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Artificial Intelligence in Italy: 65% of organizations have AI projects stalled by skills shortages

Artificial Intelligence is a strategic priority for the Italian innovation ecosystem, but turning ambition into operational projects remains a major challenge. According to the first results of the IT4LIA AI Factory survey, 65% of Italian and European organizations identify the lack of skills as the main barrier to developing AI projects, while 50% point to limited budgets and high infrastructure costs as a significant constraint.

The survey, conducted between October and November 2025, involved over 200 organizations including SMEs, large enterprises, startups, universities, research groups and public administrations. Its goal was to map real needs, obstacles and expectations related to AI adoption in Italy.

An ecosystem ready for AI, but still blocked

The data outlines a clear picture: interest in AI is high, but many organizations struggle to move from intent to implementation.
While 50% of respondents already have AI projects active or planned, the remaining half is ready to start but lacks the necessary guidance and capabilities.

The main barriers reported include:

  • 65%: shortage of AI skills and expertise

  • 50%: limited budgets and high costs

  • 48%: need for support in defining AI project proposals

  • 45%: difficulty identifying suitable AI use cases

  • 38%: challenges in data management and data quality

  • 33%: uncertainty around AI Act, GDPR and regulatory compliance

This reveals a two-speed AI ecosystem: on one side, large enterprises and research centers already running pilots and experiments; on the other, SMEs, startups and public administrations that risk being left behind not due to lack of interest, but because of limited access to skills, infrastructure and expert support.

Strong demand for partnerships and funding

Despite these challenges, the survey highlights a highly encouraging signal:

  • 64% of organizations are strongly interested in open calls and partnerships to co-develop AI solutions

  • 55% are actively seeking financial resources to launch or scale AI projects

The demand for innovation is real, and collaboration is seen as a key enabler.

“IT4LIA AI Factory was created precisely to respond to this need, supporting the entire AI ecosystem with a strong focus on SMEs and startups,” says Laura Morselli, Senior Project Manager at IT4LIA AI Factory.
“Through tailored services and open calls, we provide access to advanced computing resources, specialized expertise and hands-on project support, helping smaller and emerging players bridge the gap with large industry leaders.”

The skills paradox: technology ahead, culture behind

The AI skills gap is not only technical, but also strategic and organizational:

  • 63% require technical skills for AI development and implementation

  • 50% report a lack of strategic understanding of AI at management level

  • 38% struggle with data governance and preparation

  • 33% feel overwhelmed by AI regulation and compliance requirements

Organizations are asking for practical, application-oriented training.
63% seek training to adopt existing AI technologies, while 57% want advanced, hands-on programs to develop custom solutions. Hybrid formats combining online and in-person sessions with strong practical components are clearly preferred.

Infrastructure and HPC: another critical bottleneck

Beyond skills, access to computing infrastructure remains a major barrier.
37% of organizations report that high computing costs prevent them from fully exploiting AI, while 32% struggle with the technical complexity of AI and HPC environments.

Key needs include:

  • support for environment and framework setup (37%)

  • assistance with data and model transfer (33%)

  • simplified access through APIs (28%)

“At the core of IT4LIA AI Factory lies one of the most advanced public AI infrastructures in the world,” adds Morselli. “Thanks to European and national funding, this infrastructure is accessible through a structured and simplified onboarding process, enabling organizations of all sizes to innovate at sustainable costs.”

When ideas are missing more than technology

One of the most striking findings concerns the project design phase.
48% of organizations request support in defining AI project proposals, while 45% struggle to identify the right AI use cases.

Customer service automation, supply chain optimization, predictive maintenance, document analysis: the opportunities are many, but without experience and methodology, decision-making becomes a bottleneck.

Click here to download the full press release

A strategic investment for European AI

IT4LIA AI Factory benefits from a total investment of approximately €430 million, co-funded by the European Commission through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and by the Italian Government.
The initiative was promoted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the National Cybersecurity Agency, with contributions from Austria, Slovenia and a broad network of leading industrial, institutional and academic partners across Italy and Europe.

We invite businesses, especially SMEs and startups, to leverage our expertise and infrastructure to accelerate their AI projects.
Discover our services as well as our available training sessions and pick the best start for your IT4LIA AI Factory journey today.

Artificial Intelligence in Italy: 65% of organizations have AI projects stalled by skills shortages

Artificial Intelligence is a strategic priority for the Italian innovation ecosystem, but turning ambition into operational projects remains a major challenge. According to the first results of the IT4LIA AI Factory survey, 65% of Italian and European organizations identify the lack of skills as the main barrier to developing AI projects, while 50% point to limited budgets and high infrastructure costs as a significant constraint.

The survey, conducted between October and November 2025, involved over 200 organizations including SMEs, large enterprises, startups, universities, research groups and public administrations. Its goal was to map real needs, obstacles and expectations related to AI adoption in Italy.

An ecosystem ready for AI, but still blocked

The data outlines a clear picture: interest in AI is high, but many organizations struggle to move from intent to implementation.
While 50% of respondents already have AI projects active or planned, the remaining half is ready to start but lacks the necessary guidance and capabilities.

The main barriers reported include:

  • 65%: shortage of AI skills and expertise

  • 50%: limited budgets and high costs

  • 48%: need for support in defining AI project proposals

  • 45%: difficulty identifying suitable AI use cases

  • 38%: challenges in data management and data quality

  • 33%: uncertainty around AI Act, GDPR and regulatory compliance

This reveals a two-speed AI ecosystem: on one side, large enterprises and research centers already running pilots and experiments; on the other, SMEs, startups and public administrations that risk being left behind not due to lack of interest, but because of limited access to skills, infrastructure and expert support.

Strong demand for partnerships and funding

Despite these challenges, the survey highlights a highly encouraging signal:

  • 64% of organizations are strongly interested in open calls and partnerships to co-develop AI solutions

  • 55% are actively seeking financial resources to launch or scale AI projects

The demand for innovation is real, and collaboration is seen as a key enabler.

“IT4LIA AI Factory was created precisely to respond to this need, supporting the entire AI ecosystem with a strong focus on SMEs and startups,” says Laura Morselli, Senior Project Manager at IT4LIA AI Factory.
“Through tailored services and open calls, we provide access to advanced computing resources, specialized expertise and hands-on project support, helping smaller and emerging players bridge the gap with large industry leaders.”

The skills paradox: technology ahead, culture behind

The AI skills gap is not only technical, but also strategic and organizational:

  • 63% require technical skills for AI development and implementation

  • 50% report a lack of strategic understanding of AI at management level

  • 38% struggle with data governance and preparation

  • 33% feel overwhelmed by AI regulation and compliance requirements

Organizations are asking for practical, application-oriented training.
63% seek training to adopt existing AI technologies, while 57% want advanced, hands-on programs to develop custom solutions. Hybrid formats combining online and in-person sessions with strong practical components are clearly preferred.

Infrastructure and HPC: another critical bottleneck

Beyond skills, access to computing infrastructure remains a major barrier.
37% of organizations report that high computing costs prevent them from fully exploiting AI, while 32% struggle with the technical complexity of AI and HPC environments.

Key needs include:

  • support for environment and framework setup (37%)

  • assistance with data and model transfer (33%)

  • simplified access through APIs (28%)

“At the core of IT4LIA AI Factory lies one of the most advanced public AI infrastructures in the world,” adds Morselli. “Thanks to European and national funding, this infrastructure is accessible through a structured and simplified onboarding process, enabling organizations of all sizes to innovate at sustainable costs.”

When ideas are missing more than technology

One of the most striking findings concerns the project design phase.
48% of organizations request support in defining AI project proposals, while 45% struggle to identify the right AI use cases.

Customer service automation, supply chain optimization, predictive maintenance, document analysis: the opportunities are many, but without experience and methodology, decision-making becomes a bottleneck.

Click here to download the full press release

A strategic investment for European AI

IT4LIA AI Factory benefits from a total investment of approximately €430 million, co-funded by the European Commission through the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and by the Italian Government.
The initiative was promoted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research and the National Cybersecurity Agency, with contributions from Austria, Slovenia and a broad network of leading industrial, institutional and academic partners across Italy and Europe.

We invite businesses, especially SMEs and startups, to leverage our expertise and infrastructure to accelerate their AI projects.
Discover our services as well as our available training sessions and pick the best start for your IT4LIA AI Factory journey today.