Final report of Women&Technologies 2013

VI edition
International Conference

Women&Technologies® 2008-2015: e-Nutrition
and the "Le Tecnovisionarie ®2013" Award

November 5, 2013, Milan Chamber of Commerce
With the participation of the President of the Republic

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 . Confirmation of a success for the event organized in Milan by the Women and Technologies Association.
Continuing the path outlined by the 2012 edition towards EXPO, it deepened the theme of nutrition in its interconnections with health, sustainability, and innovation. The aim is to provide a holistic view, accessible to the end consumer, of the new frontiers and challenges for the definition of a preventive nutrition, for the development of sustainable agriculture and production capable of promoting small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector that represent an excellence to be protected, for the promotion of innovative research involving the development of eco-sustainable technologies and approaches in various sectors related to nutrition, as well as for the improvement of communication to the consumer and in particular the transparency and accuracy of information on this topic. VI edition of the international conference "Women & Technologies" ^® 2008-2015 Donne & Tecnologie ^® 2013

The history

Born in 2007 from an idea of Gianna Martinengo, who has made the relationship between technologies and innovation one of the main themes of her professional life as a researcher and entrepreneur, the international conference Women&Technologies has received acclaim from personalities in the scientific, academic, political, institutional, and entrepreneurial worlds, for having been able to converge major current topics within an annual event that is both influential and successful in the international scientific landscape.
An integral part of the conference is the International Award "The Technovisionaries" ^® " which is awarded every year to women who, in their professional activities, have demonstrated to possess vision, prioritizing social impact, transparency in behavior, and ethics. "Ethics is the engine of innovation" recalls Gianna Martinengo, general chair of Women&Technologies ^® and so explains the challenge at the heart of the initiative "Enhancing the excellence of female talent and increasing awareness of the potential, creativity, quantity, and quality of women's contributions to the sectors of research, innovation, and the economy of our country".

Contributions, Collaborations, and Partners

The strong and motivated involvement of partners consisting of a high number of entities, companies, and institutions, together with the endorsements and institutional presences, have highlighted the importance of the initiative and the need to continue on the path of identifying and enhancing "themes" and "people" aimed at the growth and development of the country. The conference received the endorsement of the President of the Republic and was promoted by the Association of Women and Technologies, in partnership with the European Parliament Communication Office in Milan and the National Museum of Science and Technology "Leonardo da Vinci". It was realized with the contribution of the Lombardy Region and the Milan Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event, Intesa Sanpaolo, SSICA (Experimental Station for the Food Preservation Industry), SEA. The event was organized with Didael KTS as the technological partner and with Radio 24, www.tv, ATM, Urban Center Milano, Altroconsumo, and LifeGate as media partners. The technical partners AAT (Agroindustry Advanced Technologies), Liquirizia Amarelli, Collistar, Danone, Federchimica, Ferrarelle, Nestlé, Sevengrams, contributed to the realization of the conference and hospitality by providing products and gifts for the participants. The 2013 edition received institutional endorsements from the European Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (with a greeting message from Minister Emma Bonino), Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agricultural Food and Forestry Policies, Ministry of Economic Development, Lombardy Region, Province of Milan, and Municipality of Milan, Assobiotec. This year too, the initiative received a medal that President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano wanted to award as his representation prize.

The Protagonists

Personalities from the scientific, academic, political, institutional, and entrepreneurial world participated in the conference and award ceremony of the "Le Tecnovisionarie" 2013 Prize: women but also men who have reinforced the presence and impact of women. The VI edition of Women & Technologies. ^® has seen the active involvement of 32 members of the Strategic Committee, 18 members of the Program Committee, 19 qualified Speakers, and 7 members of the Jury of the "Technovisionary Awards." ^® "2013, and relied on the passionate contribution of 70 women and men associated and friends of the Women and Technologies Association. There were 300 participants present out of 323 registered for the Conference at the Chamber of Commerce in Milan, with 20 accredited press operators and 400 people connected via live streaming on the portal womentech.eu."

The Conference

The day began with greetings from the Deputy Mayor of the City of Milan Ada Lucia De Cesaris, followed by the opening speech of Gianna Martinengo, creator and chairperson of the Conference, and Marialuisa Lavitrano of the Scientific Committee of the City of Milan for EXPO. At the conclusion of the roundtable discussions of the morning session and the opening of the afternoon session, Federica Ortalli, Member of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan, and Cristina Stancari, Councillor for Equal Opportunities, Youth Policies and Environment of the Province of Milan, spoke. The closing remarks were delivered by Hugo De Vries, Member of the Council of the European Federation of Food Science and Technology and Member of the Unesco Chair on sustainable food systems.

The 3 Round Tables of the Conference

The topics discussed in the 3 round tables, besides the high scientific rigor, have been valuable also from a dissemination and orientation point of view for the numerous non-expert participants and young people present in the room.
The first topic of discussion is the relationship between nutrition and health : it is now widely demonstrated that nutrition and lifestyle significantly influence health. This leads to the need to deepen the role of science and technology in favor of the dissemination of a healthy and conscious nutritional model and education. The round table was coordinated by Patrizia Riso, DeFENS (Department of Food Environmental and Nutritional Sciences), University of Milan.

In the second round table coordinated by Stefano Bocchi, DiSAA (Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences), University of Milan, the role of science, technology, and culture in clarifying some aspects of sustainability starting from the most important and recurring daily actions, such as eating, was discussed.

The last topic discussed is that of innovation in the food sector with particular attention to foods that come to us from food industries characterized by a high service content (Convenience Food). The coordinator of the third round table was Sebastiano Porretta, President of AITA, the Italian Association of Food Technology, responsible for the Department of Consumer Science at SSICA (Experimental Station for the Food Canning Industry in Parma).

International Award "The Technovisionaries" ^® "2013"

At the conclusion of the conference, Cinzia Sasso , a journalist from Repubblica, conducted the award ceremony. The event saw a wide participation of business decision-makers, university representatives, public administration officials, and personalities from the scientific and media world. The award, now in its 6th edition, is a recognition dedicated to women who have demonstrated vision, prioritized social impact, transparency in behavior, and ethics in their professional activities. Tech visionaries ^® 2013

The Jury is composed of 7 individuals selected among qualified representatives of the business, cultural, and communication worlds: Diana Bracco President and CEO of the Bracco Group, President and Commissioner General of the Italian Pavilion - EXPO 2015; Deborah Chiodoni Press Office Director, Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci, Milan; Laura La Posta Editor-in-Chief of "Il Sole 24 Ore", Responsible for the Inserto Rapporti; Gianna Martinengo Founder and Chairperson of Women&Technologies ^® 2008-2015; Simona Roveda Editorial Director LifeGate; Patrizia Rutigliano President of FERPI and Director of Institutional Relations and Communication at Snam; Federica Villa Head of the Presidency and Institutional Relations at the Milan Chamber of Commerce.

The winners:

Award WomenHealth aimed at women who have dedicated their lives and professions to the complex relationship between nutrition and health
MARIA CARAMELLI, Director of the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria, and Valle d'Aosta
Reasoning: For her high scientific profile and international experience through which she has contributed to monitoring international crises and food emergencies, including that related to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and for the continuity of commitment to issues increasingly fundamental for the well-being and prevention of the community.
Presented by: Marisa Porrini , Professor of Applied Nutrition at the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Milan

Award WomenSustainability aimed at women who have dedicated their activities to the complex relationship between Food and Sustainability
MARINA BORGHETTI, President of the Association "A bread for everyone"
Motivation: For the conception and implementation of a project of great commitment and social solidarity, inspired by rigorous ethical and environmental principles such as no waste, sustainability, the value of food. "A bread for everyone" is a reality that, through awareness campaigns and concrete actions, is committed to reducing and controlling waste and redistributing food, contributing to the construction of a sustainable future.
Presented by: Paola Bulbarelli Councillor for Housing, Social Housing and Equal Opportunities of Lombardy Region

Prize WomenInnovation aimed at women engaged in innovation in the field of food and nutrition
NATHALIE MOLL, Secretary General of EuropaBio
Motivation: For the demonstrated communicative talent and commitment in promoting biotechnologies in various sectors, including health, contributing to the creation of international relationships and a positive connection between the industrial world and the European institutional world.
Presented by: Cristina Tajani Councilor for Labor Policies, Economic Development, University, and Research of the Municipality of Milan

Prize WomenMedia aimed at women committed to making complex issues related to food and nutrition accessible to everyone, in order to protect consumers
ROSANNA MASSARENTI, Director of Altroconsumo
Reason : For the diligent and constant commitment to disseminating knowledge related to consumer identity, needs, and protection. The magazine Altroconsumo, through transparent and precise language, is able to convey the fundamental interests and rights of citizens, such as health and safety protection, the importance of living in a healthy environment, and the possibility of making ethical consumption choices.
Presented by: Patrizia Rutigliano , President of Ferpi and Director of Institutional Relations and Communication at Snam

Award WomenTerritory aimed at women who have promoted business models aimed at enhancing their territory
MARIA CARMELA COLAIACOVO, CEO of Park Hotel ai Cappuccini
Reason : For her high entrepreneurial and human skills, and for the competencies with which she has been able to bring innovation by enhancing the territory. Starting from the enhancement of local food and wine products, she has contributed to the export and spread of the quality and excellence of true Made in Italy with dedication, attention, and sensitivity.
Presented by: Simona Roveda , editorial director of LifeGate

Award WomenCEO aimed at women who have reached top positions in important companies, thanks to their entrepreneurial and managerial skills
DANIELA OTTOLENGHI SACERDOTE, CEO of Collistar
Reason: For her passion combined with strong determination that have led Collistar, of which she has been CEO for 30 years, to become a leading brand in selective perfumery in Italy and in more than 40 countries worldwide, as a testimony of excellence in Italian cosmetics. This is thanks to a philosophy, unchanged over the years, that combines constant commitment to research and product innovation, with cutting-edge formulas, the result of the most advanced cosmetic-dermatological research, with a passion for charm, beauty, and well-being.
Presented by: Elena David , CEO of UNA Hotels and President of AICEO - Italian CEO Association

Prize WomenFuture aimed at young female researchers in the field of food and nutrition
VALENTINA TAVERNITI, Research Fellow DeFENS- University of Milan
Justification: For great motivation and remarkable ability in research approach; for the effort dedicated to the transfer of knowledge and methodologies related to important areas for health implications, such as microbiology, immunology, and nutrition, through innovative and multidisciplinary approaches.
Presented by: Fiorenzo Galli , Director General of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.

Special Europe Award aimed at European personalities for their contribution to the theme "Women & Information Technologies"
NEELIE KROES, Vice President of the European Commission, Commissioner responsible for the Digital Agenda
Motivation: For the extraordinary commitment to creating common and stable conditions throughout the European Union in the field of telecommunications, to improve the equality and competitiveness of women and young people in an increasingly digital world.
Presented by: Federica Ortalli, Member of the Board of the Milan Chamber of Commerce and Maria Luisa Nolli, Steering Committee of the Women & Technologies Association

The numbers

The numbers of the five previous editions testify to the success of Women & Technologies ^® From 2008-2015, the conference reached 182 members involved in the Strategic Committee and Program Committee, 191 speakers from 15 different countries. With 1680 participants and 170 press operators, this year the conference also utilized live streaming. To date, there are 100,000 contacts on the Web TV channel, which was launched in November 2012. The dedicated portal www.womentech.eu is the essential hub for the dissemination of the topics discussed with 88,000 accesses, 57,000 visitors from 125 countries for a total of 311,000 pages viewed. The network of professionals and experts around the theme continues to grow steadily thanks to the 6 active social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Linkedin, YouTube, and Flickr.

The permanent creative workshop: towards EXPO 2015

The interesting and innovative aspect of our project since 2008 is to have fueled a "virtual" laboratory open all year round where skills, ideas, news collected and shared among the network of professionals, experts, or simply curious individuals on the topics under discussion have come together. This was made possible through the cross-media portal, web TV, blog, and social networks. The annual conference, the award, and the various editions of Future Camp have been moments of dialogue and "physical" encounters that have highlighted the most significant themes of EXPO, celebrated the Technovisionaries, and contributed to guiding young people towards future job opportunities. A wealth of relationships, experiences, know-how that we will make available before, during, and after EXPO. Acta multimedia.

Photographic Service
A photographic service has been carried out and published on the conference portal.

Video Production
The following video clips have been produced for the conference:

• Conference Promo
  30-second spot airing in the 2 weeks leading up to the conference on the Telesia circuit of the Milan Metropolitan and in the Urban Centre Milano (Galleria Vittorio Emanuele)
• 1 Video clip that traces the history of the Protagonists of Women & Technologies. ^® from 2008 to present
• 1 Video clip that traces the history of the "Technovisionary Award" ^® "from 2008 to present"
• Video clips containing all the interventions from the Women&Technologies Conference ^® 2013 and the award ceremony of the Technovisionaries 2013 to be published soon

Radio commercial production
Radio24 (Sole 24 Ore Group) produced and aired a 30-second spot in the week leading up to the conference.