Italy-China: the strategic relationships in research and innovation are growing

The year 2016 was extremely positive and fruitful for the China-Italy Science Technology and Innovation Programme, the internationalization programme that aims to promote cooperation between Italy and China on the topics of innovation, science and technology. 

Screenshot: Science, illustration (YouTube)

This is shown by the many initiatives undertaken, the objectives achieved and the growing attention that both countries paid to the creation of strategic relationships in research and innovation. 

This is what emerges from the China-Italy Science Technology and Innovation Programme Activity Report 2016, published by Città della Scienza.

The year 2016 – the Report reveals– saw increasing diversification and intensity of the bilateral political dialogue between the Governments of the Italian Republic and the People’s Republic of China, with a higher frequency of exchanges of visits between the two countries, which renewed their commitment to developing cooperation in all sectors of common interest, including technological innovation and industry 4.0. 

In 2016, the first 15 joint research projects of great importance were also launched in the context of the Executive Programme for Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the years 2016-2018.

The 2016 success, however, is mainly due to the China-Italy Science, Technology & Innovation Week, the week entirely dedicated to cooperation between Italy and China on innovation, science and technology, promoted by Italy’s Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Ministry of Economic Development  (MISE), the Ministry of Health  and the Ministry of Environment, and coordinated by Città della Scienza. The 2016 China-Italy Science, Technology & Innovation Week – held in Naples, Bergamo and Bologna – was attended by over 1,500 Italian representatives and more than 500 Chinese representatives, establishing itself as a stable and structured event for the dialogue between Italy and China.

In 2016, the China-Italy Science, Technology & Innovation Week also hosted the first edition of the Italy-China Best Startup Showcase – a special event devoted to innovative startups – and of the Digital Fabrication Zone – devoted to exchanges and cooperation in the field of education, which opened up new prospects for cooperation for the most advanced forms of innovation from the young generations of startuppers, makers and creatives.

Finally, a new Italy-China cooperation instrument was launched in 2016: the China-Italy Technology Transfer Centre, the result of an agreement between MIUR, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), University of Bergamo, University of Naples Federico II, Città della Scienza and Netval. The bilateral Centre was designed to become the backbone of technology transfer actions across Italy, providing technical support to Italian and Chinese programmes (Source Città della Scienza, Publication date 02/28/2017)

Key words: Italy, China, science, innovation, cooperation.