Basic research in Italian industry

This paper analyses the importance of basic research in the Italian manufacturing sector. Analysis is based mainly on the results of a specific survey on the subject, and the resulting data are processed to test general hypotheses on the innovative strategies of firms and to describe the present situation in Italian industry. From the theoretical point of view, test results appear consistent with the hypotheses put forward on the spontaneous behaviour of firms. From the descriptive point of view, the prospects for Italian industry are far from being reassuring as far as basic research is concerned.