Skip to content

National Programs

  • Rome
    • 11 July 2012
     
     

    Promoting Italy’s image: focusing on strong points to improve competitiveness

      The starting point for discussions at this national roundtable session was the observation that, in this time of crisis, revamping Italy’s image is not just a strategic priority, but also a pressing necessity. The problem was seen as originating, paradoxically, from within the country itself, with Italians engaging in some sort of exercise in self-flagellation by talking down their homeland whenever abroad.

    • Milan
      • 8 October 2012
       
       

      Implementing a digital agenda to spur Italy’s economic growth

        This national roundtable examining the ramifications of implementing Italy’s digital agenda got underway with the participants citing a few statistics on point. Firstly, it was noted that the internet economy contributes 2% to Italy’s GDP – the same as agriculture, but with a potential of at least double that, thus bringing levels seen in England or Sweden within reach for the country.

      • Roma
        • 8 November 2012
         
         

        Immigration and integration: challenges for the Italian society

          Discussion at this national roundtable focusing on immigration opened with the participants citing figures showing that foreigners account for 7.5% of Italy’s population (up from 1% in 1991) and contribute over 12% of national GDP. Many migrants have chosen to settle in Italy permanently, have bought a house (20%), and have children attending Italian schools.

        • Milan
          • 3 December 2012
           
           

          Biotechnologies and life sciences in Italy: new measures to stimulate competitiveness

            The participants in this National Roundtable observed, by way of opening premise, that biotechnology is a scientific field offering great prospects and within which Italy could play an important role. Indeed, the country boasts a high level of training and outstanding expertise in the sector. The projected rewards, including of a financial nature, are quite considerable, with attractive prospects from an industrial point of view.

          • Milan
            • 24 September 2012
             
             

            The banking sector and industry: creating a virtuous cycle to stimulate Italy’s real economy

              Kicking off discussions at this national conference was the observation that the current financial crisis, evidently systemic in nature, is predominantly being shaped at this stage by perceived risk factors linked to vulnerabilities in the real economy and the banking system. Efforts in the political, economic and monetary arenas – both at national and European levels – seem to have eased speculative pressures on the markets and tentatively restored international investor confidence.

            • Rome
              • 3 October 2012
               
               

              Reducing Italy’s public debt: is selling public assets a solution?

                Kick-starting discussions at this national roundtable event was the observation that few subjects have lent themselves as well in Italian public debate to the vivid use of metaphors as has the scale of the country’s public debt, often described as a mountain to be climbed, a dead weight, or as tantamount to a mortgage on Italy’s future. The actual figure is indeed staggering, amounting to nearly 2 trillion euros, and exceeding 123% of GDP.

              • Rome
                • 21 November 2012
                 
                 

                Tourism, infrastructure, and territorial challenges: new strategies to spur Italy’s economy

                  Discussion at this national roundtable got underway with the observation that tourism is another largely underutilized resource that features prominently in the (somewhat copious) catalog of Italy’s untapped potential. For decades, the sector has constantly been held up as representing the epitome of the country’s missed opportunities, along with culture and natural heritage, with which it is clearly interlinked.

                • Rome
                  • 8 February 2011
                   
                   

                  Priority interventions in Italy’s south: avoiding a two-speed country

                    Debate at this National Interest Conference got underway with the observation that overcoming the social and economic divide between Northern and Southern Italy requires a profound rethink of intervention policies together with an overall return to efficiency and effectiveness in public action.

                  • Rome
                    • 7 June 2011
                     
                     

                    Reforming corporate governance: proposals and tools

                      The participants at this National Roundtable noted that, in recent years, the corporate governance of Italian firms has changed in a rapid and decisive – though in some ways haphazard –  manner. This process, which started in the 1990s, particularly in the wake of the wave of privatizations, was intended to make the financial market more attractive to foreign and Italian investors by providing greater guarantees for the protection of minority shareholders.

                    • Milan
                      • 11 April 2011
                       
                       

                      The design industry: value added for Italy’s economic growth

                        Added value of over 140 billion euros and employment for around 3.3 million people: this was the snapshot, in figures, presented at this National Interest roundtable session of the engine of Italy’s manufacturing system, driven by the country’s leading sectors – the so-called “4 Fs” of the Made-in-Italy industry: Ferrari cars and non-electronic machinery and equipment, fashion and clothing, food and beverage, and furniture and wood products.

                      • Milan
                        • 25 July 2011
                         
                         

                        New forms of poverty: social, economic and political implications

                          This National Conference got underway with the observation that, in Italy as in Europe, emerging forms of poverty have mainly affected segments of the population that were previously relatively protected but that have now become socially and economically vulnerable. This phenomenon has also been accompanied by the onset of other hardships, stemming from the intensification of migration flows.

                        • Rome
                          • 1 March 2011
                           
                           

                          Information services in the security sector: protecting Italy’s national interest

                            Discussions at this National Roundtable commenced with an acknowledgement by the participants that the global economic arena is no longer characterized by competition played out solely between businesses, but rather sees national economies pitched against each other ever more fiercely.

                            This trend has led to a gradual widening of the concept of “national security”, with many States now including economic and financial security within the ambit of this term.

                          • Rome
                            • 14 September 2011
                             
                             

                            Sharing our future: forging an alliance between state and market for a new social contract

                              At this roundtable session dedicated to the future of Italy’s pension system, it was observed that population aging, the impending retirement of the baby boomer generation, the prolonged period of economic stagnation currently being experienced and dwindling public resources are driving Italy, as well as most other developed nations, to tackle questions regarding the relationship between the role of public and private social security schemes. Today, pensions, healthcare and welfare, in their various forms, are no longer being delivered solely by the state.

                            • Milan
                              • 21 February 2011
                               
                               

                              How the financial system can support growth

                                This national roundtable discussion got underway with the observation that, traditionally, the banking system has played a key role in economic growth by channeling personal savings into financing the productive activities of businesses.

                              • Rome
                                • 27 April 2011
                                 
                                 

                                Information services in the security sector: protecting Italy’s financial and industrial system

                                  The participants at this National Roundtable opened the discussion by observing that following the reform of the Italian intelligence services, the activities of the relevant agencies are no longer confined to the protection of the political and military interests of the country, but also extend to defending its “economic, scientific and industrial” interests.

                                • Milan
                                  • 13 June 2011
                                   
                                   

                                  Health and well-being: new models of sustainable development

                                    As an opening premise, the participants at this National Conference noted that any reflection on the future of the Italian national health service must first start with an analysis of the value produced for the country in health terms. In this regard, statistics were cited indicating that between 1951 and the present day, life expectancy in Italy has increased by 1 month every 4 months. Italy also has the longest-lived population in Europe, with over-65s already making up 20% of the population, or 12 million people, of whom 3.5 million are over 80 years old (6%).

                                  • 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.

                                    • Milan
                                      • 2 May 2011
                                       
                                       

                                      The new media, the power of information and business

                                        Underpinning the discussions at this Aspen national roundtable session on “The new media, the power of information and business” was the notion that the internet could serve as a driver of growth in Italy on the condition that the internet economy bears part of the massive costs associated with its own development. Recent studies were cited which estimate that the internet economy in Italy today accounts for 2% of the country’s gross domestic product, with expected growth margins by 2015 of between 3.3% and 4.3%.

                                      • Milan
                                        • 18 April 2011
                                         
                                         

                                        Investing in stocks, controlling company shares and corporate governance

                                          Paving the way for discussions at this National Roundtable session was the acknowledgement that in a climate where globalization processes are playing an increasingly more central role in Italy’s social and economic development, Italian firms also need to gear themselves up to being more globally competitive. Achieving this objective, it was suggested, brings with it a renewed need for financing or refinancing of many of the country’s firms and banks.

                                        • Cernobbio
                                          • 11 March 2011
                                           
                                           

                                          Italian leaders abroad

                                            International openness and the circulation of people and talent during key stages of professional training and development were the central topics of discussion at this Third Conference on “Italian leaders abroad”.