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by Celia Guimaraes 08 May 2020Microsoft announces a new investment plan of 1.5 billion dollars (about 1.4 billion euros) to accelerate the digital transformation in Italy, in the next 5 years, with a series of objectives including the first Region data center in our country.

It's called 'Ambizione Italia #DigitalRestart', a five-year plan to support innovation and local growth, which according to the Polytechnic of Milan will generate, over the five years, 9 billion dollars and about 10 thousand jobs as induced. The investments focus on strategic areas for Italian growth: access to cloud computing, digital training programs, local partnerships for the innovation of small and medium-sized companies and a new alliance for sustainability. 

Pisano: a social challenge 
"An important event because a gradual recovery phase is entering after an unfinished critical phase", said the Minister of Innovation Paola Pisano, in liaison.



"Today we have one more card, that of technology", which however must be used "in a non-uncritical way" without losing sight of our values ​​set out in the Constitution, he added. "We were among the last countries in the Desi ranking, now this driving force that we have created must be made to grow" in an inclusive way because "the real challenge is not technological but social", concluded the minister.

The data center in Milan 
The project envisages the creation of the company's first data center region in Italy, which will be built in Milan, which thus becomes part of the world project which guarantees operational continuity and support worldwide.

The company also intends to continue training projects and provide greater access to technology, to increase job opportunities for 1.5 million young people and professionals at the local level.

It is, explained the managing director of Microsoft Itala, Silvia Candiani, of the continuation of the work "already underway for various categories, starting from schools and universities, where we have trained students and will continue to do so with the support of our strategic partner the digital world Foundation ", and the" formation of ICT profiles of which our country has great deficiency, approximately 150,000 professionals who can take advantage of special Academy. "



Bringing SMEs intelligence arificiale 
the project has provided also digital programs for smart working with the aim of supporting half a million small and medium-sized enterprises, also with the approach to Artificial Intelligence: for SMEs there will be AI Hub, an experience center to help companies use this and other innovative technologies, with a focus on four key sectors: Made in Italy (retail, fashion and design, production), financial services, healthcare and infrastructure. the plan for small and medium-sized enterprises was paused by the Minister for Economic Development Stefano Patuanelli, with a video message:



Agreement with
Poste Italiane Poste Italiane and Microsoft Italia intend to continue the path of digital transformation started three years ago. "It is starting from this experience - said the managing director Matteo Del Fante - that Poste and Microsoft will continue the common work to offer increasingly advanced solutions of public utility and new technological skills to contribute to the recovery of the country", it was announced during the event.

Thanks to Mattarella, the note of Conte
Silvia Candiani also thanked President Mattarella for having expressed, with a note, "satisfaction with the investment", while the Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte commented: "The Italy once again confirms itself as a center in favor of attracting investments, innovation and development "and the project" is a further boost to the digital transformation of our country ", recalling how" in recent weeks businesses and public administrations have made a massive use of smart-working, also managing to accelerate its spread The Microsoft plan, with key services d e digital programs for smart-working dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises, it will certainly help Italy to proceed even more rapidly in this direction ".

New Green Deal
Finally, within the program, an alliance for sustainability will be created to support the European Union's New Green Deal. And according to Prime Minister Conte, “the new Sustainability Alliance that Microsoft intends to stipulate on the territory is of absolute importance. It will help support the national Green New Deal by promoting the development of an ecosystem of sustainable innovation ".