Milan Digital Week highlights AI skills gap and market growth

The ninth edition of Milan Digital Week, themed ‘The Generative City’, has launched in Milan, featuring over 180 events focused on urban technology, work, and training. The digital market in the Milan metropolitan area is valued at 15.5 billion euros and is projected to grow by 4.7% this year, outpacing both Lombardy and national averages.

Research presented by Assolombarda highlights a significant skills gap in the region. In 2025, 45.6% of personnel sought by local companies were difficult to find, a figure that rises above 54% for technical profiles. While the number of science graduates has increased by 25% over the last decade, only 2% possess specialized IT skills. To address this, a three-year agreement has been established with nine universities in the Milan-Monza-Lodi-Pavia area to enhance training through degrees, masters, and hackathons.

Additionally, experts have identified an ‘AI divide’ between large corporations, which are adopting technology rapidly, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that struggle to integrate innovation. A new observatory has been established to support SMEs in navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence adoption.