ROME - Italy will be showcasing a temporary exhibition of 265 innovation projects at the Shanghai Expo to promote the country's technological excellences and know-how, officials said Wednesday.
Italian Public Administration and Innovation Minister Renato Brunetta and government supervisor for the Shanghai Expo Beniamino Quintieri presented the initiative "The Italy of Innovators," which is set to feature at the Universal Exposition from July 24 to August 7.
The Italian pavilion, dubbed "Man's City," will be showcasing 265 innovation projects that have won a national contest, Brunetta told a press conference at the government's headquarters.
"These projects for innovation represent an unknown Italian reality composed of small and medium enterprises, universities and young people with new ideas that thanks to the Expo will have a great opportunity for promotion and international expansion."
"These winning innovators will be given a unique chance to speak to the entire world and present themselves," he added.
The projects for innovation come from Italian enterprises, industrial consortiums, universities and research centers.
They focus on the Shanghai Expo's leading theme "Better City, Better Life," including sustainable development, environmental- friendly urban architecture, city safety, communication, health and mobility aimed at bettering life quality and balancing-out technological progress in world cities.
Almost 45 percent of these projects have been turned into commodities on the market.
Brunetta stressed that these "innovators were the proof of Italy's capacity to create and export innovation," noting that the Expo was a unique opportunity for promotion in the world's biggest market: China.
"With this initiative Italy intends to plant seeds for the future international growth of our small enterprises and research institutes," he said.
"We hope Shanghai will have a sort of echo effect in promoting our excellences in Asia and in turning international spotlights toward the following Milan Expo in 2015," Brunetta added.
The minister said though "The Italy of Innovators" was launched for Expo, other editions may be organized annually in Italy.
The government supervisor for Shanghai Expo Beniamino Quintieri stressed the importance of showcasing Italy's innovation excellences in China.
"This is a great opportunity to present to the Chinese market our technological know-how and the results of Italian research," he said, adding that "China has the potentialities to turn a small innovation project into a great business opportunity."
But it's not just a question of technological excellences." All Made-in-Italy goods are the product of innovation, including fashion and food which are the expression of high-level design and creativity," he told Xinhua at the end of the press conference.
This is what makes the Italian pavilion special, he explained. "Italy will be exposing all sorts of Made-in-Italy products and all Italian products of innovation have a great appeal to the Chinese public."
Quintieri recalled that the Italian pavilion was itself innovatively built and in 2009 won the prize as the best structure at Shanghai Expo.
According to the government supervisor, innovation is strictly linked to quality of life. "It's symbolic that Shanghai Expo's leading theme is Better City, Better Life. I am impressed by the Chinese government's great attention to issues such as sustainable development, human wellness and the need to balance- out economic growth and environmental protection", he noted.
Minister Brunetta is expected to personally inaugurate " Italy of Innovators" exhibition at the Italian pavilion on July 24.
Among the winning innovation projects that will be showcased are the road-sweeper robot for differentiated waste disposal, created by Sant'Anna Institute of Pisa, and the energy-producer flying kite.
All the projects will be broadcast online on a special website (both in Italian and Chinese) throughout the Expo.
