Rome, February 20
The Business Care International Award returns, now in its eighth year. Since 2019, this award has celebrated individuals, institutions, and organizations whose daily commitment contributes to building a better world, guided by values such as ethics, innovation, culture, and a business vision geared toward the common good. The Award renews its commitment to strengthening the economic and cultural alliance with the United States, a strategic partner for Italy.
The press conference presenting the 2026 awardees was held at the historic Dante Alighieri Society at Palazzo Firenze, graciously hosted by Secretary General Alessandro Masi. This setting perfectly reflects the spirit of the Award: a bridge between tradition and the future, between culture and business.
This year's award recipients will be ten: seven "Global Players," two "Rising Stars," and one special mention, selected by the Business Care International Award jury to represent new energy and talent.
They are Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium; Claudia Cremonini, Vice President of Cremonini S.p.A.; Italian diplomat Fabrizio Di Michele, former Consul General of Italy in New York; Sebastiano Fanizza, entrepreneur in the yachting and luxury brand consulting sector; Milena Lerario, CEO of e-GEOS; Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild S.p.A.; Chiara Sbarigia, President of the Audiovisual Producers Association; and Sabrina Zappia, President of the Italian & International Patrons of the Art of the Vatican Museums.
In the Rising Star category, the awards will go to musician and composer Marco Nodari and Professor Aldostefano Porcari of University College London. This is a way to look not only at the results achieved, but also at the potential of those who are building the future. Completing the award is a special mention for the Foreign Press Association in Italy, represented by its President, journalist Elena PosteInicu.
The 2026 edition introduces a significant innovation: a space, voice, and visibility for professionals and small businesses that lack significant opportunities to make themselves known. For this reason, we have decided to launch the "Italian Icons" project, aimed at discovering talents and small businesses that contribute to strengthening the economic and cultural ties between Italy and the US. Our goal is to create a virtuous cycle of mutual support. The large companies participating in our award will have the opportunity to guide and direct their resources towards deserving businesses, generating a concrete and positive impact from a Corporate Social Responsibility perspective.
The strategic value of the partnership with the United States – Italian exports to the United States in 2024 generated more than €65 billion in sectors such as mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, fashion, agri-food, and transportation, according to data from Pagella Politica. These trades generated a surplus of €39 billion, representing 10% of all Italian exports, which generated €624 billion to the rest of the world, equal to 28.4% of the national GDP. Between 2022 and 2024, a full 25,000 companies exported to the United States, with 25% exporting more than 50% of their products to the American market.
"In a complex and fragmented historical moment, the Business Care International Award confirms its position as a point of reference for those who believe in the power of cultural, economic, scientific, and social exchanges," said Massimo Veccia, President and creator of the Business Care Award. "The importance and prestige of this initiative have reached an increasingly broad international audience. Our Award connects Europe, North America, Asia, and the rest of the world, promoting a vision of progress based on collaboration, not competition, as the key to addressing the challenges of our time."
For Fabrizio Ferragni, President of the Jury, "in a complex and fragmented historical moment, the award represents a compass for those working to protect the country's wealth." Paolo Liguori emphasized that, in the age of artificial intelligence, it is "fundamental to recognize the value of human intelligence that fuels Italian ingenuity in culture, art, and design, reaffirming that people remain at the center of the world and of business."
Upcoming events – The awards ceremony will be held on March 27, 2026, in the Sala della Regina of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome and on November 12, 2026, in New York, at the Consulate General of Italy.
