Can industrial R&D save Italy's contemporary art system?

The Italian contemporary art system suffers from chronic crisis and lack of self-sufficiency, with artists struggling for international recognition and collectors favoring foreign works. The author argues that the art world must look outside its own center for solutions, drawing parallels with industrial R&D models. He cites STMicroelectronics' semiconductor plant in Catania, which benefits from a symbiotic relationship with CNR's microelectronics institute and INFN's nuclear physics labs, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation. Similarly, Fondazione MAST in Bologna, linked to manufacturing, promotes the Biennale of Photography of Industry and Work. The author suggests that the art system could emulate this dynamic by engaging with manufacturing and technology sectors, rather than remaining insular. He recalls Lawrence Weiner's remark that contemporary art in New York functioned as R&D for the entire creative industry, a model now adopted by luxury groups. The piece calls for artists, curators, and dealers to reconcile art world trends with the evolving realities of labor and industry.