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      • Milan
        • 30 November 2007
         
         

        Developing and supporting research in Italy

          The underlying premise of the Conference discussions was that the future and competitiveness of Italy depend on the further development of the country’s research sphere and on the productivity of its university system. Greater investment is thus needed, as are, above all, new rules and new organizational models which ensure a leading European role for the country in sectors where Italy already holds a strong position and which enable it to face the challenges posed by the United States, China and India.

        • Parma
          • 26 November 2007
           
           

          Is the individual the key to development?

            On the stage of the Regio Theater in Parma, the Friends of Aspen met for their twelfth annual conference. Debate focused on the role of the individual in the world’s advanced capitalist societies: how the rules of global competition have changed, how the current economic value system affects immaterial goods and creativity, whether the “person” remains key in economic development, innovation and competition. Participants stressed the need to define new roles and clear and transparent principles with which to manage the individual’s role today, with an accent on freedom and responsibility.

          • Milan
            • 23 November 2007
             
             

            Italy’s patrimony: value added in global competition

              The forum “Italy’s patrimony: value added in global competition” was part of the Institute’s National Interest project, which has posted a rich selection of documents in Italian and in English on this website in an ongoing discussion of the value of identity, culture, language and skills in this country. In order to better meet the challenges posed by current globalization trends, the forum highlighted the need for Italy to bet on its rich heritage. The Italian language, in particular, has a long and important history, and represent many of the roots of Western civilization.

            • Marseille
              • 22 November 2007
               
               

              Constructing the Euro-Mediterranean Space: Where are We Headed?

                The conference “Constructing the Euro-Mediterranean Space: where are we headed?” dealt with the political, economic and technological divide that currently persists between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean, and the effect these gaps will have once the region becomes a “free trade area”, in 2010. Much of the discussion was dedicated to consideration of the Mediterranean Union (MU), a “variable geometry” organism to be launched in June 2008 and which should breathe new life into Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

              • Turin
                • 16 November 2007
                 
                 

                Shaping our Future – Merit, not age, as the discriminating factor

                  The Conference described and analyzed proposals for generational turnover in Italy and Europe. Participants focused on fostering merit in the areas of economics, politics and academia. Regarding generational turnover, proposals included lowering the active and passive voting age in the Senate, and limiting the number of terms in office they may seek (as with mayors in Italy).

                • Rome
                  • 5 November 2007
                   
                   

                  China’s rise and Europe: dealing with mutual challenges

                    The discussion highlighted the speed at which China’s role as a world power is evolving: its influence is growing visibly, although in the presence of undeniable macroeconomic imbalances (internal and external) that are of serious concern for the future.\r\nFrom a strictly economic point of view, a change of perspective is underway, from the prominence of export to investment and partnership – a development fostered by the sizeable liquid assets available to Chinese operators.

                  • Rome
                    • 25 October 2007
                     
                     

                    The importance of education and training for Italy’s leaders

                      The debate focused on the ideal approach for providing Italy’s managers with a training process that encourages personal maturity, pushing students to abandon an enduring adolescent phase. In an era of exponential fragmentation of knowledge, the leaders of the future will need new methodologies for understanding, and a solid sense of the necessity of continuing education. First, we need to recover the virtuous cycle of training-transmission-training and make the principle of “returning to school” part of our mindset.

                    • Siracusa
                      • 12 October 2007
                       
                       

                      Infrastructures: between development and competition

                        This seminar was also part of the national interest cycle. The discussion aimed to formulate proposals on how to create an integrated system of physical infrastructures, to boost Italian competitiveness in global markets. Infrastructure networks are an architecture around which multiple services can be developed. These, in turn, contribute to the growth of the economic system.

                      • Siracusa
                        • 12 October 2007
                         
                         

                        Institutions, markets, enterprises: new rules to modernize Italy

                          This seminar, part of a cycle of meetings on important issues dedicated to Italy’s national interests, addressed the main approach that should be taken to affirm the culture of value and quality of rules. In Italy, the perception that there is a lack of respect for the rules goes hand in hand with an unwieldy regulatory system lacking transparency. If those same rules were well designed and synthesized, they would contribute to social and economic development. Today, however, they are perceived as – and indeed sometimes are – an impediment to the country’s growth and modernization.

                        • Siracusa
                          • 12 October 2007
                           
                           

                          The “Italia” brand to foster the country’s competitiveness

                            This seminar examined those elements that constitute the strength and value of Italy’s namebrand, to understand possible strategies that can help build up a distinctive position for the country in the global market. Thanks to our first-class historic/artistic heritage, together with a proclivity for innovation, our past has given us a privileged position in the world. Italy’s strengths lie in its creativity, lifestyle, love of beauty and innate aesthetic sense. These are the elements on which “Made in Italy” is based; they should be further taken advantage of to develop Italy’s brand name.

                          • Siracusa
                            • 12 October 2007
                             
                             

                            The TLC and media industry’s frontiers: opportunities for development and new markets

                              Innovation has had a very strong impact on the world of telecommunications and media, and is profoundly changing the industry. This seminar sought to analyze the consequences of this revolution in order to understand new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, and to assess the transformation of individuals and society in an increasingly interconnected future. Web 2.0 is redefining identities and local boundaries and represents a challenge for politics and governments worldwide.

                            • Rome
                              • 27 September 2007
                               
                               

                              The Left and the Right: merit, rights, opportunities. Redefining values for generations to come

                                This conference focussed on the evolution of traditional political categories, from reform liberalism to liberal socialism, from economic values to development and equal opportunity, from individual merit to corporate mentality, the role of the state and the independence of enterprise. Different solutions have been developed throughout Europe: from the Grosse Koalition in Germany to “neocentralism” in the UK, to a definitive abolishment of the left-right divide (as some defined it) in France.

                              • Milan
                                • 17 September 2007
                                 
                                 

                                Listening to the Word

                                  This roundtable was born of a bitter truth: in this era of communication, talking and listening – which should be the pillars of our interpersonal relations – are considered less important than looking. Dialogue is no longer a balanced and respectful form of interaction, as it should be between two speaking individuals. Everyday relations in the workplace are an example: those higher up in the hierarchy often forget that they are surrounded by valid elements, by thinking human beings who are worth listening to. Participants agreed that today images often replace words.

                                • Rome
                                  • 26 July 2007
                                   
                                   

                                  Politics and antipolitics

                                    The conference “Politics and anti-politics” highlighted many of the historic problems in the Italians’ relationship with politics. Italians have not always been so detached from the institutions and their representatives. The unpopularity of politics today can be explained first by the fact that it is perceived as a way of occupying public space and not as a service to the citizen. Secondly, Italians generally view their politicians as immoral, extremely expensive and inefficient.

                                  • Rome
                                    • 11 July 2007
                                     
                                     

                                    Italian social security: current situation and future prospects

                                      The roundtable “Integrated pension plans: present picture and prospects for the future” highlighted the relationship between demographics, aging and pension systems. It took a close look at the lack of financial sustainability of the latter without any tax intervention on salaries and on the general population. Participants analyzed the solutions adopted by most of the OECD countries and there was a discussion of some of the best practices worldwide.

                                    • Florence
                                      • 6 July 2007
                                       
                                       

                                      The Aspen Dialogue on World Economy – The New Geopolitics of the Global Economy

                                        The yearly conference offers an important moment to reflect on the prevailing trends of the world economy in the medium and long term. The 2007 edition examined the question of the weaker dollar as a way of analyzing prospects for the euro and global financial relations. Discussion revolved around the weakened US currency and whether it will remain the pivot of the international monetary system. At the same time, participants looked at the strength of the euro and its rapid growth as a world reserve currency.

                                      • Milan
                                        • 2 July 2007
                                         
                                         

                                        Ninth Friends of Aspen Meeting: The culture economy: the art of learning

                                          The ninth Friends of Aspen meeting was held in Milan’s evocative Teatro Studio of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano. Participants debated present relations between the world of culture and that of business and finance. The meeting also offered a chance to introduce the group’s new members and to illustrate present and future activities. In particular, an announcement was made of the group’s upcoming yearly conference – the twelfth – to be held at Teatro Reggio in Parma at the end of November.

                                        • Rome
                                          • 27 June 2007
                                           
                                           

                                          The Israel Factor: Jerusalem and the crisis in the Middle East

                                            This meeting, open to the press, offered the chance to analyze how the growth of Islamic fundamentalism risks endangering Israel’s very existence. The Middle East question, which might also be viewed as an Arab-Persian question, puts Israel at the center of all the region’s complex dynamics. This debate presented various points of view on the future of the Jewish state and on the relationship between Israel and Europe. Particular attention was paid to the situation in which Jerusalem and the Holy Sites find themselves as well as the state of affairs between Israel and the Vatican.