innovation

Rome

21 September 2014

Italian talent abroad

This National Interest event of the Italian Talent Abroad group focused on work, training and innovation as the key launching pads for the country’s future. It was noted that while the issue of employment is one that impacts on the whole of Europe, it has an even greater bearing in Italy. In particular, there is a risk of losing an entire generation of talent, thereby fueling a vicious circle, since the destruction of skills and expertise in many sectors constitutes an irreversible process.

Rome

18 March 2015

Innovation and market trends in a knowledge society

Internet, an ongoing revolution. With its many regulatory questions still unanswered (from fiscal to privacy, from copyright to net-neutrality), the call to change business models are of an economic order. For some, it’s the era of the fifth technological revolution which won’t only effect how industry is run, but also how States are run. With this in mind, it could also become a unique opportunity to win decisive battles for the planet such as pollution and poverty.

Genoa

19 April 2015

Reshaping the present and the future: innovative ideas, strategies, and visions

Setting the stage for discussions at this National Conference was the observation that, in today’s increasingly heterogeneous world, innovation would seem to be an obligatory strategy for steering the major environmental, economic and social transformations that the world is facing. It was emphasized, however, that innovative processes are not spontaneous phenomena, and indeed have their own precise logic and conditions that enable them to thrive.

Milan

19 March 2015

Women in business. Innovation and technology: the Israeli experience

This talk-debate session, sponsored by the Valore D association, Aspen Institute Italia and Women for Expo, explored the approaches and trends that characterize female entrepreneurship, the distinguishing features of this segment of the business community, as well as existing weaknesses that could undermine its development and growth. The event was organized as part of Aspen Italia’s Women in Business project, which aims to create a transnational network of debate and reflection in support of female leadership.

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

23 October 2014

Smart cities, technology and sustainability. The challenge of Expo 2015

With issue 66 of the Institute’s Aspenia journal spotlighting, among other things, the Expo 2015 world’s fair to be held in Milan, the panel discussion for the launch of the volume examined the legacy of hosting such a global event. As a showcase of the best that the country has to offer, it was suggested that the event will not just have the admirable outcome of focusing international political debate on the world food problem and food security, but will also serve as a strategic litmus test for the city of Milan and its ambition to become an “ever-smarter city”.

Venice

9 May 2014

Strengthening and accelerating innovation: resources, tools, competencies

Headlining discussions at this ASL seminar was the observation that innovation – a key factor for growth, competitiveness and social wellbeing – requires that a series of tangible and intangible conditions be met in for it to be given full expression. Only thus – it was argued – will it be possible to harness creative talent, transform flashes of inspiration into concrete outcomes, and support business vision and ideas. The fostering of innovation was viewed, especially at this juncture, as imperative for the Italian economy, which needs to reinvigorate its manufacturing base.

Rome

15 January 2014

Challenges for Italy’s start‐ups and the US market: innovation, technology, capital

Participants at this Aspen Italia National Interest event recognized from the outset of their discussions the crucial role that start-ups could – given the right conditions – play in increasing Italy’s economic competitiveness. The formation of new businesses in highly innovative sectors was acknowledged as not only helping to renew the economic fabric of the country, by opening up new market niches, but also as offering opportunities to younger workers, a group heavily penalized by the current crisis.

Rome

19 April 2013

Italian talent abroad

Kicking off discussions at this National Interest event was the assertion that innovation is a complex ecosystem – an Amazonian forest in which every actor has a different role to play, but where the contribution of each is essential. While scientific and technological research is a key driver of innovation, it is not the only one. Also required is the input of public and private actors, big business and small pioneering start-ups, venture capitalists and deep and liquid stock markets, and young innovators with entrepreneurial flair and well-established mentors.

Geneva

18 October 2013

Science and innovation: research, infrastructure and international collaboration

The opening premise of discussions at this International Conference was that scientific research is crucial to innovation, understood as both the discovery of new facts, data, or laws of nature, as well as knowledge with a direct technological application. Indeed, technology provides an essential bridge between science and society. As a demonstration of this, the participants pointed to the limitless practical applications of the World Wide Web (which had its origins at CERN, based on the development of the internet), citing it as a case where the industrial spinoff has been enormous.

Rome

17 October 2012

Innovation and research to beat the crisis

Innovation is a complex process that requires creativity and talent, as well as infrastructure, long-term investment and a truly effective merit-based system of incentives: these were the watchwords at this event to launch the latest issue of Aspenia. Indeed, it was observed that for a society to be innovative in the twenty-first century world, it must have the scope and ability to combine scientific research with applied technology, thereby transforming ideas into products or services that are useful from a market perspective.

Venice

26 October 2012

Smart cities: innovation, sustainability, and quality of life

Discussions at this ASL seminar got underway with the observation that the idea of smart cities has come to prominence worldwide as a driver of development in urban areas. Indeed, in the currently unfolding process of polycentric globalization, the smart city has become a linchpin in the innovation ecosystem, a network node capable of galvanizing new energies for growth, with obvious benefits for national economies.

Milan

8 May 2011

Jobs, growth and values. Creating opportunities for new generations

The Dialogue session got underway with the observation that the world economic recovery has failed to alleviate the social impact of the crisis, with the improving economic situation having no appreciable effect on employment. The participants highlighted that this phenomenon affects both workers in more mature sectors – that is, those most exposed to the consequences of globalization – as well as younger people, who are just entering the labor market.

Milan

26 September 2011

Venture capital and start-ups: boosting innovation and youth employment

The participants at this roundtable session observed that Italy has long been a country that, paradoxically, is brimming with ideas yet marked by scant innovation and little skilled employment for the young talent chiefly responsible for these ideas. The abundant and inexpensive intellectual resources on hand are held back by a combination of a poor aptitude for project creation and poor communication among the various actors who are in a position to ensure that good ideas translate into great innovations.

Cernobbio

5 November 2010

The industrial system, territory and social cohesion

This seminar got underway with the participants noting that the Italian industrial system has succeeded in weathering the global crisis whilst maintaining the country’s position as a leading manufacturer both in Europe and worldwide. The more or less stable performance of the Italian production system has enabled the economy to respond to stimulus, though the signs of recovery remain weak.

Cernobbio

5 November 2010

Investing in knowledge: more innovation, better infrastructure, new school system

In this seminar, the participants examined what were identified as the major areas requiring action to enable Italy to face the new and increasingly impelling global challenges. The three areas singled out were: innovation policies, tangible and intangible knowledge-system infrastructure, and education models conducive to promoting employment and competitiveness.

Naples

14 May 2010

Investing in knowledge for progress and productivity

The debate centered around two main points: investment in knowledge and human capital, and research and innovation. These two issues are determining factors of growth and competitiveness and together they represent the basic needs to survive, revive the economy and meet the challenges of the future.

Milan

26 July 2010

New international strategies to support Italian business

The financial crisis has considerably modified the environment in which Italian firms operate. It has introduced new problems in the export sector that are related not only to structural changes in the capital markets but also to difficulties in accessing credit.

Milan

8 June 2009

Back to a nuclear future: fourth generation

The 11th annual spring meeting of the Friends of Aspen, held in Milan at the Palazzo Trussardi alla Scala, was attended by members of the group as well as leaders and members of the Institute. The meeting centered around a debate on the issue of nuclear power in Italy, whilst at the same time offering an opportunity to introduce new members of the group, elicit suggestions for topics for future events and announce the group’s upcoming annual conference (the 14th in the series) to take place in the fall.