EAPB SG Marcel Roy participates in ANFIR - Finlombarda joint event on “Finance and Innovation: the challenge of the new digital technologies for relaunching the economy”

Milan, 26 January 2022 - Finlombarda and ANFIR - the National Association of Regional Financial InstitutionsIn, in the presence of Regional Councillor Fabrizio Sala, organised a hybrid event entitled "Finance and Innovation: the challenge of new digital technologies for the relaunch of the economy" with the participation of over 150 individuals representing public institutions, the financial community, the traditional and fintech credit sector as well as the business community.

Sustainability and innovation are the pillars on which growth is based," said Fabrizio Sala, Lombardy Region's Councillor for Innovation. "This is a consideration that also applies, above all, to the world of finance: the future of investments must be sustainable," he added. "A decisive boost can come from digital technology. Digital technological innovation is profoundly changing the structural characteristics of modern economic systems, favouring integration between different industrial sectors, opening up new markets, extending existing ones and radically transforming business models and the organisation of corporate work. The financial system is not exempt from this radical transformation," concluded Mr Sala.

After the institutional greetings, Michele Vietti, President of ANFIR, Finlombarda and Finpiemonte, stressed in his introductory speech that "innovation is a fundamental factor in economic progress as a whole. The innovative capacity of a country and a region translates into being able to constantly increase the quality of goods, services and the organisation of the production process. Businesses are the real driving force behind innovation, and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) is a unique opportunity to make our production system more competitive".

This was followed by a round table moderated by Giovanni Iozzia, Editor-in-Chief of EconomyUp, to which the following contributions were made:

Valeria Falce, Director of Innovation, Regulation and Competition Policy Centre (European University of Rome) delivered a presentaion on the topic of the balance between the benefits of innovation and the protection of the safety and rights of those involved;

Giorgio Gobbi, Director of the Milan Branch, Bank of Italy, focused on the opportunities, risks and challenges that new technologies pose to credit for businesses; Alessandro Scortecci, Head of Strategy & Business Development, CDP Venture Capital SGR - Fondo Nazionale Innovazione, presented the role of "formal investors" in the development of a sustainable innovation ecosystem in Italy;

Marcel Roy, Secretary General of the European Association of Public Banks (EAPB), presented evolutions and trends in digital financial services in European public banks, showcasing the examples of NRW.BANK and WI-Bank;

Luca Pagetti, Director - Head of Financing Startup Growth of Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center presented the topic of "sustainable" innovation; Sergio Zocchi, CEO of October Italia discussed the importance of public-private partnerships for business credit; Michele Grazioli, President and CEO of Vedrai Spa, delivered a presenation for artificial intelligence at the service of enterprises;

Maurizio della Ragione, Head of Digital Tech Vertical, Bocconi for Innovation (B4I) spoke about the impact of the development of new technologies on the financial system. Finally, Jan Ceyssens, Head of Digital Finance Unit, Directorate General FISMA of the European Commission gave the closing speech entitled: "An European Digital Finance Strategy to boost responsible innovation in the financial sector.