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Founded in May 1978, Farmindustria is the Italian Association of Pharmaceutical Companies. It adheres to Confindustria, the European Federation (EFPIA) and the World Federation (IFPMA). It has about 200 member companies operating in Italy, both Italian and foreign owned.

With over 120 plants throughout the country and 67,000 highly qualified employees, of which about half are women (43%) and increasingly young (the under 35 have grown by 13% in the last five years, more than the total employment in the sector), the pharmaceutical companies in Italy have a strategic value for the country. With €3.4 billion in production, they are leaders in the EU along with France and Germany.

Thanks to its 6,770 researchers and investments of over €3 billion per year (1.4 in production and 1.7 in Research and Development), Italy is among the protagonists in pharmaceutical research, as demonstrated by specializations in biotech medicines, advanced therapies, orphan medicines, plasma derivatives, vaccines, and clinical trials. Achievements always built-in partnership with the territory, its public and private centers of excellence, universities, science parks, start-ups and non-profit organizations.

The pharmaceutical industry gives strength to the entire economy: in the five-year period 2016-2021 exports exceeded, on average, 85% of production and employment recorded the highest growth in Italy. It has long been committed to a more sustainable economy and a more inclusive society that looks more closely at people's health, well-being, and education, in line with the United Nations' 2030 goals. In fact, there are numerous social responsibility initiatives launched for several years by Farmindustria. Providing a concrete contribution to guidance, training, and employability also to constructively address the phenomenon of NEETs.

The Association has launched a series of Active Policy projects for young people, in particular: the collaboration with the Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) in New Technologies of Life, creating a sector Academy as a training center for specialized skills to offer young people employment in line with the profiles necessary for the sector, and the ‘Alternanza Scuola Lavoro’ (School-Work experience), aimed at orienting students.

A sector that recognizes the value of working people, offering one of the most modern and effective corporate welfare models and responsibly addressing the different needs in terms of Diversity & Inclusion, work-life balance, health welfare – especially for caregivers – and for the family to promote the birth rate.

To ensure maximum correctness of behavior, the companies associated with Farmindustria have given themselves a Code of Conduct – to date among the most rigorous in Europe – which regulates the relations amongst member companies and also amongst themselves and the scientific and healthcare communities.

During the pandemic emergency, pharma companies have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 by ensuring continuity and access to care and engaging in R&D for therapies, vaccines and diagnostic tests. In Italy, companies have contributed to the management of the crisis with donations of medicines, goods and services, initiatives to support patients, doctors and all the staff of the supply chain, ensuring operational continuity in the plants, operating in complete safety.

'The clock of life’  has been presented to highlight the contribution of medicine to the increase in life expectancy.

The Association pursues the creation of a stable regulatory environment and a medicine policy that recognizes the industry’s vital role for the growth of life sciences in the country.

Farmindustria promotes the knowledge of pharmaceutical companies and research, also thanks to the "roadshows" at the sites of member companies to show ‘live’ the innovation and value production of the sector and to reflect on the policies necessary to stimulate development.