Rome
28 October 2015
Institutions, democracy and lobbies
The issue of the representation of special interests is currently taking on particular importance within the Italian political system: this is occurring as a result of political parties’ declining monopoly over the function they used to have of intermediating interests, and due to the emergence of the governance paradigm more open to identifying a role for the stakeholders within the process of public decision-making.
Milan
27 October 2015
The value of art: on culture and markets
Kick-starting the panel discussion at the launch of the latest issue of the Institute’s Aspenia journal was the recognition that Milan was, is, and will continue to be Italy’s creative thinking capital.
Milan
19 October 2015
New rules and digital challenges: where is the banking sector headed?
The focus of this fourth edition of the annual National Conference on the Italian banking system was the future of a sector being squeezed between, on the one hand, a veritable regulatory deluge that has contributed to reduced profit margins, and, on the other, new competitors from associated sectors that already existed (shadow banking) or are entirely new (fintech), which threaten business that has always been the preserve of the banks.
Cesano Maderno (MB)
12 October 2015
Focusing on Italy’s industrial sector and on foreign investment: policies and tools
The chief thrust of discussions at this national roundtable was that Italy’s manufacturing base has demonstrated a great capacity for responding and adapting, even though the continuing economic crisis has seen a major industrial downsize. Indeed, between 2008 and 2014, the number of Italian firms fell by about 47,000, a drop primarily involving small and medium-sized firms, while manufacturing potential as a whole shrank by 18%.
Rome
7 October 2015
Supporting pension funds to stimulate economic growth in Italy
Launching discussions at this national roundtable was the observation that the Italian pension system has undergone several attempts at reform over the past 25 years. From the Dini reforms to the more recent Fornero efforts, a succession of reform packages have accorded priority to balancing the public finances which underpin the first and most important pillar of the Italian pension system – namely, the state pension.
Rome
27 September 2015
Sustainability: merely necessary or a driver of growth?
Discussions at this Conference for the Italian talent abroad group focused on the need for a development model where economic growth is not merely an end, but serves as a means to improving the quality of people’s lives. This was highlighted as the shared goal uniting Italy and the more than 150 countries which, during the recent United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, adopted a package of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be pursued by 2030.
Milan
21 September 2015
Innovation as a catalyst for growth: what Milan can do
Enterprises, innovation, and Milan were the three watchwords of discussions at this meeting focused on the pursuit by the Lombardy region of international competitiveness, particularly with respect to other European macro-regions of excellence, namely: Bavaria, Rhône-Alpes, Catalonia, and Baden-Württemberg.
Milan
10 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – Investing in innovation: women and technologies
It is women who underestimate their abilities, don’t ask for anything and often put up with a less important job than they are capable of. And yet according to many statistical studies, they are more competent, better prepared, have higher university grades and are better managers. It is true to say that women are more versatile and flexible and they play a key role in integrating the various elements of society.
Milan
9 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – The case for TTIP: how, when, what?
Trade agreements, particularly those between Europe and the US (TTIP: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership), provide a huge opportunity for development and growth and are therefore so much more than a potential risk. The European Commission’s agenda is very ambitious.
Milan
9 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – Agribusiness and trade: friends or foes?
Kicking off proceedings at this international workshop was the observation that agricultural market growth is once again the focus of world attention. Consumer prices for food products are rising, and sudden fluctuations in the cost of agricultural commodities are set to become more frequent in the short term. After a period of abundance, the world risks an era of food shortages, due to factors such as demographic shifts, climate change, growing global health problems, and an inadequate distribution of wealth.
Pavia
9 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – Science and individual health
These days, the world of health is facing a revolution that does not only concern medicine but also includes a broad range of disciplines and many aspects of daily life. Demographic tendencies, the evolution of research and the strategic use of “big data” are bringing about a sea change in the existing model of individual care.
Milan
8 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – Women, science and sustainable development
The key to sustainable development is not only an effective partnership between government, civil society and the private sector, but also a scientific approach. Science and technology are fundamental in generating the knowledge necessary to sustainably resolve today’s most pressing problems. And they are especially important when seen from a global viewpoint, as today’s problems are global problems, as well as from a gender perspective.
Milan
8 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – The role of nutrition in future health: the gender challenge
The intersection between women, nutrition and health is undeniable. Women are the food matrons of the world as in most cases they are the ones who purchase and prepare what families eat. They are also the world’s caregivers, meaning they are typically the ones who look after children, the elderly and the sick. Despite this women are also the most food insecure and make up the majority of the world’s patient population, though they have the least access to healthcare.
Milan
8 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – A conversation on human mind and innovation
By way of setting the tone for this International Workshop, figures were cited showing that, in 2014, 350 million PCs and 320 million tablets were sold, and that, in the next five years, there will be some 200 billion web-connected devices. The latest devices – it was observed – are able to learn our needs and preferences, enabling increasingly personalized feedback, with artificial intelligence continuing to make great leaps forward. It was stressed, however, that it is not just machines that are learning from people – humans too have ended up being shaped by their devices.
Milan
8 July 2015
Aspen at Expo – Clean cooking solutions for health and sustainability
Everyone likes to eat food cooked on the barbecue, but whilst in the western world, it is part and parcel of a convivial habit, often linked to a celebration of some sort, in Africa and Asia it is one of the main causes of death. It is also a sign of inequality and the cause of environmental damage, and yet is a problem that few have heard of.
Rome
25 June 2015
Building the Energy Union
The ongoing efforts to build a well functioning Energy Union in Europe should be seen in the context of major global changes related in various ways to the energy sector – possibly a whole new phase of globalization, featuring new actors, new forms of balance of power, new conflicts (actual or potential).