SVIMEZ

SVIMEZ (Associazione per lo SViluppo dell'Industria nel MEZzogiorno) is a private, non-profit association based in Rome, Italy. Founded on 2 December 1946, it was created to study the economic conditions of Southern Italy and to propose concrete programmes of action and public works aimed at creating and developing industrial activity in the region. Its founding group included Donato Menichella, Pasquale Saraceno (the principal animator), Nino Novacco, Francesco Giordani and the socialist Rodolfo Morandi, then Minister of Industry; the Banco di Napoli was also among the founding members. SVIMEZ is widely regarded as the intellectual engine of the post-war 'new meridionalismo'. Drawing on systematic reflection on the Southern question that had developed within IRI from 1938 under the impulse of its president Alberto Beneduce and general manager Menichella, the association advocated a development policy for the Mezzogiorno based on direct State intervention and aimed at Southern industrialisation. Its theoretical work underpinned the extraordinary intervention policies for the South, and in 1950 the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno was established. Today SVIMEZ carries out research, publishes an annual report on the state of development of the Mezzogiorno, and promotes scientific journals and studies on Southern Italian realities and problems. Its website highlights the Rapporto Svimez 2025, a podcast ('Diario di cittadinanza'), an observatory on gender inequalities, and events such as a 2026 conference at Sapienza University of Rome on the role of the Mezzogiorno in the eighty years of the Republic, organised with SARAS and ANIMI. It also collaborates with UniCredit and Confindustria Campania on an analysis tool for SMEs, and maintains partnerships such as a protocol with Women20 for an observatory on gender disparities. As a private non-profit association, SVIMEZ is not listed on any stock exchange and does not have a parent company. Its influence is exercised through research, publications, public debate and advisory activity rather than through commercial products.

SVIMEZ was constituted on 2 December 1946 in Rome. The original group comprised Donato Menichella, Pasquale Saraceno — its principal animator — Nino Novacco, Francesco Giordani and the socialist Rodolfo Morandi, at the time Minister of Industry. The Banco di Napoli was also among the founding members. The association was established as a private, non-profit body whose statute included the aim of promoting the study of the economic conditions of the Mezzogiorno d'Italia in order to propose concrete programmes of action and works intended to create and develop industrial activities. Within SVIMEZ the 'new meridionalismo' developed, starting from a systematic reflection on the Southern question that had grown inside IRI from 1938 under the impulse of its president Alberto Beneduce and its general manager Menichella. At the time of its constitution, SVIMEZ proposed a development policy for the Mezzogiorno based on direct State intervention and aimed at Southern industrialisation. On the basis of the theoretical elaboration developed by SVIMEZ, extraordinary intervention policies for the Mezzogiorno were formulated, and in 1950 the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno was also established. SVIMEZ also contributed to the nexus between school and society from the post-war period, when the State pursued parity between North and South in a transforming society. Its March 1961 study on school problems, 'Mutamenti della struttura professionale e ruolo della Scuola - Previsioni per il prossimo quindicennio', is cited as an example of this contribution. At the time it was written that 'the removal of the constraints placed by fascism on urban immigration, for example, is a democratic fact that makes possible the choice of a different living condition, albeit prompted by need.' Among the activities carried out is the annual publication of a report on the state of development of the Mezzogiorno referring to the previous year. The association also promotes the publication of scientific journals and the carrying out of research on the various Southern realities and problems, presented also as research notes. Its website lists the Rapporto Svimez 2025, the podcast 'Diario di cittadinanza', an observatory on gender inequalities, and numerous events and publications, including 'Tra competitività e coesione. Vicende della politica industriale UE (1958-2025)', 'Il Rapporto Svimez 1974 a cinquant'anni dalla sua presentazione', and 'Quello sviluppo che abbiamo perso'. In 2025 the association renewed its governing bodies for the 2025-2027 three-year period. It has also signed a protocol of intent with Women20 for an observatory on gender disparities, and has updated its estimate of the territorial impact of US tariffs at 30%.

• SVIMEZ is constituted in Rome by Donato Menichella, Pasquale Saraceno, Nino Novacco, Francesco Giordani and Rodolfo Morandi; Banco di Napoli is among the founding members.

• On the basis of SVIMEZ's theoretical elaboration, extraordinary intervention policies for the Mezzogiorno are formulated and the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno is established.

• SVIMEZ publishes a study on school problems, 'Mutamenti della struttura professionale e ruolo della Scuola - Previsioni per il prossimo quindicennio'.

• SVIMEZ renews its governing bodies for the 2025-2027 three-year period.

• Conference at Sapienza University of Rome on the Mezzogiorno in the eighty years of the Republic, promoted by SARAS, SVIMEZ and ANIMI.

Authoritative, independent research and policy institution for the economic development of Southern Italy.

• Rapporto Svimez

  Annual report on the state of development of the Mezzogiorno referring to the previous year.

• Rivista Economica del Mezzogiorno

  Scientific journal published by SVIMEZ.

• Rivista Giuridica del Mezzogiorno

  Scientific journal published by SVIMEZ.

• Diario di cittadinanza

  Podcast produced by SVIMEZ.

1. 1Home - Svimez - Associazione per lo sviluppo dell’industria nel Mezzogiornosvimez.it
2. 2Chi siamo - Svimez - Associazione per lo sviluppo dell’industria nel Mezzogiornosvimez.it
3. 3Svimez - Wikipediait.wikipedia.org
4. 4Svimez - Wikidatawikidata.org