From the meeting it appears that a convergence of the different platforms opens new scenarios for content producers as well as for broadcasters and new entrants in the market. In order to maximise the potentials of this sector, participants focused their attention on a few priorities. First of all, technological neutrality which is a must for the future.
Public infrastructure is key to relaunching Italy’s competitiveness; they also demand involvement on various levels: state, regional and local. European directives shake up the Italian regime as well, forcing adaptation to the Merloni law and a re-evaluation of the role of the General Contractor. Participants at this discussion focussed on identifying the enormous financial resources necessary for large public works. To this end, they stressed not only the role of the European Investment Bank and the Italian state, but new and innovative tools of project financing.
The National Interest, topic to which Aspen has always paid great attention, needs to be redefined and set in a European context. The recent EU laws have in fact removed market barriers, yet there is still a significant difference within national economic systems and their laws. The problem lies within the political and economic establishments which are not capable of dealing with important challenges, this also due to a lack of generation turnover which is particularly bad in Italy.
The Roundtable on “Italy and the implementation of the Lisbon agenda” was an occasion for Aspen members to discuss Italy’s contribution to the implementation of the Lisbon 2000 agreements between EU countries. Participants discussed the validity and integration of the National Reform Plan that Italy is going to present at the next European Council meeting to be held in Spring. Particular interest was given to the liberalization of the service sector (in accordance to EU policies), to making price determination criteria and demand liberalization.
This meeting offered the occasion to discuss in depth the current situation and evaluate actions to be taken by both institutional and economic actors in order to meet new social challenges. here have been radical demographic, economic and social changes over the past few decades, and an urgent need has risen for European governments to reform their welfare systems. These must be adapted to new realities, without destroying a healthy sense of solidarity. The Italian situation is particularly delicate in this phase of transformation towards new pension plans.
This conference identified a series of risks and opportunities for financing innovation. Policies are difficult to draw up, just as innovation is different to pin down. The first obstacle is uncertainty: naturally, it is impossible to foresee the results of research and plan the market’s reaction to a new product or service. As the outcome of an innovative venture is unknown, so is the conviction of the person innovating and the person sponsoring that innovation unbalanced.
Freeing up markets entails a variety of phenomena: opening up to competition, increasing efficiency, offering greater choice to the consumer and improving access to capital markets for businesses. Discussion here involved all players. First participants focused on the government, and the Authorities that supervise competition and liberalization. Then they turned to Italy’s system of businesses and financial intermediaries that are led to look for new market and to rationalize their own productive processes.
Italy, thanks to the wealth of its artistic, cultural and natural heritage, has always been a leader in the tourism sector. Today, however, this is no longer enough: Italy’s tourism sector is suffering a crisis and in order to overcome it, precise and timely political and industrial strategies are called for. What is the product to be sold? What tools are needed to sell it? Italy will lead the competition only where “Made in Italy” still holds meaning and value. The sector should focus on high professionality, multidimensional growth and innovation.
This roundtable focused on infrastructural problems hindering Italy’s competitiveness: to resolve them would mean allowing Italy to play a primary role – a hub – both for intra-European relations and for relations between Europe and other Mediterranean countries.
This roundtable focussed on the terminology behind the conflict between believers and non-believers. In Italy, France, and Germany, the debate has taken on a particular fervor of late: just think of the depth of sentiment that emerged over whether girls could or could not wear the chador in public schools in France, or the debate that raged over referenda proposed in Italy to allow stem cell research and artificial insemination. Participants agreed that a common field of research and areas of commitment must be defined.
This meeting, held in the beautiful Ambrosiana library, offered the occasion to reflect on a very different topic than usual, at Aspen Italia events: the soul, as seen in different cultures, and as it inspires everyone – whether he or she believes in God or not – to consider the most profound issues for humanity. Participants quickly, but without succumbing to superficiality, reviewed the notion of “soul” as it has been appreciated over the centuries and in different cultures.
This roundtable focused on problems presented by rapid development in the telecommunications sector and prospects for growth. The diverse platforms, each with their special characteristics and peculiarities, provide the customer with a variety of choices and services, in accordance with their particular needs. In order to compete, businesses must present their products in original ways as well as satisfy the customer’s demand for an interactive and personalized product.
The Roundtable dealt with a series of strategic issues concerning the Italian bank system, including the high cost of Italian bank serivces compared to other European countries; the limited size of the banks which doesn’t favor the internationalization of business; the difficulty in financing innovation and the common problem -especially in Southern Italy – of credit rationing. Banks stated that the cost of individual bank accounts in Italy are lower than France, Spain and Germany because of special agreements, payment on uninvested capital and joint holders.
This roundtable highlighted the need to redesign Italy’s infrastructure network in a fashion that is coherent with demand. Lower-cost projects that offer an immediate return on investment are of particular importance. Strategic priority should be given to ports and to train tunnels in order to facilitate the flow of commerce from the Far East.
This conference focused on the demands faced by the future city. Big cities will have to attract, involve and assimilate ever greater numbers of people, who, in turn, will be seeking ever greater efficiency without sacrificing beauty and cultural identity. In an increasingly multicultural environment, cities are searching for new tools to render diverse elements compatible: smooth production processes, pleasing aesthetics and social cohesion. The also have to succeed in attracting tourism and then to manage it in a sustainable fashion.
According to the World Health Organization, Italy’s health system ranks as one of the best in the world. Yet it has also highlighted the problem, which Italy shares with other European countries, of funding a health system that is capable of responding to changes in the health demand of citizens. The participants called for there to be a move away from a profit and loss account mentality to an analysis of health needs by developing models for gauging demand.
This roundtable focused on the irreversible process of convergence between television and telecommunications. In the near future, in fact, ADSL lines and IP protocol TV will offer TLC operators a complete video experience. At the same time, for television, going digital has meant forging a tighter relationship with the end user – providing services demanded by those who actually watch TV; spectators can personalize their viewing options and the different functions of network operators, content providers and the service industry have been separated.
Participants discussed risks and opportunities springing from the new international accounting standards. They considered, in particular, consequences on budgets, net assets, and aggregation processes. They also reflected on difficulties the new system will cause for businesses and how businesspeople are preparing. The conference ended with a discussion of the new relationship between banks and businesses that the Basel 2 Accord will soon create, and of how the Accord’s credit risk innovations will condition that relationship.
The roundtable discussion provided an opportunity to explore the new possibilities for further applications and the potential economic, social and organizational impact of information technology. The digitalization of information, banking, government, transport and tourist services is proceeding at a faster pace than anticipated.
The conference examined the new regulations and their adequacy in protecting private investors and determining appropriate market dynamics. Particular attention was paid to the new law its accuracy in defining property, management and control. The second session focused on the new model for controlling authorities and the role of the independent authorities and management. Participants also discussed potential conflicts between the different functions of the Bank of Italy; namely monetary, controlling and competition authorities.
