sviluppo

Sviluppo is an Italian noun meaning development, growth, or progress. It derives from the verb sviluppare, meaning to develop or unfold, and denotes the process of increasing complexity, capacity, or value over time. The term is used across disciplines to describe the change from an initial state to a more advanced one, whether in natural, social, or technical contexts.

In biology, sviluppo refers to ontogenetic or embryonic development and to the life-cycle progression of organisms. In economics and public policy, it designates the expansion or modernization of an economy, a region, or a sector, as in sviluppo economico or sviluppo regionale. The concept is closely tied to development policies, planning, and investment strategies, including sustainable development (sviluppo sostenibile), which emphasizes environmental stewardship, social equity, and long-term viability. In international discourse, paesi in via di sviluppo or paesi in sviluppo describe nations that are undergoing rapid growth and industrialization, often facing development challenges.

In technology and software, sviluppo describes the stages of software development—from analysis and design to implementation and testing. In the social sciences and human development, development-oriented metrics such as the Human Development Index appear as sviluppo umano or related phrases in Italian texts.

See also: sviluppo sostenibile, sviluppo economico, sviluppo umano, paesi in via di sviluppo.