent Italian businesses from being absorbed by large foreign groups, one of the key challenges in the coming years will be to develop instruments capable of unlocking the value of the domestic market by combining public contributions and private investment within an industrial framework.
Domenico Lombardi, CEO of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento, further reinforced this vision, outlining the fund’s role in strengthening SMEs, creating skilled employment and supporting audiovisual innovation as a strategic component of the Made in Italy value chain. The aim is to combine financial returns with positive outcomes for the national economy.
The commitment to specialised lending was reaffirmed by Beniamino Quintieri, President of the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo e Culturale, who highlighted the need to combine cultural quality with industrial sustainability. Quintieri outlined the instruments made available by the public development bank, from tax credit advances to co-financing, to address the structural mismatch between production timelines and companies’ cash flows. He also highlighted the economic and reputational benefits that cinema generates for local communities.
Finally, the discussion underscored the importance of strategically navigating an ever-evolving market, building on positive indicators and supporting creative development through scalable growth models.
