Vision (Italian think tank)
 Logo of the Vision Think Tank | |
| Formation | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Type | Policy Think Tank |
| Location | |
President | Francesco Grillo |
| Website | www.visionwebsite.eu |
Vision is an independent, non-profit think tank based in Rome, Italy. Its main efforts are "dedicated to strategic thinking on the transformations triggered by technologies and globalisation."[1] Research and analysis are conducted on public and social policies, focusing on the principles of democracy, open society and social reform. In addition to policy research and strategic analyses, one of Vision's primary aims is the promotion of open dialogue and cooperation between all sectors of society.
Vision is not aligned to any political party in Italy and the organisation has described itself as a non-partisan group.[2]
Among the Visionaires: Francesco Grillo, Gianfilippo Emma, Flavius Stan, Asif Parvez, Oscar Pasquali, Valeria Sirabella.
Among the projects conducted by Vision in the last years, the most important ones are:
- Italian and European Universities in the global market of Innovation: reforms and triggers of change [3]
Which future for Italian and European Universities? An international conference to discuss triggers of change within the university system: merits and limits of rankings and power of internationalization.
- The Politics and Economics of happiness [4]
The project deals with the issue of measuring well being in modern societies. Among the questions we tried to address: Who can define what happiness is? Is “progress” still a valid notion towards which science and economy should be oriented?
- Kyoto of the Cities [5]
The scope of the project is to explore the possibility of engaging major cities in an international agreement on environment - related goals and explore strategies for CO2 emissions in housing, waste management and urban transportation.
Mission
The mission of the think tank is "idea dissemination." According to the organisation, objectives include:[1]
- The collection of ideas,
- Protection (of ideas) from short-term pressures,
- The growth of projects with high social-added value, and
- The successful realisation of goals.
Organisation
Vision is described as independent and non-partisan. Unlike traditional "brick-and-mortar" research centres, the think tank functions as an international network of collaborators. Most projects receive insight from professionals in a number of different fields, rather than a permanent staff of dedicated scholars. Partners often include: European think tanks and research centres, government officials and legislators, NGOs and non-profit organisations and university staff and students.[6]
Research Areas
Vision's three main research areas are promoted in its "Factory of Ideas." [7] These include: