Novara

Located in northwest Italy, Novara is a provincial capital and the second most populous city in the Piedmont region after Turin, with around 105,000 residents. Lying between the Sesia and Ticino rivers on the Po Plain, it is a major crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin and Genoa to Switzerland. Novara and its surrounding areas constitute the main urban centre of the so-called ‘Congiunzione Nord’ (Piedmont Northern Conjunction), which includes the provinces of Novara, Vercelli, Biella and Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.

The local economy is mainly industrial, featuring the ENI Group in the chemical sector, De Agostini (publishing), Pavesi (food) and Novamont (biodegradable plastics), with a relatively high proportion of the output being exported. The chemical industry is particularly well-established and ranges from base chemistry to paints and solvents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and innovative materials research.

The city also has a strong tradition in fashion sector, notably in sportswear, while local agriculture is strongly characterised by rice production. Despite its relative success, however, many major employers have relocated due to global competition. The result is that the local business fabric is now mainly comprised of small and medium-sized enterprises—many with fewer than 10 employees. To support innovation and local firms, Novara is part of a regional internet consortium—the TOP-IX (Torino-Piedmont Exchange)—which provides high-speed web access.