Italy-USA Foundation is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan institution, established in 2005 in Rome with the aim of promoting friendship between Italians and Americans. The foundation plans meetings between Italian members of Parliament and US Senators and Representatives and collaborates with many American universities. The foundation promotes the America Award, the America Innovation Award, and the Leadership for international relations and Made in Italy Master’s Degree.
The America Award
The America Award is organized under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic. It is a prestigious recognition given to prominent personalities of any nationality who stand out for achieving the utmost excellence in their work, thus acknowledging and encouraging initiatives promoting transatlantic friendship. The ceremony is held yearly in Italy, at the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. Since the first edition in 2009, a lot of eminent figures have been awarded: Umberto Veronesi, Founder of the American Italian Cancer Foundation; Emma Bonino, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; the scientific popularizer Alberto Angela; John Phillips, former US ambassador to Italy; Joe Bastianich, restaurateur and television personality; the journalist Bruno Vespa; the Olympic champion Bebe Vio; Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia, President of The Prince of Venice Foundation; Curtis Scaparrotti, former Supreme Commander of NATO; Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank. During the ceremony, special awards have been conferred in memory of, among others, the judge Giovanni Falcone, the writer and journalist Oriana Fallaci, the anchorman Mike Bongiorno, and the associate justice of the US Supreme Court Antonin Scalia. Moreover, three sterling silver medals of the President of the Chamber of Deputies are conferred every year to three university American students.
The America Innovation Award
The America Innovation Award is a recognition of international prestige conferred every year to 300 entrepreneurial Italian talents who founded the best innovative and competitive startups. The innovators are selected by the Foundation, through the Business Register and the Chamber of Commerce system, on the basis of various parameters indicating competitiveness and innovation values. The first edition was organized in 2023, and now the Foundation is promoting the 2024 edition. The award parchment is conferred during an official ceremony held in Rome at the Chamber of Deputies. Moreover, the winners receive a scholarship to attend the exclusive online master in “Leadership for international relations and Made in Italy”.
The Leadership for international relations and Made in Italy Master’s Degree
The exclusive online master is carried out within the academic program of the United Nations (UNAI – United Nations Academic Impact). First and second level graduates can access this master, taking advantage from the knowledge of more than 35 teachers of international prestige who convey them specialized competences and an international mindset.
