The CDP Group returned to MIPIM, the prestigious event that brings together the leading international players in the real estate sector, and which this year had the honour of being opened with a keynote speech by Mario Draghi. In his speech, Draghi offered an authoritative analysis of the transformational challenges that Europe will have to face in a changing geopolitical context.
CDP Real Asset participated in the event, held in Cannes on 10-14 March, with a stand in the Italian Pavilion. The exhibition space, prepared and managed by ICE – the Italian trade and investment agency – hosted institutions, regions, local authorities and central administrations from Italy.
Representing the CDP Group's asset management company was Chief Executive Officer Giancarlo Scotti, who spoke at three major events. He participated in the conference entitled Property & Infrastructures: Leveraging Italy's Unique Natural Beauty and Strategic Location, organised by ICE, together with – among others – MEF Undersecretary Lucia Albano. He was then among the speakers at the Roma Capitale Reloaded workshop promoted by the government of the City of Rome, which was also attended by the Councillor for Urban Planning Maurizio Veloccia. Finally, he participated in Italy and Beyond, an event organised by Studio Chiomenti, which was attended by the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri.
In his remarks, Giancarlo Scotti highlighted CDP Real Asset's strategic role in the Italian market and how urban regeneration is the common thread linking its investments in all of its business lines: affordable social housing, real estate redevelopment and support for the tourism and hospitality sector. He also underscored how CDP takes action to fill market gaps, in line with the principles of providing added value and support that characterise the Group's operations.
CDP Real Asset then drew attention to an issue of increasing relevance: the right to housing is recognised by the European Union and the United Nations as a fundamental human right, yet access to adequate and affordable housing remains a significant challenge across Europe due to rising costs, declining property ownership and economic pressures. For this reason, a greater awareness is emerging at the European Commission level that the housing crisis is not just a national problem, but rather a European challenge that requires a common solution.
In this context, CDP considers its investment model in the affordable social housing sector to be a success story, offering useful insights for the definition of future EU initiatives. In this regard, Scotti explained that "Our model can be an example. Our approach is long-term. With the work done over the years, CDP Real Asset has helped transform affordable social housing into an asset class in the real estate sector that is suitable for institutional investors”.
Also on the affordable social housing front, Scotti informed the audience of industry insiders of the imminent start of operations under the so-called Fourth S of service housing, an initiative designed 'to foster job mobility and housing flexibility for young first-time professionals and essential service workers”.
Another central theme of MIPIM 2025 was the CDP Group's support for the growth of the Italian tourism and hospitality sector and for national operators. Precisely for this reason, one of the top projects presented in the digital gallery curated by ICE for MIPIM 2025 was the Thermae Berzieri project, the iconic spa complex in Salsomaggiore that had long remained in disuse, and which – thanks to a major redevelopment project conducted by CDP in collaboration with the operator QC Terme – will once again become a wellness and beauty centre. The facility will reopen its doors to the public in the fall, helping to relaunch the local economy and generating a positive impact both in terms of employment and tourism for Salsomaggiore, the province of Parma and the entire region.