Italy–China Innovation Week 2025: The National Center Showcases Gene Therapy and RNA Technologies for Precision Medicine - Driving Innovation Momentum, Co-creating a Sustainable Future

10-15 November 2025, China— The National Center played a leading role at the XIV Edition of the Italy–China Week of Science, Technology, and Innovation, held from 13 to 15 November in Beijing and Hangzhou. Promoted by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, and coordinated by Fondazione IDIS – Città della Scienza with the support of the National Research Council (CNR), the event remains the most significant bilateral platform for scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and China. This year’s theme, “Driving Innovation Momentum, Co-creating a Sustainable Future,” underscored a shared commitment to joint research, technology transfer, and sustainable innovation.

The National Center represented Italy’s biomedical leadership with a delegation composed of its President, Prof. Rosario Rizzuto, Director of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Padua and Scientific Coordinator of Spoke 4; Prof. Tito Calì, Professor at the University of Padua, Coordinator of the Research Committee and member of Spoke 9; Prof. Renato Ostuni, Associate Professor of Tissue Biology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Group Leader at the San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy and member of Spoke 10; and Dr. Daniele Canarutto, Physician Scientist and Project Leader at SR-TIGET.

The National Center took center stage on 13 November during the Life and Health Sciences Forum at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center, where Prof. Rizzuto delivered his keynote lecture, “National Center for Gene Therapy and Drugs Based on RNA Technology: Technology and Resources for Precision Medicine.” His address highlighted Italy’s strategic investment in innovative therapeutic platforms and the National Center’s pivotal role in advancing multidisciplinary research in gene therapy and RNA-based medicine.

The opening ceremony, held the same day at the Zhongguancun Exhibition Center’s Yihe Hall, featured the participation of Beijing Vice Mayor Jin Wei, Fondazione IDIS – Città della Scienza President Riccardo Villari, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Yang Tao, and President of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità Rocco Bellantone. Keynote remarks were delivered by Francesco Svelto, Vice President of the National Research Council. Italian Minister Anna Maria Bernini and Chinese Minister Yin Hejun then opened the ministerial session, which concluded with the signing of new bilateral cooperation agreements.

Beyond its contributions to the official program, the National Center deepened scientific dialogue through a series of targeted visits. In Tianjin, the delegation met with representatives of the Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau at the Tiankai Science and Higher Education Innovation Park, an ecosystem integrating universities, industry, and government to promote technology transfer and entrepreneurial development. The visit offered the National Center an opportunity to explore models of rapid commercialization of research outcomes and the growing investment landscape supporting innovation in China.

The delegation also visited the Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, a leading institution of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, specializing in cell ecosystem studies, RNA technologies, and next-generation tools for gene editing and disease modeling. Prof. Rizzuto presented the National Center’s structure and strategic research agenda, while Professors Ostuni and Canarutto provided insights into gene therapy applications for cancer and genetic diseases, further strengthening scientific ties.

The mission concluded on 16 November in Beijing with a public lecture delivered by Prof. Rizzuto at Peking University’s Institute of Molecular Medicine, followed by closed-door meetings aimed at identifying long-term avenues for collaboration in biomedical research and education.

Italy–China Innovation Week once again confirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to leveraging science and technology to address global challenges. For the National Center, the 2025 edition provided a strategic platform to showcase Italy’s advancements in gene therapy and RNA technologies, reinforce diplomatic and scientific relations, and cultivate new partnerships with leading Chinese institutions dedicated to the future of precision medicine.