Projects
The Institute places great strategic store in a number of national and international projects which over the course of the years it has brought to successful completion or in which it continues to be engaged. Starting out initially as analyses or research studies on highly-topical strategic issues, the significant results obtained have culminated in either programs and seminar events or ad-hoc publications. Leading experts in various fields and members of the Institute have made and continue to make a fundamental contribution to the achievement of this outcome, by sharing both their experience and interest in the given topics.
The latest such project is the Aspen Mediterranean Initiative, through which Aspen Italia aims – as changes unfold in the Arab world – to promote the emergence of a new generation of leaders in the Mediterranean, especially up-and-coming youth in the fields of business, energy and the media. The partners in this initiative are the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, The Aspen Institute (USA), and Aspen Institute España.
Through a series of conferences and meetings in Italy and abroad, emerging young talent from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia will have the opportunity to interact with young Italian, European and American leaders, and at the same time, to listen to the experiences of older participants (members of the Aspen network) willing to share their expertise and engage with younger people with a view to developing ideas and projects.
The project got underway with an International Conference held in Palermo (on December 2-4, 2011), where those in attendance principally discussed how to go about building democratic systems within the Mediterranean area that are sustainable in the long term – being both socially and institutionally sound – and how to create dynamic and modern economies, in the sense of being open and integrated with international trade.
In late 2009, the Institute launched The Aspen China-Europe-US Trialogue, a trilateral forum which provides an opportunity for political leaders, economists and representatives of institutions from the United States, Europe and China to meet and discuss key global governance issues. The Trialogue is organized in collaboration with the Aspen Strategy Group of The Aspen Institute, and the Central School of the Chinese Communist Party, together with the cooperation of the Fondazione Italia Cina.
The idea of establishing a “Trialogue” was conceived in the wake of a lecture given by the Chairman of Aspen Institute Italia, Giulio Tremonti, at the Central School of the Chinese Communist Party.
The essential aim of the initiative is to come up with new ideas on how global governance could be improved by comparing experiences in areas that are strategic both for international relations and for the respective national economies of the Trialogue parties. To this end, the “Trialogue” takes the form of a permanent platform for exchanges on an informal basis – and hence as frank as possible – between China, Europe and the United States. More particularly, direct interaction with the Central School, which trains and selects members of the Chinese leadership, provides considerable scope for innovation.
The key topics for discussion include security, energy, the environment and the international economic outlook. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the G20, and its potential and limits as a forum for coordination and governance.
The first meeting took place at the Central School of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing on December 2-3, 2010.
The discussion focused on certain crucial issues for the international economy, energy and security, and tackled not only possible problems stemming from the partly different perceptions, historical legacies and priorities of the respective parties, but also the vast areas of agreement on shared objectives. Each of the organizing institutes put together a delegation of around 20 experts from the academic, political and business spheres.
At the second meeting held in Venice on October 27-29, 2011, it was decided to adapt the format to make the discussion more interactive. The proceedings opened with a plenary session. Based on their areas of expertise, the participants were then divided into three working groups, whose results were presented by rapporteurs to the closing plenary session.
With a view to opening up the debate to the business world as well, a Business Forum was launched in Venice in cooperation with the Fondazione Italia Cina, which saw the participation of many members of the Institute and a number of entrepreneurs operating in China.
Aspen Italia has brought many important Projects to successful completion over the years, covering areas of strategic interest to the Institute’s mission of imbuing leadership with an international outlook as well as exploring new ideas and frontiers of knowledge through free and frank exchange.
