Assessing the innovation landscape: Fitness and Complexity of Strategic EU Technologies

In this work, we apply the Economic Fitness and Complexity (EFC) approach to analyze the geographic distribution of STEP and NZIA firms in Italy, focusing on their fitness values and the implications for industrial policies. By identifying firms with higher fitness values, the study highlights the role of strategic technologies related to the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and the Strategic Technologies European Platform (STEP). The results suggest that EFC can serve as a valuable tool for assessing the competitiveness and technological sovereignty of the EU, offering insights for policies that foster innovation and economic growth. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted public policies to strengthen Europe's industrial positioning and enhance sustainability through innovation.