17-year-old student from Asti, Valerio Pagliarino, winner of this year’s EU Young Scientists Award, was presented by the Italian Historic Companies Association with the “Key to Friendship” 2017, a recognition awarded every year to a person who distinguished himself/herself in the social, scientific or cultural field and “left a precious legacy and an enlightened sense of progress in Italy”.

The ceremony was held at Villa Bardini, in Florence, during a meeting organized by the Unione Imprese Storiche Italiane (Italian Historic Companies Association), an association bringing together “Made in Italy” brands that are at least one century-old, that preserve excellent traditions and are animated by a strong spirit of innovation.

A young and brilliant innovator in the scientific field is the recipient of “The Key of Friendship” 2017: Valerio Pagliarino, a student attending scientific high school “Pellati di Nizza Monferrato” who, thanks to the project “LaserWan: ultra-wideband laser connection”, has patented an invention to bring faster internet coverage to remote places of the planet.

Valerio Pagliarino received the coveted prize from the President of the Italian Historic Companies Association, Eugenio Alphandery. “This year we wanted to reward a young Italian representing the best that our country’s science has to offer and presenting humanity with a socially-valuable gift” said Eugenio Alphandery. “I am honoured to receive this award from an association as prestigious as IHCA – added Valerio Pagliarino – “I developed my project starting from a simple idea, and I am pleased to receive so much attention at an international level, confirming that the Digital Divide is still a fundamental issue that needs to be addressed”.

During the meeting, the honorary presidency of the Union was also presented to Franco Torrini, founder, inspirer and president of the association from 2000 to 2012. “Today I’m glad to point out that our Association, Florentine-born, has developed on a national scale with its motto ‘unite and persevere’, a motto highlighting the extraordinary resilience of our members”.

At the meeting in Villa Bardini, Jacopo Speranza, President of the “Fondazione Parchi Monumentali Bardini and Peyron”, welcomed the guests: “This meeting is consistent with the aim of opening Villa Bardini to the most dynamic realities of the territory”, he said.

In addition to the members of the Association, Cristina Giachi (Deputy Mayor of Florence), Cecilia del Re (Municipal Councillor for economic development), civil and military authorities, and some councillors of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze also attended the event.

In the photo (from left to right): Eugenio Alphandery, Cristina Giachi (Deputy Mayor of Florence), Valerio Pagliarino, Franco Torrini and the Municipal Councillor for economic development, Cecilia Del Re.