2. South Tyrol: key facts and main characteristics
Meeting point of languages and cultures: 69,41% German-
speaking; 26,06% Italian-speaking; 4,53% Ladin-speaking.
Autonomous Province: about 90% of the taxes collected remain in
the region.
Transport node located amidst some of Europe’s most important
and dynamic markets: Italy, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are
all within easy reach.
Mountainous landscape: Alps and Alpine valleys (90% of the
territory is located above 1000 m of elevation).
Area: 7400 Km2
Population: 514 998 (30.09.2013)
Population density: 68 inhabitants per Km2
Number of municipalities: 116
GDP per inhabitant: 37 316 euros (Italy: 26 002.09 euros) (2013)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (Italy: 12.9%) (2014)
3. Agriculture and
forestry
Industry Construction Services
4,7% 13,9% 6,3% 75%
Added value per economic sector, 2013
Source: Astat, 2013
30%
8%
12%
15%
13%
17%
6%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
AGRICULTURE
MANUFACTURING
CONSTRUCTION
COMMERCE
RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS
SERVICES
OTHER SECTORS
Enterprises in South Tyrol per
economic sector, 2012
Source: IRE, (2013)
South Tyrol’s Economy
4. South Tyrol: Italy’s Green Region
Source: Fondazione Impresa, 2014
Green economy index in the Italian regions, 2014
The Green Economy Index has been defined by
combining 21 performance indicators
including energy, recycling, transportation, tourism,
agriculture, environmental quality of products/
enterprises, energy saving and low carbon intensity
5. Energy Climate Strategy 2050
http://www.locsee.eu/best_practice.php?id=63
Source: Low Carbon South-East Europe:
KlimaLand
South Tyrol
Natural
Smart/
technological
Innovative
Source: Piano Clima Alto Adige 2050
6. South Tyrol’s Green Sector
Green knowledge know how:
(EURAC, TIS Innovation Park, Free University
of Bolzano, BLS, Fraunhofer Innovation
Engineering Center, Laimburg Center,
Eco Research
Companies
operating in the
energy and
environmental
sector: 1464
Companies
operating in the
renewable energy
sector: 465
Green jobs in the
renewable energy
sector: 3564
Jobs in the energy
and environmental
sector: 5874
7. Enterprises and employees in the field of the green economy, South Tyrol 2010
Source: Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano 2014
8. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are strategic in the South Tyrolese economy
Of Italy’s 23 energy self-sufficient communities, 16 are located in South Tyrol.
Energy consumption: 40% thermal energy (26 % renewable), 32% transport energy ( 1%
renewable); 28% electric energy (99,5% renewable, of which 94,8% hydropower)
In South Tyrol, excluding transport, more than a half of its energy is given by renewable energy;
it should be 75 per cent by 2020 and 90 per cent by 2050
983 hydropower plants. For its geomorphology, hydropower is a key pillar of energy production
in South Tyrol
More than 70 district biomass heating networks operating in the region (40% of South Tyrol is
covered by forests; huge potential in this field)
South Tyrol and renewable energy
9. About half of the surface area of solar thermal systems (18,716) in Italy can be found in
South Tyrol, making the province a pioneer in photovoltaics in Italy
Wind turbines: 6
Biogas plants: 31
Private geothermal plants: 668
Photovoltaic systems: 6,912
10. Government commitment to save energy (500 million euros of incentives from 1983 to
2009
Due to the concept of ClimateHouse certification, South Tyrol also has a big head start in
sustainable construction: there are currently more than 5,100 climate-certified buildings in
South Tyrol
South Tyrol has declared the progressive introduction of sustainable mobility systems as
one of its strategic objectives. Ambitious projects in electric and hydrogen-based mobility
are on the way
Klima House initiative:
The introduction of verifiable minimum standards for energy consumption of buildings
The creation of a tiered system of certifying buildings and businesses for energy
efficiency
Two of the sector’s important trade fairs, Klimahouse and Klimaenergy, take place in
Bolzano every year.
South Tyrol and energy efficiency
11. The role of multifunctional agriculture
“Agriculture has a value… it is the value of agriculture that has to a large extent sustained the
beauty of Alto-Adige” (Employee of the Association of Craftsmen and Small Enterprises of the Province of
Trento, October 2008)
Multifunctional agriculture is a concept to extend the view of agriculture from a producer of
commodities and raw materials to a view that encompasses so called non-market functions of
agriculture
Mouintain agriculture and numerous functions
According to a recent study conducted in South Tyrol, there is a generally high acceptance of non-
commodity functions of mountain farming
The cultural landscape function is the most accepted function of agriculture throughout the population
Farmers are considered a key resource for the development of the territory, not only as producers, but
also and above all as innovative entrepreneurs linked to the tourist sector. Agriculture is an
encompassing activity which embraces and gives continuity to the territory.
12. Aesthetic value of the agricultural landscape
Preventing damages from bad weather, for instance landslides/avalanches
Cultural dimension: experience, knowledge, and taste
”Tourism without agriculture is not sustainable, neither from an economic point of view, or an ecological
one. This is particularly evident if compared with the situation in the eastern and western Alps, both in
Italy and in France” (Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano 2007)
After Tuscany, South Tyrol has the highest percentage of agritouristic activities in Italy.
According to the last census, 55.9% of multifunctional farms are characterized by agritourism in South
Tyrol. In Italy, the percentage is 25.4% (Agricultural census 2011).
13. Agritourism activities Number of enterprises
Guest housing 2678
Provision of food and beverages on
the maso
240
Provision of food and beverages on
the malga
105
Restaurant services 91
Provision of food and beverages
for the purpose of party services
7
Organization of recreational or
cultural activities
202
Total 3323
Agritourisms’ typology in South Tyrol
Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (2013)
15. Smart specialization strategy for South Tyrol, 2014-2020
ICT and automation
Energy
and environment
Agrifood
technologies
Alpine technologies
Creative industry
Wellness
and medicine
technology
16. 11
4
27
28
16
0
4
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
AGRIFOOD TECHNOLOGIES
NATURAL CARE TREATMENTS AND
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
ALPINE TECHNOLOGIES
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
ICT AND AUTOMATION
CREATIVE INDUSTRY
OTHER AREA
Cooperation projects within Interreg
2008-2012
Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano (2015)
