Philips celebrates its first 100 years in Italy. Philips has followed the path of continuous innovation in the service of social progress, to improve the quality of life
Today in Milan, the greeting from the Institutions to the celebration event entitled In the future, for 100 years. The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, the Councilor for Economic Development of the Lombardy Region, Guido Guidesi, the Consul General of the Netherlands in Milan, Mascha Baak were present.
An opportunity to retrace history, discuss what innovation means and renew Philips’ commitment in Milan and Lombardy: defibrillators donated to the city of Milan to make Parco Nord a protected cardio site.
Philips celebrates 100 years in Italy
In 1923, the Philips Società Anonima Italiana was born in Milan, a branch of the Dutch company founded by Gerard, Frederik and Anton Philips. As early as the end of the 19th century, the company “illuminated” the world with incandescent light bulbs and created cutting-edge solutions and products that have revolutionized people’s lives over time.
A century of history with an eye to the future, which today Philips, leader in the Health Technology sector, celebrates at the SuperLab Bicocca in Milan, in the presence of the institutions.
In the future, for 100 years it has been an opportunity to retrace together the fundamental stages of the journey that saw Philips as a pioneer in countless sectors; and to question the intrinsic meaning of innovation today during a round table entitled “People-driven innovation, challenges and opportunities of the new digital humanism”.
A multi-voiced comparison animated by the contributions of:
- Melissa Ferretti PerettiVP e Country Manager Google Italia,
- Emanuela Girardiboard member of AIxIA, Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence and Founder of POP AI,
- Maximo IbarraCEO Engineering Group,
- Gianmario VeronaPresident of the Human Technopole Foundation,
- e Andrea CelliManaging Director of Philips Italy, Israel and Greece.
An urgent push emerges from the debate to define a clear and secure governance to safeguard an increasingly digital innovation; where artificial intelligence can truly be an enabler for human intelligence, serving people and the planet.
Statements regarding 100 years of Philips in Italy
Andrea CelliManaging Director of Philips Italy, Israel and Greece, says:
It is an emotion and an honor to be here to celebrate Philips 100 years in Italy together. Ours is the story of a company that has been able to reinvent itself over time, while maintaining the ability to stimulate progress through disruptive and cutting-edge solutions. Today our ambition is to support a health ecosystem that rests on the pillars of technological innovation that is digital, sustainable and human at the same time, where people – consumers, doctors or patients – are truly at the centre. An objective that can only be achieved through a virtuous system that connects different and complementary skills and know-how, under the banner of a common vision, to write the next 100 years of the future, together.
Philips, pioneer of innovation in every sector, at all times.
Since the 1930s, Philips has helped people communicate over the air with radio and TVproduced in the Monza factories, which already stood out at the time for their high level of automation.
He changed the music world, first with cassette tapes (1963) then with the invention of the CD (1982) and entered people’s homes with everyday objects and small appliances. Quickly become a symbol of economic growth and raising the quality of life.
In the 70s has developed systems for the collection and processing of data used at the Linate airport in Milan. It has also introduced new diagnostic technologies into the healthcare sector, supporting doctors to make more accurate analyses. In 1992 he patented the first “high performance acoustical cleaning device” or a toothbrush for oral hygiene with sonic technology. In 2006 he introduced the world’s first 3D X-ray scanner.
Today the company continues to invest more than 10% of turnover in research and development. In 2022 it was the leading European candidate in the MedTech category and the second worldwide for the presentation of patents; to create that meaningful innovation that puts people at the center, from prevention to diagnosis, from treatment to home care.
A deep bond with the territory in the name of innovation
Philips has accompanied the growth of the socio-economic fabric of Milan for many years, also through social responsibility initiatives, in the fields of health and environmental sustainability. Between all, access to free cardiological check-ups at the Red Cross clinicthe organization of BLSD first aid courses open to citizens or the planting of an area of Parco Nord.
This link is consolidated today with the donation to the city of semi-automatic defibrillators (AED), to make Parco Nord in Milan a protected cardio location.
The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Salaspeaking at the event promoted by Philips Italia, underlined:
Milan is the cradle for companies that innovate, as evidenced by the extraordinary history of Philips. One hundred years ago the city had a strong industrial vocation, today it remains a large center for the advanced tertiary sector, with large research and development centres, thanks to its universities and start-ups connected to the business world. Companies such as Philips play a key role in promoting technology transfer on the territory and on the market, for the benefit of the community. I also thank Philips Italia for its commitment to making Parco Nord Milano a heart-protected place.
Masha BakeConsul General of the Netherlands in Milan, congratulated Philips Italia:
For us Dutch, Philips is one of the symbols of entrepreneurship in our country. He was born in 1891 in Eindhoven and became the productive heart and driving force of the whole area that developed around this city, making it, still today, one of the areas with the highest innovative vocation in our country. I am therefore happy to see that Philips also has solid roots in Italy, which have led it to celebrate its 100th anniversary and to develop innovative and sustainable solutions for the health of all together with numerous partners in the Netherlands, Italy and the world.
Simona ComandèPresident of Philips SpA, concludes:
Thanks to all partners and customers, colleagues, institutions and the academic world, gathered here today to celebrate this important milestone with us, but above all thank you for being part of this Italian journey, made of innovation, passion, commitment, and resilience. Being true to ourselves while shedding skin and making courageous strategic choices makes us proud today to be a leader in the Health Technology sector with a distinctive identity and the will to continue working to redefine care paradigms, for the benefit of people and the entire health system.
100 years of innovations and curiosities
Philips’ innovative ability to miniaturize technologies such as radio and TV has contributed to transforming these devices into objects of design and making them increasingly accessible to the mass market. Over the course of a century, Philips has become an important brand in people’s lives in ItalyHere are some curiosities:
In 1931, Philips radio receivers brought a concert by Toscanini from America into Italian homes. The Maestro’s son, in thanking Philips in a letter, wrote:
Only with your device were we able to hear the Concerts of the Philharmonic Symphony perfectly in our house, in the center of Milan, and hear the voice of our father who gave us great joy.
Around the same time, Philips equipment entered the Vatican and Philips loudspeakers were the first to be installed in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the mid-1930s, in the Monza factory, Philips produced televisions built into console cabinets: a large piece of furniture with a screen on the top and a front speaker; in the lower part all the circuits were inserted which took up a lot of space. The price was L.15,500, including the government tax, and corresponded to one and a half times the price of the Fiat Topolino, whose presence in the family was already a conspicuous sign of prosperity.
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