Luigi Micheletti Award

Firmly rooted in Naples but looking towards the Mediterranean, City of Science is a multifunctional structure designed to play a leading role in the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the culture of innovation. It has been established in a restored buildings of a mid-19th century factory in Bagnoli, a seaside area on the north-west edge of Naples. Until the mid 1900s the industrial area of Bagnoli was one of the most important ex-industrial areas of Italy which provided employment for over fifteen thousand people. The establishment by the Fondazione IDIS of the City of Science represents today the first step in the redevelopment of Bagnoli. City of Science offers a mixture of functions and services aimed at supporting the processes of economic, social and productive development in the city of Naples and southern Italy in relation to Europe and the Mediterranean basin. 
Its main commitments and role lie in the fields of education, guidance, training and business start-up. Consequently City of Science includes a science, a business innovation, a training and a congress centre.

Occupying an area of over 10.000 sq.m, the Science Centre houses hands-on exhibits, interactive multimedia games and laboratories which enable the replication and observation of scientific phenomena, experiments and theories. The exhibitions area is divided into six main parts, representing science in nature, astronomy, communications, nutrition, labs for ceramics and arts, an exhibition area where children can explore all senses.
Some original factory machinery have been retained, maintaining the link with the building’s past. Spaces are also available for temporary exhibitions, open debates and school laboratories.

City of Science has managed to combine the dissemination of science with the promotion of socio-economic development with ever greater success. Furthermore, this is what distinguishes it from other initiatives, making it an almost unique model within the international scenario.

The Impact of the the Luigi Micheletti Award
The awarding of the Micheletti Prize to City of Science has strongly contributed to the increase of the Napolitan structure prestige within a city, regional, national and international context.
This is clear also if one has a glance through the Italian press and media review. The event further testifies the work we have been carrying out during all these years, it confirms the greatly original and innovative value of our reality and for us all, it is source of emotion and legitimate pride.