On these pages you will find more information on the activities taking place during the State Visit. For some activities PowerPoint presentations will be added after the event has taken place. The activities are organised per day in chronological order.
Quirinal Palace
Quirinal Palace
Quirinal Palace
Quirinal Palace
Altare della Patria
Palazzo Chigi
Palazzo Monte Citorio
Piazza di Trevi
Quirinal Palace
Invited officials
Dress code: black tie and long dress
Description of the activity
Their Majesties the King and the Queen express a broad and genuine interest in various artistic disciplines in addition to their support in the field of research. Indeed, the mission of the Academia Belgica, Centre for History, Art and Science in Rome, that will be hosting the event, corresponds perfectly with the central theme of the upcoming state visit “Liés par le passé, unis pour l’avenir / Verbonden door de geschiedenis, verenigd voor de toekomst “.
Since its foundation the Academia Belgica aims to encourage and promote Belgian-Italian scientific and cultural relations through a residency program for Belgian researchers or artists who wish to broaden their investigations in Italy, and through the presentation of important Belgian artistic and scientific achievements to the Italian public. Today, the Academia Belgica is a unique space for research, creation, collaboration and promotion in the heart of Rome.
Schedule of the activity
10:05 Welcome by Mrs Sabine van Sprang, Director, Academia Belgica
10:08 Speeches
10:23 Presentation of the conclusions of the academic seminar ‘From STEM to STEAM: Belgian-Italian academic cooperation in the humanities and arts’
10:40 Musical intermezzo
10:47 Visit of the Academia Belgica building
11:00 Meet & Greet with residents from Belgian higher education institutions
11:25 End of the activity
Academia Belgica
Via Omero, 8, I-00197 Roma
70 guests
Palazzo Giustiniani
City Hall of Rome
Piazza Sant’Egidio
Very restricted delegation
Torlonia Room on the first floor of Hotel de Russie
Signees and invited officials
Petrassi Hall at the Auditorium Parco della Musica
Upon invitation
Dress code: black tie and long dress
Ground floor of the Auditorium Parco della Musica
Description of the activity
Presentation of the Belgian bio-based economy sectors and their clusters. The objective is to create new synergies between both countries in order to encourage SMEs, clusters and academics from both countries to join together in consortia to participate to European projects.
Schedule of the activity
10:00 Registrations
10:30 Official opening of the conference by Mrs Pascale Delcomminette, CEO, Wallonia Export-Investment Agency
10:35 Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development in Belgium: The New Challenges to meet the European Policies on Environment, by Mr Yves Verschueren, Managing Director, essenscia Belgium
10:45 Bioeconomy in Italy: A New Industrial Renaissance, by Ph.D. Fabio Fava, National Bioeconomy Coordination Board, Italian National Committee for Biosafety, Biotechnology and Lifesciences, Presidency of the Council of Ministers
10:55 General overview of the bioeconomy in Wallonia, by Mrs Tineke van Hooland, Deputy Secretary General, bio.be/essenscia
11:05 Round table 1 - Conversation/debate (moderators: Mrs Tineke van Hooland, Deputy Secretary General, bio.be/essenscia and Mr Maurizio Bettiga, Chief Innovation Officer, Italbiotec Srl)
- Politics of innovation in Wallonia, by Mrs Véronique Graff, Managing Director, GreenWin
- Strategy and projects linked to bioeconomy in the agrifood sector; from by-products to nutritional ingredients, by Mr François Heroufosse, Managing Director, Wagralim
- Bioeconomy: an integral part of the innovation agenda of the chemical and plastic industry in Flanders, by Mrs Linsey Garcia-Gonzalez, Dr Ir, Catalyst, Catalisti
- Use of sustainable biomass as pillar of the bioeconomy, by Mrs Mariagiovanna Vetere, Counsellor SPRING, the Italian Green Chemistry cluster
11:45 Round table 2 - Conversation/debate (moderators: Mrs Tineke van Hooland and Mr Maurizio Bettiga) with some success Belgian and Italian companies active in the bioeconomy field
Wallonia:
- Bio based circular ecosystem from biomass to Recovery of carbon dioxide, by Mr Guy Paternoster, President of the Board of Directors, Biowanze and Mr Michele Castelli, Group New Plant Investment Responsible, SOL Group
- From biopolymers to recycled waste plastics. How wine corks contribute to the circular economy in the wine industry, by Mr Denis Van Roey, President, Vinventions LLC and Mr Andrea Farinetti, CEO, Fontanafredda
- Combine efficiency and sustainability with bio-based cleaning products, by Mr George Blackman, Managing Director, Realco and Mrs Elena Santantonio, Managing Director, Piramide
Flanders:
- Revolutionary marine biodegradable packaging material to tackle plastic pollution, by Mr Erwin Lepoudre, Sustainability Manager, Green Planet Project (Europe), Kaneka
Italy:
- The Novamont compostable bioplastics, by Ing. Alberto Castellanza, International Sales Manager, Novamont
12:35 Round table 3 - Conversation/debate (moderators: Mrs Tineke van Hooland and Mr Maurizio Bettiga) on the opportunities of collaboration between Belgium and Italy in Bioeconomy
13:15 Conclusion of the conference by Mrs Tineke van Hooland, Deputy Secretary General, bio.be/essenscia
13:20 Walking Lunch
15:00 End of the activity
Palazzo Turati
Via Meravigli, 9/b, 20123 Milano
70 guests
Description of the activity
The more competition grows, the more expensive errors, inefficiencies and missed deadlines become. Growing expectations and challenges are leading to a large-scale transformation of logistics. The transition to the digital, the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) to make logistics "smart", means that deliveries take place differently. In recent years, Belgian ports and logistic companies have worked hard on projects to make their services and operations "smart". The aim is not only to make their services more efficient and effective, but also to contribute to a more sustainable world.
During this seminar, the Belgian speakers will present their achievements to an audience of Italian decision-makers from the logistics and transport sector. On the other hand, we offer Italian speakers from the sector the opportunity to present the developments and needs in the field of smart logistics to the Belgian participants. In this way we hope to increase mutual knowledge and to help initiate possible future collaborations.
Schedule of the activity
10:30 Registration of the participants
11:00 Welcome word by Mrs Claire Tillekaerts, CEO Flanders Investment and Trade
11:05 Opening speech by HE Jan Jambon, Minister-President of Flanders
11:15 Presentation by Mr Tom Hautekiet, CEO, Port of Zeebrugge (representing the Port of Zeebrugge, the Port of Antwerp and North Sea Port): Innovation with a purpose
11:35 Presentation by Mr Paolo Emilio Signorini, President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority: The investment strategy of the Ports of Genoa
11:50 Presentation by Mr Pino Musolino, President of the Port System Authority of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea: Northern Range and/or Southern Range? Toward a stronger common ports policy in view of the ongoing revisions of the TEN-T network
12:05 Presentation by Mr Bernard Piette, General Manager Logistics in Wallonia: Initiatives from Wallonia to a Smart & Sustainable Logistics & Mobility
12:15 Presentation by Prof. Dr. Alex Van Breedam, Antwerp Management School, KULeuven and TRI-VIZOR NV: The Extended Gateway concept – developing hinterland locations as freight villages for efficient and sustainable logistics
12:35 Presentation by Mr Carlo Cameli, Presidente del Gruppo Tecnico Porti e Infrastrutture Confitarma. Smart ports and digitalization: the perspective of the Italian shipping industry
12.50 Presentation by Mr Lieven Severijns, Business Unit Manager International Expansion, H. Essers: How Assets, Systems & Innovation lead to Smart & Sustainable Logistics
13:05 Presentation by Mr Dirk Verwimp, President Katoen Natie Italia: A business case of smart logistics of plastics, realized by Belgian logistic companies to serve exclusively Italy’s industry.
Q&A - Master of Ceremony: Marleen Verstreken, Head of Post FIT Milan
13:30 Walking lunch & network event
15:00 End of the activity
Palazzo Francesco Turati, Sala Conferenze
Via Meravigli, 9/b, 20123 Milano
Upon invitation
Description of the activity
The objectives of the round table is to share ideas, visions and projects and to discuss about the neighborhood of tomorrow and how they will face global issues, such as global warming. The speakers will be a mix between actors from the private sector and from the public sector, both Italian and Belgian.
Schedule of the activity
11:00 Registration
11:45 Welcome words by Mrs Isabelle Grippa, CEO, hub.brussels
11:50 Keynote - “The Brussels framework on sustainable neighborhood” by Mrs Isabelle Prignot
12:05 Keynote – “Italian Vision on Tomorrow’s neighborhood” by Mrs Hana Narvaez
12:20 Round Table – Sustainable neighborhood, a cross-vision between Italy and Belgium:
Moderator: Mrs Isabelle Prignot
13:00 Q&A
13:15 Closure by Mrs Annemie Schaus, Rector, ULB
13:30 Walking lunch
14:30 End of the activity
Palazzo Turati
Via Meravigli, 9/b, 20123 Milano
30 to 50 guests
Palazzo Lombardia
Restricted official delegation
Palazzo Marino (City Hall of Milan)
Restricted official delegation
Ballroom and dining room of the Villa Reale
Via Palestro, 16, 20121 Milano
105 guests
Triennale di Milano
Ever since 1923, Triennale Milano has been one of world’s leading cultural institutions, conveying the complexities of the contemporary world in a host of artistic forms: design, architecture, and the visual, scenic, and performing arts. Its aim is to find broader, more innovative ways of thinking, bringing the experiences of different cultures and languages together in a single place and time.
In 1923, the first international exhibition of decorative arts takes place in Monza, located 15 km from Milan. Afterwards, the event is held every two years in the park of Monza’s Villa Reale, with the objective of stimulating the relationship between industry, art and society at large.
In 1933, the Triennale di Milano comes to life in the new Palazzo dell’Arte, designed by the architect Giovanni Muzio, following the donation from the Bernocchi family. The Palazzo dell’Arte becomes the Triennale di Milano’s headquarters. Monza’s exhibition changes to every three years, moves to Milan and becomes an independent legal entity.
In the 1950s, the Triennale focused on the theme of industrial design. The phenomenon of Italian design evolved exactly at that time and was associated to the cult of all things Made in Italy, alongside the country’s industrial development. Then, starting in the 60’s, the Triennale had to face the problems linked to economic development and social transformation. Subsequently, it extended its areas of interest to fashion, cinema, graphics and audio-visual communication, becoming a centre of innovation and creative research, an integrated system of communication and cultural production which today addresses a wider and more diverse audience.
Triennale di Milano
14 guests
Background information
Following AWEX’s seminar dedicated to “Bioeconomy – A new Challenge for a better Future: collaboration opportunities between Belgium and Italy”, the Encounter activity will take place in the form of an interactive tour, in the presence of Italian and Belgian CEO’s, during which TTMM the King and the Queen of the Belgians will discover 4 innovative projects in the field of bioeconomy, resulting from the collaboration of Belgian and Italian actors from the world of entrepreneurship and research, who believe in a better future, based on respect for nature.
TTMM the King and the Queen of the Belgians will have the opportunity, for example, to discover how carbon dioxide is recovered and transformed into gas for the food industry, to visualize and touch bio-plastic automotive parts, to see a live demo about the extraordinary action of enzymes in the hygiene process and solutions and, to close the tour, to witness the use of bio-sourced caps destined to Barolo wines.
Schedule of the activity
15:20 Meet & Greet in Sala Musica (1st floor)
Companies introduced to TTMM the King and the Queen by Mrs Pascale Delcomminette, CEO – Wallonia Export-Investment Agency.
15:45 End of the Meet & Greet
Sala Musica, Palazzo Turati
Via Meravigli, 9/b, 20123 Milano
10 guests
Description of the activity
The more competition grows, the more expensive errors, inefficiencies and missed deadlines become. Growing expectations and challenges are leading to a large-scale transformation of logistics. The transition to the digital, the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) to make logistics 'smart', means that deliveries take place differently.
In recent years, Flemish ports and companies have worked hard on projects to make their services and operations "smart". The aim is not only to make their services more efficient and effective, but also to contribute to a more sustainable world.
As leading ports the Flemish ports want to set the tone as ‘ports of the future’. They use innovation as a lever to turn today's major challenges, such as the energy transition, digitalisation and mobility, into solutions.
Each of the ports has an innovation program where modern technology is used in the daily operations of the port.
Think of the roll-out of drones for infrastructure inspections, crowd monitoring or support in case of calamities/incidents.
Other examples of innovation are the autonomous vessels, the roll-out of the port information assistant (APICA) or the implementation of wearables.
During this encounter/ showcase the Flemish Ports will present their achievements to TTMM the King and the Queen and an audience of Italian VIP’s from the logistics and transport sector.
In this way we hope to increase mutual knowledge and to help initiate possible future collaborations between Belgium and Italy.
The schedule of the activity
15:45 Arrival of TTMM the King and the Queen and welcome by HE Jan Jambon, Minister President of Flanders
15:48 Introduction by Mrs Claire Tillekaerts, CEO Flanders Investment & Trade and presentation of VIP guests
15:50 Showcase ” Flemish Smart Ports & their Efforts for Transition & Innovation” with the use of visual material, virtual reality applications and demo equipment. to highlight their efforts to become “Ports of the future” by Mr Tom Hautekiet, CEO, Port of Zeebrugge (representing the Port of Zeebrugge, the Port of Antwerp and North Sea Port)
16:10 Departure of TTMM the King and the Queen
Sala Prometeo, Palazzo Francesco Turati
Via Meravigli 7, 20123 Milano
Upon invitation
Palazzo Turati
Via Meravigli, 9/b, 20123 Milano
Very restricted official delegation and the press
La Scala Academy Ballet School
Very restricted official delegation
Description of the activity
The idea is to present a Brussels vision of a Milanese neighborhood (Gratosoglio, a residential district made of 50 large buildings built in the 60’s in the south of Milan) based on the Brussels regional sustainable guideline, which has celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019. The exhibition will present the brussels view on sustainable neighborhood and will show actual realizations from Brussels and Belgium. In addition, we will work with Brussels Architects and students from the ULB, so they can provide their vision about that subject. The exhibition will be presented in an interactive way, using virtual reality. The exhibition will be presented the community center in the center of Gratosoglio neighborhood. After the royal opening, the exhibition will remain several days in the neighborhood to allow its inhabitants to discover it.
Schedule of the activity
18:05 Welcome speech by HE Rudi Vervoort
18:08 Contextualization of the exhibition (Benoit Burquel and Nadia Casabella Mar)
18:13 Visit of the exhibition guided by Italian and Belgian students
18:23 VR Experience
18:30 End of the exhibition
Cam Gratosoglio
Municipio 5 via Saponaro, 30
40 guests