Dream It:
Italian Voices Shaping the Future
Connecting talents in the Parisian landscape with global leaders to redefine the future of Italy and Europe across different sectors: culture, geopolitics, finance, and innovation.
Italian Symposium France Edition 2026
The Italian Symposium France Edition 2026 is the international flagship event of the United Italian Societies (UIS), a global network connecting over 11,000 Italian students across top-tier universities worldwide. Following successful editions in London, New York, and Madrid, the Symposium makes its debut in Paris this year. The initiative aims to foster a direct dialogue between the new generation of students from France’s leading Grandes Écoles and the Italian leaders who are actively defining the global future.
Under the theme "Dream it: Italian voices shaping the Future," the event explores Italian leaders' role in a global context, focusing on the courage to innovate and take risks to build our future. The program is structured around four complementary pillars: culture, geopolitics and international relations, economic and financial competitiveness, technology and innovation.
The Symposium officially kicks off on March 2, 2026, at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Paris with an opening ceremony and a panel dedicated to Italian culture as a global bridge. From March 2 to March 6, 2026, the event moves across venues including HEC Paris Campus in Jouy-en-Josas. While the opening day is conducted in Italian, the subsequent panels and workshops are held in English, featuring high-profile speakers such as Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Carlo Monticelli, Carlo Cottarelli, Antonio Capobianco and various institutional and corporate leaders.
Beyond academic discussion, the Symposium serves as a vital networking platform. Through specialized workshops, ranging from Italian diplomatic careers to energy challenges, and a "Grand Finale" networking cocktail, the event strengthens the bond between future talents and established italian professionals, promoting a vision of Italy that is dynamic, innovative, and deeply integrated into the European landscape.
Distinguished Guests
Leaders from institutions and industry shaping the European dialogue.
Lorenzo Bini Smaghi
Chairman, Société Générale
Chiara Corazza
President, Women Economic Forum (WEF) Europe
Carlo Monticelli
Governor, Council of Europe Development Bank
Sara Sozzani Maino
Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani
Carlo Cottarelli
Economist, Director PESES
Giorgia Sinicorni
Actress
Francesco Cerruti
Director General, Italian Tech Alliance
Francesca Rispoli
Head of HR Strategy at BNP Paribas
Stefano Quintarelli
Founder, Rialto Venture Capital
Cristiana Vitale
Head of Product Market Regulation Team and Senior Economist, OECD
Alessandro Blasi
Special Advisor, IEA
Claudia Castiglioni
Academic Advisor, Sciences Po
Giacomo Moroni
Public Affairs Head, Moët-Hennessy LVMH
Indira Bonvini
President, Coordination of Italian Professional Associations in Paris
Antonio Capobianco
Deputy Head, Competition Division OECD
Agata Hidalgo
Head of Public Affairs, Renaissance Fusion
Gaetano Lapenta
Case Handler, Autorité de la concurrence
Brando Benifei
Member of European Parliament
Palma D’Ambrosio
Counsellor, Diplomatic Advisor
Jacopo Albergoni
Consul General of Italy in Paris
Andrea Mirabassi
Chief Merchandising Officer, Lorena Antoniazzi
Francesco Filidei
Composer
David Davanzo
Speaker
Matteo Winkler
Academic Director, HEC
Franco Impalà
First Counsellor, Italian Embassy
Antonio Calbi
Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris
Giovanni Crippa
Actor and Teacher
Valentino Munno
Managing Director Peugeot Italy
Lorenzo Ancona
Product Manager, Tremau
Program Schedule
A curated journey through geopolitics, finance, luxury, and technology.
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony: Oltre i Confini: La Cultura Italiana come Ponte verso il Mondo
Speakers:
- Jacopo Albergoni (Consul General of Italy in Paris)
- Giovanni Crippa (Actor and Teacher)
- Antonio Calbi (Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris)
- Francesco Filidei (Composer and Organist)
- Giorgia Sinicorni (Actress)
Alumni Apero
Alumni Apero by Signorvino
15€ — A drink and a personal charcuterie board at Signorvino, 5 Pl. Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris. In collaboration with the coordination of associations of Italian professionals in Paris.
Day 1
Panel 1: Challenges and Possibilities of AI and Tech in the European and Italian Context
Speakers:
- Francesco Cerruti (Director General, Italian Tech Alliance)
- Stefano Quintarelli (Founder, Rialto Venture Capital)
- Ester Davanzo (Senior Analyst, France Digitale)
- Lorenzo Ancona (Product Manager, Tremau)
Lunch and Networking break
Workshop 1: The Energy Sector: an overview of Italy and the globe
Speakers:
- Alessandro Blasi (Special Advisor to the IEA Executive Director)
Panel 2: The State of Finance: What’s Changing and What’s Next
Speakers:
- Lorenzo Bini Smaghi (Chairman, Société Générale)
- Carlo Monticelli (Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank)
Day 2
Panel 4: Education and Universities: What Skills for Students Applying Today?
Speakers:
- Matteo Winkler (Academic Director, HEC)
- Claudia Castiglioni (Academic Advisor, Sciences Po)
- Sara Sozzani Maino (Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani)
Lunch and Networking break
Workshop 2: From Education to Employment
Speakers:
- Indira Bonvini (President, Coordination of Italian Professional Associations in Paris)
Panel 5: Economics
Speakers:
- Carlo Cottarelli (Economist and Director of the PESES Program)
Panel 6: Women Leadership Across the Sectors
Speakers:
- Francesca Rispoli (Head of HR Strategy at BNP Paribas)
- Chiara Corazza (President, Women Economic Forum (WEF) Europe)
Day 3
Panel 8: Levelling the Playing Field: Global Competition Policy
Speakers:
- Antonio Capobianco (Deputy Head, Competition Division OECD)
- Cristiana Vitale (Head of Product Market Regulation Team and Senior Economist, OECD)
- Gaetano Lapenta (Case Handler, Autorité de la concurrence)
Lunch and Networking break
Workshop 3: Carriera Diplomatica Italiana
Speakers:
- Franco Impalà (First Counsellor, Italian Embassy to France)
Panel 9: Multilateralism, Trade and International Organizations
Speakers:
- Brando Benifei (Member of the European Parliament)
- Palma D’Ambrosio (Counsellor, Diplomatic Advisor)
Panel 10: Energy and Mobility: Trends for the Present and for the Future
Speakers:
- Valentino Munno (Managing Director Peugeot Italy)
- Agata Hidalgo (Head of Public Affairs, Renaissance Fusion)
Organising Team
The dedicated students bringing the Symposium to Paris.
Celeste Del Vecchio
Country Manager France
SciencesPo Paris
Master's student at SciencesPo Paris in European Affairs with a focus on China and energy policy.
Carlotta Bosisio Rucci
Head of Symposium
Ex Bocconi, MSc Emlyon
Events and brand experiences specialist with a focus on luxury industry
Giacomo Crippa
Guest Speaker Coordinator
MSc Politecnico di Milano, PHD at CentraleSupelec
Industrial Ph.D. Candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Renault and LMPS. Honours Graduate from Politecnico di Milano.
Giulia Porfiri
Head of Marketing France
SciencesPo Paris
Master’s in European Affairs at Sciences Po. Passionate about regional development and cohesion policy.
Giuseppe Ostacchini
Head of Finance France
ESCP
ESCP Master in Management, specializing in Corporate Finance and Investment Banking.
Giada Tassis
Head of External Relations France
SciencesPo Paris
Finishing a Master’s in European Affairs and interning at the OECD.
Alberto Geraci
Guest Speaker Officer Symposium
Sciences Po Paris
Bachelor student in politics and government at Sciences Po Paris.
Join Us in Paris
Secure your place for this exclusive edition of the Italian Symposium.