Investments – The foreign press continued to report on investments coming into Italy. The Primark deparments stores, for example, are planning an initial opening in Milan in 2016, and will then open elsewhere (Financial Times, July 10 – Primark heads for Milan with growth plans*; The Times, July 10 – Primark fashions its arrival in Italy with new Milan store*).
Ferrari “wins” on the stock exchange – a substantial operation to the tune of at least 10 billion euros.
Economy – The forecasts are for rising economic growth and a new push towards privatization as the foreign press again takes a close look at the Italian economy.
Oncology and neuroscience are the fields in which Italian researchers and laboratories tend to publish the most. Monitoring International scientific magazines like Science, the Lancet and papers published by the Nature group, has shown that in the period 1 May to 30 June, Italian laboratories have completed 102 research projects.
There’s a protein that improves memory function and has potential applications in diseases- like Alzheimer’s – as well as in other degenerative pathologies such as autism. Cristina Alberini, a professor at New York University is studying the biological mechanisms that lead to the formation of new memories. In 2011, she identified the effects that the protein, known as IGF-II and is produced by the brain, can have on long term memory. Today, her research continues with experiments on the active mechanisms governed by this molecule.
Italy has leading firms in many sectors, including information technology, but it must build up an industrial ecosystem that enables this expertise to prosper, so as to create innovation, products and jobs. The most effective strategy to generate the necessary critical mass in IT is for Italian firms to scale up in size, and for start-ups and youth entrepreneurship in the sector to be supported.
For some time now, coverage of fashion has been one of the major contributors to raising Italy’s profile in the international media. Yet the buzz surrounding the latest men’s fashion shows marks a new turning point, especially when read in light of Milan’s comeback – carefully devised by the National Chamber for Italian Fashion – as the international fashion capital, characterized by the international press in recent weeks as posing a “challenge” to the glamorous catwalks of Paris and New York.
Tourism – The foreign press continued to make suggestions for tourism destination in Italy.
While the international press might also be gearing up for summer, there was no shortage of financial coverage of Italy over the past week. Of course, reports from Italy have begun to be dominated by the features on suggested tourist destinations and cultural offerings that typically abound throughout the summer holiday period.
Men’s fashion, from Pitti to Milan – The foreign press turned its attention to the reflectors on the Florence and Milan catwalks, and two events: Pitti Uomo and the men’s fashion shows in Milan.
Growth plans of business – While waiting for the new data on the Italian economy, the foreign press concentrated on growth strategies. Spotlights were pointed at the operation of Andrea Bonomi’s Investindustrial, which has acquired the B&B Italia, the first step, according to the Financial Times, in building an LVMH style luxury holding (June 16 – Bonomi has grand designs after B&B deal*).
Tourism – Summer is coming and the foreign press published even more articles about Italy.
Recovery as seen by industry and finance – The Italian economy is back on track and good news is coming in from the country’s industrial and financial groups. The macroeconomic scenario is helping of course, given that – as Expansion explained – low interest rates are an attracion of Italian bonds, and Spanish bonds as well (May 22 – La venta masiva de bonos impulsa el atractivo de Italia y España). However, something is also moving in the domestic market.
It’s not just about style: Italy’s growing tech and foreign investment appeal
Interview with Gabriele Galateri di Genola
The economy, on its feet again – In a week where electional news predominated, the positive news from Italy was first of all about the economy. The Financial Times in particular analyzed the improved circumstances in Italy on its comments pages, discussing the changes underway and then still to come (May 29 – Italy: Back on its feet*). Statistics are encouraging.
International press coverage of Italy this week saw the country receive the thumbs-up as a destination both for pleasure and for business. On the one hand, there were pieces focusing on the delights of the Belpaese or “beautiful country”, showcasing dream destinations like Venice, Amalfi, Sardinia, and so on, while on the other, there was mounting interest in signs pointing to Italy’s economic resurgence.
It is still too early to gauge a response to the question – posed by the French newspaper Les Échos on the eve of the event – of whether Expo will be able to produce a “Miracle in Milan” capable of lifting Italian economic growth out of the doldrums. Yet, this week, the interspersing of talk of an end to the recession with a spotlight on the focal points of the Universal Expo is already dominating the pages of the international press.
Articles spotlighting Milan and its cultural offerings make up the largest and most interesting share of the coverage that the foreign press has been devoting to Italy with reference to the 6-month period of the World Expo. What is convincing and winning over editors and foreign correspondents alike is the busy schedule of events over the period during which the Expo is being held.
In order to prove a model, you need more than just a computer: you need a mathematician. That’s at least if the researcher – whether engineer, chemist or physicist – wants to be 100% certain of the results. In short, mathematical research is essential to advance many other disciplines, including applied ones such as meteorology or studies into how to make objects invisible.
Growth returns – The foreign press has asserted that Italy is leaving the recession behind and sees 2015 as a year of growth.
