English
Great reception for the China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week 2015 in Chongqing. The day dedicated to the China-Italy Industrial Innovation Chongqing Summit at Bishan Renmin Square has been met, in fact, by a large and interested audience that made unforgettable the “first time” in the capital of ancient China of the event related to the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
During the opening ceremony the Minister of Education, University and Research Stefania Giannini confirmed that 2015 has so far been an important year in relations with China: “We have already celebrated the China Day at Expo Milan with great success. This year also the commercial relations between Italy and China grew at a great pace. There are opportunities to be seized on different aspects”, explained the Minister. Primarily with regard to training, able to give quality to enterprises and social relationships and to improve living conditions. But the opportunities are also in the basic sciences and in the field of innovation where science produces solutions to the new challenges. “The history of China is often crossed with Italy”, continued Giannini recalling once again the importance of the “One Belt, One Road,” which here in Chongqing is an issue of great relevance. The Minister said that “China, like Italy, wants to be at the forefront of a push towards the future and this city offers many opportunities. So here we opened the new Consulate General of Italy. But here there is also the Galilei Institute from Sant’Anna School of Pisa as well as in Beijing are our polytechnics. It is a very positive sign: here Italian investment can find very favorable outlets from traditional industries to new economy that makes creativity as his strong point. Research centres, universities, businesses, and political authorities make up the ecosystem that will enable growth and development”, said Giannini.
After the ceremony some bilateral agreements for international cooperation were signed. The Regional Minister for Internationalization, Startup and Innovation Valeria Fascione has signed an agreement between the Campania Region and Chongqing Municipality regarding technology transfer. On the same grounds Città della Scienza has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Bishan Hi-Tech Developement Zone.
“It is very important to have signed these agreements linking even more Campania Region and China”, Fascione said. “The ecosystem of the region consists of seven universities, 40 research centers, 7 hi-tech districts and more than 500 companies and 281 innovative startups. In addition to culture and tourism, the sectors in which we are moving to the cooperation with China are those of the transfer of human capital, research and innovation in areas such as towing, food and fashion. We need specific tools for the knowledge transfer between Campania and China, even for the startup, to accompany each other in different territories”.
The importance of the Silk Road as a trade route and the great traditions that unite Italy and China was also mentioned by Vincenzo Lipardi, CEO di Città della Scienza: “Our two countries look to the future thanks to their tradition and cooperation programs. With the summit in Chongqing was made a step further, here there are many Italians who want to start or strengthen their relations with this great country. This forum is important because it is an opportunity to work”. In recent decades, with the doubling of the Suez Canal and the new Silk Road, Europe came back in the spotlight and so did Italy. “This forum in the capital of the old China is a source of great pride”, said Lipardi, “because when two people find common ground on issues such as science, technology and tradition, they can build important bridges in a world that needs peace and harmony. Italy aims carefully at this, we are many, different, but we are all the same and next year in Italy will welcome you with the same joy that we are experiencing these days”.
At the end of the signatures ceremony started the work of the day, focused on industrial innovation, smart cities, youth entrepreneurship, technology transfer and knowledge in medical sciences. Space for the Italian and Chinese startups that participated in the roadshow and the players of the two countries that once again animated the afternoon with numerous B2B meetings to try to tie up even more reports between Italy and China.
