Lombardy: one of Europe’s leading cosmetics hubs takes a strategic leap towards the future

On 13 April 2026, the Lombardy Technology Cluster for Made in Italy – Cosmetic System was presented at Palazzo Lombardia. The Cluster has been officially recognised by the Lombardy Region as the tenth regional Technology Cluster.

This milestone, awaited for years by Lombardy’s cosmetics production and scientific ecosystem, marks the beginning of a new phase of development for the regional cosmetics sector: more integrated, more innovative, and increasingly positioned as a key player at European level.

A complex value chain and an established leadership

With more than 230,000 employees, including the related supply chain, and over 500 companies – representing 79.3% of the total number of cosmetics companies in Italy – concentrated in the so-called “beauty quadrilateral” between Crema, Milan, Bergamo and Monza-Brianza, Lombardy is one of Europe’s leading cosmetics hubs.

It is a broad and diversified value chain combining scientific research, manufacturing excellence, technological innovation and design.

The sector generates €11.2 billion in turnover, including €6.5 billion from exports (76% of the Italian total). Another distinctive feature is that women account for 54% of employment, more than twice the average level in the manufacturing sector.

A further distinctive characteristic of the sector is its strong commitment to research and innovation, with approximately 6% of turnover invested in these areas – more than double the national average.

With the establishment of the Cluster, this wealth of expertise is structured into a recognised and organised ecosystem, capable of integrating skills, infrastructures and strategic projects.

The regional recognition confirms the role of Clusters as strategic tools for the development of research, innovation and technology transfer, in line with European policies and the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).

A new capacity for coordination

This value chain now finds in the Cluster – namely, in the recognition of the industrial district dedicated to cosmetics – a new capacity for connection and coordination, also thanks to the strong presence of the university community.

The Cluster proposal was submitted by REI – Reindustria Innovazione, founding member together with Politecnico di Milano, University of Milan, University of Milano-Bicocca, University of Pavia, Ancorotti Cosmetics S.p.A., Regi Laboratories and Lumson S.p.A.