The twelfth volume in the A South that Innovates and Produces series explores what Southern Italy may become over the next decade, asking whether the recent signs of strengthening can consolidate into a more stable development path. Its central argument is that the South should no longer be viewed only through the lens of its historical weaknesses, but also in terms of the assets it already possesses: a significant manufacturing base, competitive supply chains, growing innovative capacity, a strategic logistical position, and a university and scientific system that is evolving despite its many limitations.

This reflection is set within an international context marked by geopolitical tensions, logistical disruptions, and the reorganization of global value chains, all of which are making the link between logistics and manufacturing increasingly close. In this context, Southern Italy occupies a position that is both exposed and potentially strategic: in fact, southern ports handled 50% of Italy’s bulk cargo in the first half of 2025. Southern Italy can therefore strengthen its role in the new economic geographies of the Mediterranean.

Against this backdrop, the volume shows that Southern Italy is undergoing a more concrete phase of change than many traditional representations suggest. To interpret this transformation, the volume adopts three analytical lenses: Skills, Connections, and Competitiveness.