This book focuses on how digital technologies and rapid developments in artificial intelligence are shaping a new generation of cyber-physical systems based on the convergence among robots, sensors, and 3D printing. The book tells a story based on data and indicators to compare the resilience to this transformation in some key manufacturing regions. As a specific case study, the book discusses in length the transformation of the manufacturing processes in the Italian automotive industry. The authors conclude the book by providing policy implications for regions and cities.

Aldo Geuna is a professor of economic policy in the Department of Cultures, Politics, and Society, University of Turin (Italy), fellow of the Collegio Carlo Alberto (Turin, Italy), and fellow of CIFAR (Canada). His research interests include economics of science, economics of innovation, science and technology policy, political economy of science and technology, ICT and Internet economics, economic growth, and development economics.

 Marco Guerzoni is an associate professor of applied economics at the Bicocca University of Milan (Italy). His research area covers management and economics of innovation, technology policy, and advanced data science. His prior work has been published in international journals, including Research Policy, Cambridge Journal of Economics, Italian Journal of Applied Statistics, and Journal of Evolutionary Economics.

 Massimiliano Nuccio is an assistant professor of Business Economicsand management in the Department of Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy) and deputy director of the University's “BLISS – Digital Impact Lab.” His research interests cover digital transformation and data-driven economy, business analytics, urban and regional studies, and cultural and creative industries.

 Armando Rungi is an assistant professor of industrial organization and international trade at IMT Lucca (Italy), working for the research unit AXES (Analysis of Complex Economic Systems). His main fields of study are international economics, industrial organization, microeconometrics, health economics, trade policy, the economics of natural resources, and transition economies.