LEONARDO AND MICROSOFT: A NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR A SECURE DIGITIZATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURES

Rome, Milan May 26th, 2021 - Leonardo and Microsoft join forces and know-how to contribute to the Country’s digital development, in the area of innovation and cyber security. The two companies will cooperate to develop new projects for Digital transformation of Italian Public Administration and for national critical infrastructures, focusing on data protection and advanced, cloud-based technologies and solutions.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two companies – which will evolve including dedicated agreements about specific initiatives – the partnership includes the development of key elements for the creation of National Strategic Hub - Polo Strategico Nazionale (PSN), which will manage technological assets enabling the most critical services for the country. Based on future government requirements, the joint initiative could be extended to all Italian mission critical infrastructures. 

The partnership will merge Leonardo’s long-standing experience as national champ in Cybersecurity and in Public Sector areas with Microsoft’s advanced know-how and cloud-based technologies and solutions widely used both in the public and in the private sectors.

As the only Italian multinational company leading key strategic technologies for national security, Leonardo will act as System Integrator and responsible of cyber security services, for digital transformation and Public Sector data center consolidation programs. Microsoft will offer the technological platforms and cloud services used today by thousands of companies and public organizations for their digital transformation projects. The partnership also includes activities related to High Performance Computing (HPC) on cloud solution both on application and architectural areas, and it is especially focused on the digital transformation of national health.

"With this partnership Leonardo strengthens its contribution to the institutions within Italy’s relaunch journey, putting its skills and innovative technologies at the service of a widespread and inclusive digitalization of the country's essential services", says Alessandro Profumo, CEO Leonardo. "Our commitment, enriched by the most advanced technological capabilities offered by Microsoft, consolidates Leonardo's role as a leading reference for the protection and inviolability of Italians and public administration’s data, in the name of the national sovereignty, a fundamental requirement to support digital citizenship and open government".

“With this collaboration we’re adding another milestone in the long-term partnership with Leonardo. We’re committed to sustain the Country’s recovery defining new resources and technological platforms to support the innovation of the public sector and critical services, by heading towards the utmost security of services and data”, Silvia Candiani, General Manager Microsoft Italy. “We have always been committed in promoting collaboration with key market players, merging expertise and solutions to enhance new Digital Transformation scenarios, especially in the public sector, a key lever for the Italian growth”. 

With its strategic plan Be Tomorrow 2030, Leonardo identified digital innovation as a key growth asset in the next ten years, according to a sustainable development vision, with the objective to generate new technologies and applications. First of all, among the strategic assets of the company stands out davinci-1, an HPC equipped with an architecture able to combine the Cloud flexibility with high computing capabilities to enhance advanced Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Solutions in key critical national sectors. 

In May 2020, Microsoft kicked off a 5-year investment plan for Italy, by confirming its commitment to support the Country’s innovation and growth, through the launch of the first Microsoft Data Center Region in Italy, in Milan. The new plan “Ambizione Italia #DigitalRestart” creates new opportunities to empower people and organizations and to support the economic development, through the access to local Cloud services, digital education programs and support for smart working. The initiative enhances the development and adoption by companies of Artificial Intelligence solutions, thanks to the project “AI Hub”, and fosters the digital transition themes through a Sustainability Alliance, which aims at creating an open innovation ecosystem focused on green topics.