Italian Design: Champions and Hidden Champions at WDCC 2024

The China-Italy Chamber of Commerce is pleased to invite you to visit the "Italian Design: Champions and Hidden Champions", a Temporary Museum of Italian Industrial Excellence in China, taking place from September 27th to 30th during the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC)  2024 in Shanghai.

This unique exhibition features an exceptional collection of products by 35 Italian Companies, ranging from globally recognized B2C brands to the lesser-known "Hidden Champions" in B2B sectors, whose cutting-edge technologies drive the global economy.

The Temporary Museum is the result of a collaboration between the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce and Tongji University that has made Italy the only Country to have a dedicated space within the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC), organized by the UNESCO and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, with the theme "Design Reframing Growth".

The four-day global event seeks to explore new avenues for high-quality development driven by design, integrating design into all facets of urban and daily life.

The venue is the just opened Expo Riverside Dingbo, on the banks of the Huangpu River in central Shanghai, a project of David Chipperfield Architects which represents the centrepiece of the redevelopment of the 2010 World Expo Site.

About the Temporary Museum of Italian Industrial Excellence in China

Italian excellence integrates innovation, tradition, and design to create processes, products and solutions that shape industries and elevate everyday life.

Italian companies have long understood that design is a strategic competitive advantage and not simply aesthetics. This exhibition reveals how Italian businesses, whether consumer-facing or behind-the-scenes champions, strategically leverage design to carve their path to success.

The products on display reflect Italy's ability to blend functionality, beauty, and innovation across diverse sectors, from luxury, F&B and automotive to industrial machinery, medical equipment and precision engineering. Several designed solutions also embody a strategic adaptability to local requirements and culture while maintaining the high standards of Italian quality.

Design conceives the nature and the performance of these products, not only making them desirable, but also enduring in their quality, their interpretation of markets' differences and people's aspirations.

This Italian Way thrives on collaborative partnerships, as many Champions here presented demonstrate by partnering on pivotal steps in shared Value Chains.

In Iconic designs from B2C companies sit alongside industrial components crafted by B2B leaders, illustrating the Italian mastery of combining craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.

The Italian Design Champions and Hidden Champions exhibition delves into the design philosophy that drives these companies, emphasizing how focus on detail, material quality, human capital and sustainable innovation for human life define Italian products.

This temporary museum is a testament to the values and principles that have made Italy a world leader in innovation and design.

Don't miss the opening of the museum and the chance to meet the representatives of the Italian companies Design Champions and Hidden Champions in person.

The inauguration and soft opening of the Pavilion will be held on September 26th at the presence of the Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D’Angelo, CICC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi, & Vice President Tongji University, Director WDCC 2024 Prof. Lou Yongqi.

The Soft Opening will take place during the media day, with a limited number of places available for the public. To join the inauguration, registration is mandatory. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SOFT OPENING

INAUGURATION DETAILS

• Date: 26th September 2024
• Time: 14:00-18:00 (Beijing time)
• Venue: 1-7 booth, Dingbo Building 1F, No. 55 Wangda Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai | 上海市黄浦区旺达路55号鼎博大厦1楼1-7号展位

Opening

14:00 Registration

14:30 Temporary Museum Inauguration

Speech by

• Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D’Angelo
• CICC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi

Ribbon cut

• Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D’Angelo
• CICC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi
• Vice President Tongji University, Director WDCC 2024, prof Lou Yongqi
• Museum Curator, CCIC Board Director, Dir. Research Lab SB&CB, D&I, Tongji University, prof. Avril Accolla

14:45 Museum visit

• Museum Curator, prof. Avril Accolla

Italian Design Champions Talks

15:15 Introduction by Vice President Tongji University, Director WDCC 2024, prof Lou Yongqi

15:30 Panel discussion

16:30 Presentations by companies

17:50 Closing remarks

The Pavilion will be open for visits starting from Friday, September 27th, and will be accessible daily throughout WDCC 2024 until September 30th.

PAVILION VISIT DETAILS

• Date: September 27th-30th, 2024
• Address: 1-7 booth, Dingbo Building 1F , No. 55 Wangda Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai | 上海市黄浦区望达路55号鼎博大厦1楼1-7号展位

Interested in visiting the pavilion? Please scan the QR code below to register: