Trieste will host the 2020 edition of the prestigious EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), the biennial European forum that brings together over 4000 researchers, policy makers and business actors from European countries to discuss research and innovation issues. The topic chosen for the Trieste edition is “Freedom for Science, Science for Freedom”. The event will be held from 4 to 10 July 2020.
The ESOF Supervisory Board has officially announced that it has selected Trieste, a city that is home to international scientists and that has always played a role of political, economic and cultural mediation towards the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The previous editions of this important event were held in Stockholm in 2004, in Munich in 2006, in Barcelona in 2008, in Turin in 2010, in Dublin in 2012, in Copenhagen in 2014 and in Manchester in 2016. The 2018 edition is being prepared in Toulouse.
“A great success for Italy and a deserved recognition of the role of Trieste, a historic crossroads of knowledge and cultures and centre of convergence of the policies for the widening of Europe’s borders”, said Angelino Alfano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. “A victory that has been supported jointly by our Institutions that have always believed in scientific cooperation for the promotion of intra-European dialogue. It is quite significant that this wonderful news arrives today, as Trieste hosts the Western Balkans Summit that has brought together 13 Heads of State and Government to discuss the future of Europe and of its borders!
Trieste is living a crucial moment in its role of political and cultural intermediation between the European Community and the Balkan Countries. The Western Balkans Summit is underway (11-12 July 2017) attended by the Heads of State and Government of 13 Countries, gathered together to discuss the expansion of the European Union to the Balkan area (Berlin process). Besides the official initiatives there will also be the Civil Society Forum, with the involvement of scientific personalities and representatives of cultural organizations and of civil society, and the Youth Forum, a session devoted to young people that will take place at the University of Trieste. Finally, on the afternoon of 12 July, the General Secretariat of the Chambers of Commerce of the Western Balkans will be inaugurated at the Chamber of Commerce, in piazza Borsa.