Scenarios and technologies for logistics in Italy: the Cluster Trasporti conference on June 4th in Rome

Published 29 April 2026

On June 4th, at 11:00 AM, the Confindustria headquarters in Rome will host the conference titled “Scenari e nuove tecnologie per il trasporto merci e la logistica in Italia”, organized by the Cluster Trasporti. A meeting that will bring together associates, institutions, and industry experts to outline possible future scenarios of logistics through the lens of the new transformations underway, determined by the advancement of digital technologies, decarbonization processes, and the evolution of means of transport. Three pillars with a potentially disruptive scope for the sector.

The challenges of technological change

The international landscape of goods movement is undergoing a phase of profound mutation driven by three main interconnected directions. On one hand, the impact of artificial intelligence and digital tools redefines management processes; on the other, the urgency of the green transition and the smart evolution of transport means impose new efficiency standards.

These drivers are outlining unprecedented operating models, destined to radically change the traditional balances of the logistics sector.

The weight of logistics in the Italian economy

The data processed by the Cluster Trasporti, and reported within a document that will be presented at the conference, offer a clear snapshot of the importance of this industry for the country system. We are talking about a sector that generates a value exceeding 130 billion euros, accounting for over 8% of the national GDP, and which guarantees the employment of about one million and 400 thousand workers.

Through this analysis, the trends of tomorrow for the logistics sector will be explored, emphasizing the position that the protagonists of the supply chain, companies and professionals, are called to occupy to face such a radical transformation. Indeed, the management of distribution chains must today deal with an unstable global context, where geopolitical tensions cause an increase in costs and require a profound revision of organizational strategies.

The state of freight transport between road and rail

Looking more closely at the different modes of transport, despite the attention to the environment, the analysis of flows highlights a clear prevalence of road transport, which covers 84.4% of the total 579 billion tonne-kilometers produced in Italy.

Recently, the road has recorded a growth of 4% while the rail segment has suffered a contraction of 3%. These numbers confirm how complex it is to consolidate the integration between different modes of transport, a priority that still faces structural difficulties.

Investments for the mobility of tomorrow

To respond to these challenges, Italy has introduced significant resources through the PNRR and the National Complementary Plan funds, with investments approaching 400 billion euros destined for the strengthening of infrastructures. Ports, airports, railway networks, and highways will be the subject of targeted interventions aimed at improving the connectivity of the territory, especially for the transit of goods.

These topics will be further discussed during the conference, where operators, institutions, and stakeholders will analyze how these resources and new technologies can facilitate the transition towards a more modern and integrated system.