The working group is part of the initiative “Leading the Future: Lead Firms as drivers of innovation and sustainability for Italian and European industrial supply chains,” developed in collaboration with Philip Morris Italia and TEHA Group. Bringing together representatives from institutions and academia, the group will explore how lead firms shape productivity, skills development, and technological progress, drawing on real-world case studies, both successes and failures, from Italy and across Europe.

At a broader level, the project investigates the strategic role and positioning of Lead Firms within the Italian and European industrial ecosystem, with a particular focus on innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness. It also examines how public and industrial policies can strengthen competitiveness and support the modernization of European industry.

The initiative was officially presented at the TEHA Cernobbio Forum, held on September 5–7, 2025.