On January 10, 2014, The European Institute in cooperation with the Embassy of Italy hosted a luncheon discussion with The Honorable Maria Chiara Carrozza, Italian Minister for Education, Universities and Research. Minister Carrozza discussed the vital importance of furthering transatlantic research and innovation cooperation and of strengthening the European Science and Technology Union. During Italy’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, she said, priority will be given to ensuring continuity in the implementation of the European Union’s ambitious Horizon 2020 initiative. Michael Nelson, Principal Technology Policy Strategist at Microsoft moderated the discussion.