Innovation Without Borders, Winning Partnership - The Third Edition of the Premio D'Ascanio concluded in Shanghai
This article was originally published in Italian in Panorama on 29th September 2025.
Please note that this is a courtesy translation of the Italian language article originally published in the Panorama Magazine Issue at: https://www.panorama.it/attualita/economia/innovazione-senza-confini-partnership-vincente-conclusa-a-shanghai-la-terza-edizione-del-premio-dascanio
On September 15, 2025, Shanghai hosted the third edition of the “Corradino D'Ascanio Award for Innovation”, an award that, year after year, confirms itself as a privileged meeting point between Italian and Chinese excellence. The event was promoted by the Abruzzo Association in China, with the support of Abruzzo Region – of Cram, Regional Council of Abruzzo in the World, with the patronage of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai and with the Italian Trade Agency.
To guide the audience through the evening was the Master of Ceremony, Avv. Carlo Diego D'Andrea-Vice President of the Abruzzo Association in China, who with elegance and passion underlined the most significant moments of the event.
After the institutional greetings of Tiziana D'Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, and Augusto Di Giacinto, Director of the ICE Office in Shanghai, Luigi Febo, President of the City Council of Chieti, and Alessandra Relmi, Director of Confimi Industria, brought their speeches.
“It is a great honor for me to represent the city of Chieti and Abruzzo at the third edition of the Corradino D'Ascanio Award for Innovation”, so the President of the Chieti City Council, Luigi Febo, joining the prestigious award in Shanghai as part of the initiative that celebrates the genius of the inventor of Abruzzo, father of the modern helicopter and the Vespa.
“With this award,” said Febo during the ceremony, “we are not only celebrating innovation, but also reaffirming the relevance of a legacy that continues to inspire designers and companies around the world.”
President Gorgoretti then added:
“I am very happy with the growth of the Corradino D’Ascanio Award and our Association of Abruzzo in China. The companies awarded today are Walter Tosto S.p.A., a symbol of technological excellence and internationalization, and Midea Italia Srl, capable of combining development and opening global – are concrete examples of innovation and foresight, as well as the ability of the Abruzzo Region and China to grow together by building bridges of cooperation.”
In her speech, Alessandra Relmi of Confimi stated:
“The Premio D'Ascanio is a unique opportunity to enhance the industrial and innovative excellence that unites Italy and China. Confimi is proud to support this concrete dialogue between companies and territories.”
The central moment of the ceremony was the award to two companies of absolute international relevance: Walter Tosto S.p.A and Midea Italia S.r.l.
* To collect the award for Walter Tosto S.p.A, has been Andrea Tina Global General Purchase Manager, who stressed:
“We are honored to receive this award that celebrates our continued drive towards innovation and internationalization. We thank the organizers for creating such an important bridge between Italy and China.”
* For Midea Italia the General Manager, Alberto Di Luzio, intervened, who said:
“This award encourages us to strengthen our commitment to sustainable development and innovation. We are grateful to the organizers for this recognition, which testifies to the solidity of the collaboration between our countries.”
A heartfelt thanks went to the sponsors of the evening, to the DP Winery, who offered the fine Abruzzo wines protagonists of the networking aperitivo.
To make the evening unforgettable was the extraordinary performance of “La Divina Commedia Opera Musical", which, on tour in the last two months in 15 Chinese cities, has excited the audience with an interweaving of culture, art and spirituality. Afterwards, an aperitif with typical Abruzzo products created a convivial atmosphere, favoring dialogue between institutions, companies and the Italian community in China.
This third edition of the Premio D'Ascanio has once again confirmed its role as a privileged platform to promote “Made in Abruzzo”, celebrate innovation and consolidate ties between Abruzzo and China in the fields of economy, culture and tourism. Quoting President Febo again: "I bring here the pride of Chieti and Abruzzo: a land that wants to continue to innovate, to create, to collaborate with China, with Europe and with the world”.
By: Avv. Carlo D’Andrea, National Vice President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and Chairman of the Board of the Shanghai Chapter, Founder and Managing Partner of D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel
