Welcome to Varese, the region taking off towards space and the United States

It was once a province of the empire. Today, the empire of the factory-city has become a major showcase for Las Vegas-style tourists (not counting the universities and prestigious centres of excellence, which still hold their own). But today it is from the rest of the region, on the fringes of the empire, that the local economies and knowledge sectors are seeking to strengthen the fundamentals: industry, innovation and research. GranMilano begins an exploration of the organisations driving growth in Lombardy – and therefore in Italy – despite everything.

Varese and its surrounding area, linked to Milan by the ‘oldest motorway in Italy’ – the Milan-Laghi motorway (1924) – boast some notable connections: Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister for the Economy, and Attilio Fontana, Governor of Lombardy, were both born and raised here, dedicating their work and attention to this area, which has always developed in harmony with the business world. The region is home to around 65,000 active businesses (with a strong focus on craft industries and SMEs) as well as long-established multinationals in the metalworking, fashion and technology sectors. Its proximity to Malpensa, Switzerland and the European transport corridors (Simplon and Gotthard) makes it a strategic logistics and commercial hub for exports. Varese ranks among the top Italian provinces in terms of industry’s share of total value added (around 24.8 per cent) and has seen record growth in exports (+23.2 per cent, the highest in Lombardy). The province’s economy stands at a value added of 29.7 billion, yet businesses continue to invest. According to data compiled by the Confindustria Varese Research Centre, in its annual investment survey—conducted on a representative sample—74 per cent of businesses reported having made at least one investment during the year, with the majority of these companies (41 per cent) investing more than in the previous period. Investments in plant and machinery took top place. Next came intangible assets, which are crucial for the future: investments in software (57 per cent), followed by investments in research and development (37 per cent) and those in patents, concessions, licences and trade marks (39 per cent). However, it is not all plain sailing: there has in fact been a slight slowdown in employment, and the economic cycle is showing signs of stabilisation and a more moderate pace of growth, in line with the general slowdown in the Lombardy economy.

And what about the future? The real turning point for the Varese-based industry may come from the Aerospace Cluster, established in 2009, which, by developing technologies linked to the artificial satellite system, can play a fundamental role in global development. After all, the Varese-Malpensa area has a long history in the aeronautical industry and has been a centre of international excellence in the sector for a century. Now, the cluster is set to host infrastructure that will accelerate economic growth and environmental sustainability. In the United States, there are already those working to take data centres into space. Today, the cluster represents the Lombardy aerospace sector in its entirety, comprising more than 200 companies employing around 22,000 people, generating an annual turnover of approximately 6.3 billion and exports worth around 3 billion – equivalent to roughly one-third of the sector’s national exports. “The trend in Lombardy’s aerospace exports in the first six months of 2026,” explains Paolo Cerabolini, president of the Lombardia Aerospace Cluster, to Il Foglio, “confirms the strength of a sector that continues to innovate and expand its presence on international markets. The figures compiled by the Confindustria Varese Research Centre speak for themselves: around 1.6 billion euros’ worth of exported goods and growth of +39.2 per cent compared with the first half of last year. These are not merely economic indicators, but concrete proof of the competitiveness and technological maturity of the aerospace supply chain, which brings together major players, highly specialised SMEs, universities and research centres. In a word: unique expertise. Driving this result is the strong global reach of our companies, led by long-standing partners such as the United States and the United Kingdom, alongside an increasingly solid presence in strategic markets such as Saudi Arabia, Australia and Brazil. As a cluster, we will continue to support the sector’s internationalisation, helping our companies to work together as a cohesive network and to capture new market shares on a global scale.”

The Cluster naturally includes the giant Leonardo (with an order book of 60 billion), a company in constant expansion which, in the Varese area, can count on its Helicopters and Aircraft divisions. “The integration and digitalisation of platforms,” explains Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo, “the development of industrial partnerships and targeted M&A (mergers and acquisitions) activities form the basis of the Strategic Plan that will enable Leonardo to play a central role in the new international defence and security (AD&S) industry landscape and to strengthen our position in response to market developments. The GCAP programme, the joint ventures with Rheinmetall and Baykar, the alliance with Airbus and Thales to create a European space operator, the technological development of the Michelangelo Dome, the integration of IDV into the Leonardo system, and the acquisition of Raft in the United States by Leonardo DRS represent the concrete steps towards realising our strategic vision.” A significant step forward for Lombard entrepreneurship as it looks to the future.