The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edmondo Cirielli, visited the SPACERAISE International PhD School for Space Applications today, on the occasion of the opening ceremony for its second academic year. The ceremony was attended by university professors, specialists from the aerospace sector, representatives of international space agencies such as NASA and ESA, and 280 selected participants from 61 countries.
Deputy Minister Cirielli emphasized: “Research, innovation and technology are instruments of progress and drivers of development for the region and for the whole country. Universities are not merely places of education and research, but key players in the country’s international profile and projection: they train tomorrow’s leaders and create lasting international networks. I would like to thank the local authorities, the academia and industry for the concrete commitment they demonstrate every day in supporting this vision.”
The Deputy Minister also visited the Gran Sasso National Laboratories, a research centre of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, which is now the world’s most important underground facility, born from the vision of Prof. Antonino Zichichi. A symbol of excellence in Italian research, this strategic infrastructure is an important tool for scientific diplomacy, as also recognised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the latest Italian Research Day in the World.