Summer Program

What makes our program unique

The Italia Innovation Program gathers top scholars from leading global universities in a diverse cohort to explore the future of Italy through direct engagement with business and social leaders.
By addressing real-world challenges through site visits, discussions, and cultural immersion, the program reveals both Italy’s strengths and opportunities for growth.
Supported by an international faculty from prestigious institutions, this unique experience fosters collaboration across disciplines, driving fresh perspectives on Italy’s potential and its role in global innovation.

The 2024 Class of the Italia Innovation Program with former Italy's PM Romano Prodi

Since its inception in 2014, the Italia Innovation Program has established itself as a unique and transformative academic experience. Each year, we meticulously select a class of exceptional undergraduate and graduate scholars from the world’s leading universities. Our scholars come from top academic institutions across the globe, representing a diverse range of fields, backgrounds, and perspectives. This diversity is a cornerstone of our approach, as it enriches the learning environment and drives deeper, more innovative dialogues.

What sets Italia Innovation apart is the direct engagement our scholars have with Italy’s most influential leaders. We carefully curate a network of local stakeholders—CEOs, entrepreneurs, politicians, and social leaders—who embody the dual essence of Italia Innovation. These leaders present both the successes of Italy as a model for innovation and the challenges that need to be addressed to unlock the country’s full potential. Through firsthand experiences, site visits, and deep dialogues, our scholars tackle open-ended research questions that push them to consider what’s next for Italy and beyond.

The program’s mission goes beyond academic exploration; it aims to immerse participants in the cultural values that define Italy, such as aesthetics, quality, and sustainability. This exposure not only informs their understanding of contemporary Italy but also inspires them to consider how these values can shape global innovation in the future.

Our distinguished faculty is another defining element. Every fall, we identify the most relevant areas of knowledge for the upcoming innovation discourse and travel to leading universities worldwide to engage with professors and researchers at the forefront of these fields. We then invite them to join our faculty, creating a truly international and interdisciplinary academic community. The result is an environment where scholars and professors from diverse institutions and disciplines collaborate, debate, and learn together—a rare opportunity in the academic world.

The Class of 2024

Chicago Booth

John Paul Rollert

Former Mayor of Pittsburgh

William Peduto

2002 Pulitzer Award

Amy Goldstein

Former Italy's PM

Romano Prodi

Carnegie Mellon University

Peter Boatwright

Fast Company

Elizabeth Segran

Former Editor-in-Chief of The Economist

Bill Emmott

Chairman Polo del Gusto

Riccardo Illy

_ faculty and guests

_ schedule

The 2024 Edition of the Italia Innovation Program featured a nationwide grand tour that took the class on a journey from North to South and back, covering six different Italian regions and more than ten cities. The program included site visits linked to case studies, food and cultural explorations, as well as lectures delivered by world-class faculty and distinguished local guests.

_ site visits and case studies

_ site visits and case studies

Marchesi Frescobaldi / Wine Estates / Tuscany

Technogym / Design Gym Equipment / Emilia-Romagna

Tenuta Vannulo / Premium Buffalo Farm Estate / Campania

Pepe in Grani / World's Best Pizza / Campania

Poltrona Frau / Design Furniture Maker / Marche

Pasta Mancini / Farm to Fork Pasta Maker / Marche

Distillerie Nardini / Premium Grappa Maker / Veneto

United Colors of Benetton / Fashion Brand and Pioneer / Veneto

Ratti / Premium Textile Maker / Lombardy