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INNOVATION FORUM, AN EVENT OFFERING GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA REGION AND THE US ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT SERRACCHIANI
Trieste, 28th July 2016
This event followed up the official visits to the United States by members of the regional government over the past two years, during which we “discussed such issues as research and the relations between our universities, with some of the most renowned American colleges in attendance today,” said Ms. Serracchiani, President of the Italian Region Friuli Venezia Giulia. “Scientific and technological research is a perfect example of the strengths in the relationship between Italy and the US. In this context, Friuli Venezia Giulia, a region ranking first in Italy for the number of enterprises introducing advanced innovations in the past three years – and the only Italian region, along with Piedmont, boasting the title of ‘great innovator’ – has already achieved remarkable results, with many more opportunities still to be reached.”
These were the words of Ms. Debora Serracchiani, President of Italian region Friuli Venezia Giulia, opening the Innovation Forum Driving Change for US and Italian Innovation Systems: Finding Better Ways to Learn from Each Other, which took place on 28th July at the Regional Government headquarters in Trieste.
The Forum was organised by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Government in cooperation with the AREA Science Park, with the support of the US Consulate General. The Ambassador to Italy, Mr. John R. Phillips, represented the US at the event.
President Serracchiani reminded the audience that the event was a follow-up to the official visits to the United States by members of the regional government over the past two years, led by the President herself, during which they discussed such issues as “research and the relations between our universities, with some of the most renowned American colleges in attendance today.”
“Trieste and Friuli Venezia Giulia can set an example for other regions, which can follow the path of what we are doing here today,” commented John R. Phillips, the US Ambassador to Italy, while speaking at the Innovation Forum in Trieste at the Regional Government headquarters.
“Today’s conference,” said the Ambassador “is a demonstration of the commitment of this region, especially to innovation and entrepreneurship, two crucial elements for the future of Italy. Trieste is an excellent example of what you can do in Italy at a global level, and the AREA Science Park is truly a centre of excellence.”
According to Phillips, “Italy is a particularly interesting country to investors,” as “Italian startups seem to be going through a lucky period – in the past three years,” he added “I have witnessed the birth and the growth of so many startups, and an increasing interest in the economic future of Italy for innovation.”
The event also saw the participation of Prof. Alfonso Franciosi, Chairman and CEO of Elettra Sincrotrone, who illustrated the strategies implemented by Elettra Sincrotrone to promote innovation and technological transfer processes, and also mentioned the many collaborations launched with US universities and research centres that contributed to the new FERMI Free Electron Laser.
In the afternoon, the event continued at the Savoia Excelsior Hotel, where the representatives from the science and economic worlds of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the US were assigned to different roundtables to address a specific “social challenge” connected to subjects as life sciences and healthcare, food and agriculture, the development of new materials, Information Technology, and cognitive web intelligence. Elettra was represented at the roundtables by the researcher Ms. Paola Storici, the Deputy General Coordinator Mr. Roberto Pugliese, and the Industrial Liaison Office Director Mr. Marco Peloi.
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