During 2017, the definition of new measures and national regulations related to the resumption of economic growth was closely monitored (with particular reference to those aimed at facilitating access to credit), to stimulating investment in research and innovation (4.0 Industry, Digitalization of P.A. and FinTech), to completion of the process of liberalisation of economic activities and to the strengthening of the international projection of the business system.
Great importance was given to the issue of the Circular Economy via:

• coordination in the Group response to the National Consultation on the Circular Economy opened by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Development and merged in the final Document "Towards a model of circular economy for Italy. Strategic framing and positioning document ";
• support in the organization of the event, in collaboration with ENEL, "Circular economy: national strategic positioning and role of industrial chains" at which the Ministry of the Environment presented the first results of the document Strategic positioning of Italy on the subject and at which was signed the alliance of the Circular economy, the Manifesto signed by Intesa Sanpaolo and other big Italian companies to strengthen the commitment to a continuous improvement of companies on innovation, competitiveness and environmental performance, promoting the circular economy;
• participation in the Working Group "Circular economy and role of technology" at COTEC-Foundation for technological innovation;
• monitoring and timely information on events that have an impact on the activities carried out by colleagues and on the Group's strategies and activities in this area.

In the field of green finance, the monitoring and coordination of the Working groups in ABI - that deal with the theme through informative and punctual updates for the Group - has been constant. In particular, the process of responding to the ABI Group for Consultation on the National Energy Strategy was insured.

Intesa Sanpaolo accepted the invitation of the Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and of UNEP-United Nations Environment Programme to participate in the Working Group of the National Dialogue on Sustainable Finance involving, at the national level, the main stakeholders active in the sustainable finance sector: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Economic Development, the main regulatory Authorities (Bank of Italy, Consob, Covip, IVASS), various trade associations (ABI, ANIA, ACRI, Confindustria) and a number of industry players (in addition to Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, Generali and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti).
The initiative of the Ministry of the Environment is part of the broader framework of activities carried out globally by UNEP which, since 1992, has activated the UNEP Finance Initiative, a partnership between the United Nations and the financial sector with over 200 members, including banks, insurance companies and investment funds.
The Observatory represents the continuation of the National Dialogue on Sustainable Finance initiative launched in 2016 by the Ministry of the Environment and UNEP to which the bank took part.