Capri played host to the International Conference on “Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean Area: Energy and ICT Networks of the Future”(5-7 October)
“Mediterranean Countries must multiply their efforts to relaunch dialogue and economic and social development,” said Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Amendola, in his address to conference participants. “We believe that cooperation in energy generation and distribution, ICT, renewable resources and sustainability, can offer major opportunities in this regard. It is in this scenario that scientific and technological dialogue may represent a fundamental tool: the exchange of researchers and experts, the promotion of bilateral projects, and the integration of academic systems with industrial systems are the path towards real and effective Mediterranean cooperation.”Representatives of universities, Italian and foreign scientists and experts all gathered in Capri to attend a “three day” event to work on the theme of sustainable energy development in the Mediterranean area. The conference was organised by ENSIEL, Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per “Energia e Sistemi Elettrici”, (Consortium of Italian Universities operating in the area of energy and power systems ) in conjunction with AEIT, Associazione Elettrotecnica, dell’Automazione, dell’Informatica e delle Telecomunicazioni (Italian Electrotechnical Association).Representing MAECI, Fabrizio Nicoletti, head of the Farnesina’s Scientific and Technological Cooperation Unit, called attention on the issue of energy efficiency as a key-factor in achieving energy security and sustainable economic development. Mr Nicoletti also underlined the role scientific diplomacy that is a stable cooperation in the field of research and technological exchanges, which is a factor for stabilisation in the Mediterranean.Other international topics were included in the conference’s agenda : renewable energy resources, electric and hybrid mobility in smart cities, automation, cyber security, bio-engineerng, the Internet of things, and energy efficiency. Speakers from the Mediterranean area (Algeria, Morocco and Lebanon) and other Countries interested in the development of this economic zone, such as Saudi Arabia, Germany,Norway, Romania, Russia and the U.S., also contributed to the Conference.