The 5-day 8th China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Week opened in Beijing on November 14, 2017. Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology of China, and Valeria Fedeli, Minister of Education, University and Research of Italy, addressed the opening ceremony.

In his address, Minister Wan Gang pointed out that the Week is an important brand of intergovernmental exchanges in science and technology (S&T) between the two countries. In recent years, China-Italy STI Week has focused on key technology areas of bilateral cooperation in innovation and core resources of innovation and entrepreneurship, playing an important role in strengthening cooperation between universities, research institutions and innovative enterprises of both sides. He stressed that China-Italy S&T cooperation has a solid foundation and that the two sides should seize the strategic opportunities, strengthen top-level design, deepen innovation in cooperation mode, and boost exchanges between S&T personnel, especially young people of the two countries. The two sides should attach importance to scientific theory-oriented basic research, applied basic research and exploration of key generic technologies and frontiers, encourage and support research institutions in the two countries to establish long-term and stable strategic cooperative relationships, strengthen cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship, establish specialized service systems, and guide and support the joint establishment of technology results transfer platforms, makers’ spaces and incubators.   

In her address, Minister Fedeli thanked Minister Wan Gang for inviting her to visit China and attend the opening ceremony of the 8th China-Italy STI Week. China and Italy have an enduring history of exchanges and enjoy a solid foundation for S&T cooperation which have continued to expand in recent years, involving intelligent manufacturing, sustainable development, smart city, biomedicine, agriculture & food safety, aviation & aerospace, energy conservation & environmental protection, new-generation communication technology, industrial design and third-generation semiconductors. Minister Fedeli hoped that the two sides will jointly implement the China-Italy Action Plan for Strengthening Cooperation in Economy, Trade, Culture and Science and Technology (2017-2020) and the China-Italy Science and Technology Innovation Strategic Plan for Cooperation Towards 2020, and continue to develop a mutually beneficial relationship of S&T cooperation.

Co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST) and the Ministry of Education, University and Research of Italy and jointly organized by Beijing Municipal Commission on Science and Technology (China-Italy Technology Transfer Center), Italy Science City, Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province and Guiyang Municipal People’s Government, the 8th China-Italy STI Week aims to further strengthen China-Italy STI cooperation and promote technology transfer and innovation resource exchange and sharing between the two countries.

The Week focuses on key fields, cutting-edge technologies, livelihood concerns and cooperation in innovation, and features high-end forums, parallel sessions in different fields, project matchmaking, innovation results exhibitions and displays, and on-site visits and exchanges, which were held in 3 places: Beijing, Chengdu and Guiyang. Some 2,500 delegates from China and Italy explored on cooperation in more than 600 projects. Over 120 letters of intent for cooperation were expected to be signed.