Second Chile-Italy Academic Forum at the University of Bologna

The Second Chile-Italy Academic Forum takes place at the University of Bologna from Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd of September. Besides Unibo, this hybrid event - both online and in-person - involves the Polytechnic University of Milan, Sapienza University of Rome, the Polytechnic University of Turin, and, representing Chile, the Universidad de Chile, the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and the Universidad de Concepción.

The event aims to strengthen the cooperation between Chilean and Italian universities focusing, in particular, on multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific cooperation on issues of global and binational interest. Furthermore, its scope is to encourage academic mobility, benefitting the development of young researchers from both countries. Last but not least, the event intends to give prominence and relevance to science and science-based innovation for public policy design, business value creation and citizenship development.

The relationship between Chile and Italy is based on a long history of collaboration and cooperation both at a political and academic level. This historical cooperation has been strengthened by the presence of important Italian communities in Chile and Chilean communities in Italy. In recent years, this relationship has intensified politically, commercially and culturally.

As part of the Chile-Italy megaproject established in 2011, a network consisting of nine universities from both countries, the REUCHI network, was born to carry out joint activities with particular attention to inter- and trans-disciplinarity in the fields of science, technology and innovation. This network involves the sectors of renewable energy (in particular, geothermal energy) and the design and management of environmental resources. Recently the cooperation has widened, including new lines of action such as food production.

Against this background, the Embassies of Italy and Chile fostered fruitful debates leading up to a binational academic forum that is meant to deepen the already existing academic work with a special focus on priority areas within the expertise of both countries. The first forum of this binational academic cooperation took place in the City of Concepción in 2019. Now, the University of Bologna will host the second edition in Italy.