Fondazione Agnelli Launches the Agnelli Chair of Italian Culture in Beijing: A Bridge with China to Showcase Italy and Foster Dialogue between the Two Countries. Romano Prodi Will Be the First Chairholder.
With President Sergio Mattarella in attendance, the Agnelli Chair of Italian Culture was officially inaugurated in Beijing on Saturday November 9th . It will be hosted and managed by the China-Europe Philanthropy Innovation Research Center (CEPIRC) at Peking University, which ranks among the top 15 universities globally in the QS rankings.
The first chairholder will be Professor Romano Prodi.
The Agnelli Chair of Italian Culture was conceived and promoted by the Fondazione Agnelli, in collaboration with the TOChina Hub at the University of Turin.
John Elkann, President of Fondazione Agnelli, attended the inaugural ceremony and signed the agreement regulating the Chair alongside Peking University and CEPIRC leadership.
The Agnelli Chair of Italian Culture, set to become operational in spring 2025, aims to provide students and faculty at China’s premier university with a deeper understanding of Italian culture in all its facets. It will introduce future Chinese leaders to the historical and contemporary contributions Italy has made, not only in the arts but also in creativity, scientific and technological knowledge, the economy, and society. At the same time, the Chair will promote cultural dialogue between Italy and China, enhancing mutual understanding.
“In recent years, Fondazione Agnelli has intensified its commitment to improving the quality of education and universities in Italy and will continue to do so with impactful new initiatives and projects,” stated John Elkann. “The Agnelli Chair inaugurated today in Beijing is the first of its kind initiated by a European non-profit institution in China. This Chair serves as a bridge to encourage mutual understanding and peaceful cooperation between our countries. It will proudly showcase the best of Italian culture, past and present, and simultaneously strengthen our dialogue with China in all its dimensions—an especially crucial objective in times of global uncertainty and tension.”
Cultural Dialogue with China and the Structure of the Agnelli Chair in Beijing
The Chair is structured around an innovative concept: each academic semester, a distinguished chairholder will be appointed on a rotating basis. This individual will be selected from prestigious and accomplished scholars and experts—not necessarily only Italian—who can provide insights into both historical and contemporary Italian culture. They will analyze its key influences across a broad range of fields, including the humanities and arts, as well as natural, social, and applied sciences.
Each chairholder will reside in Beijing for a period of two and a half to four months, receiving a salary and expense coverage from Peking University, funded by a €2.5 million endowment from Fondazione Agnelli. Furthermore, each chairholder will serve as an ambassador of Italian culture, engaging with Chinese academic communities in their field and inspiring students’ interest in Italy. Additionally, the Chair aims to establish and make permanent two-way dialogues between China and Italy, deepening mutual understanding.
