On the Sofa with... Alfredo Neila - CEO Plastic Repair System

Advanced Manufacturing – What role does technological innovation play in the transition towards carbon neutrality in industry?

Alfredo Neila – Technological innovation is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the path towards sustainability. Technological innovation without the support of capital and investors will not be applied and it will not be possible to implement it and make this pathway real. A few weeks ago we were invited to a conference in New York and there it was palpable the tremendous technological advances and innovation that are already available and with advanced technology and the disconnection that there is with the big investors.

The big investors do not see the profitability of this type of technology and this requires a third actor, which is the authorities and legislators, providing a scenario, let’s say, for both to meet, facilitating the conditions for this to happen and with a coherent strategic vision. We are seeing that in Europe, for example, the data and dates that are being used to implement certain actions are being changed, postponed, without a clear vision of where we are heading.

Yes, indeed, without technological innovation we will not be able to achieve these sustainability goals. But without capital investment and without clear legislation and strategy, neither will we.