The mission also featured the launch of new knowledge publications, reflecting TRENDS’ commitment to advancing knowledge diplomacy.
TRENDS Global, part of the TRENDS Group, has concluded its strategic knowledge mission to Rome, Italy, held from July 5-10, marking a significant milestone in its expanding international presence through a series of high-level international conferences, strategic dialogues, research visits, and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoU) with leading Italian academic, think tank, and sovereign institutions. The mission also featured the launch of new knowledge publications, reflecting TRENDS’ commitment to advancing knowledge diplomacy and building international partnerships that contribute to knowledge production and evidence-based policymaking.
Strong International Presence
Organized through the TRENDS Italy Virtual Office, the mission included three major international conferences, six research visits to prominent academic, sovereign, and research institutions, the signing of two strategic memoranda of understanding, and the launch of several research publications in Italian.
The events were attended by H.E. Abdulla Ali Al Subousi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Italian Republic; Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, Chairman of TRENDS Group; Awadh Al Breiki, Senior Researcher and General Manager of TRENDS Global; alongside parliamentarians, diplomats, academics, policymakers, and experts from the UAE, Italy, and across Europe.
The conferences, seminars, strategic dialogues, and research meetings featured distinguished Italian and international speakers, including Matthew Robinson, Director of the Euro-Gulf Information Centre (EGIC); Minister Plenipotentiary Fabrizio Lobasso, Deputy Director General for Growth and Export Promotion at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sarah Al Neyadi, Senior Researcher and Director of the Strategic Studies Department at TRENDS; Marco Di Liddo, Director General of the Center for International Studies (CeSI); Khalid Al Jarman, Counsellor at the UAE Embassy in Rome; Dr. Luigi Martino, Director of the Cybersecurity Academy at Khalifa University; Andrea Margelletti, President of CeSI; Alessandro Bertoldi, Executive Director of the Milton Friedman Institute; Souad Sbai, former Member of the Italian Parliament and Head of the Department for the Integration of Foreign Communities and Equal Opportunities in Italy’s Lega Party; Italian journalist Daniele Capezzone, Editor of Il Tempo newspaper; Professor Alexandre Del Valle, Professor of Geopolitics and co-author of The Project; and Professor Dario Peirone, Director General of the Milton Friedman Institute. Their participation enriched the scientific and strategic discussions and fostered the exchange of perspectives and expertise, further strengthening the mission’s outcomes and research partnerships.
UAE–Italy Perspectives
The mission commenced at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Rome, where TRENDS, in cooperation with the Center for International Studies (CeSI), organized a seminar titled The Crisis in the Middle East: UAE and Italian Perspectives.
The seminar examined the geopolitical and economic implications of the ongoing regional crisis, energy security, supply chains, and opportunities to strengthen international cooperation in addressing regional challenges.
This first stop also included a specialized roundtable discussion and the signing of an MoU with the European Gulf Information Center (EGIC) to enhance cooperation in strategic analysis and joint research.
Dialogue at the Italian Parliament
In a landmark event hosted at the Italian Chamber of Deputies, TRENDS Global organized an international seminar in the historic Salvadori Hall, in cooperation with the Milton Friedman Institute and the Department for the Integration of Foreign Communities of the Lega Party, under the title “The Implications of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Presence in Europe”.
TRENDS Senior Researchers Hamad Al Hosani and Badriya Al Riyami presented analyses of the ideological, security, and political dimensions of political Islam and its impact on European societies.
Italian-Language Research Publications
The seminar witnessed the launch of the Italian edition of the Muslim Brotherhood International Power Index, as well as the release of the third, fourth, and fifth volumes of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia in Italian, further expanding the research resources available to European policymakers and researchers.
Speakers emphasized that intellectual security is a fundamental pillar of national stability, noting that ideologically driven organizations pose soft institutional threats by exploiting democratic environments to promote their narratives and agendas. They stressed the importance of strengthening scientific research, monitoring, and strategic analysis to address these challenges.
The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Milton Friedman Institute to deepen cooperation in strategic studies, countering extremism, intellectual dialogue, and the production of scientific knowledge that supports decision-makers.
Advancing Knowledge Cooperation
As part of its focus on future-oriented issues, the TRENDS Global delegation visited the Italian National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN), where discussions focused on opportunities for cooperation in cybersecurity and digital space protection, which are key pillars of national security and international relations in the digital age.
The delegation also held a strategic dialogue at the Institute of Global Studies (IGS), chaired by Dr. Nicola Pedde, exploring geopolitical developments across the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa, as well as energy, security, economic issues, and prospects for expanding joint research cooperation.
The research mission also included visits to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, LUISS University, and the Research Center for International and Strategic Studies, with discussions focused on expanding academic partnerships, exchanging expertise, and strengthening science diplomacy to support research institutions and policymakers in both countries. A cooperation agreement was also signed with LUISS University.
AI at the Italian Senate
The mission concluded with a major scientific event at the Italian Senate, held in the historic Giustiniani Palace, where TRENDS, in partnership with the AISES Foundation and the SPES Academy, organized an international panel discussion entitled “AI Governance and the Ethics of Emerging Technologies”.
The panel examined the future of artificial intelligence governance, the ethics of emerging technologies, and the importance of developing balanced legislative and regulatory frameworks. Discussions highlighted the complementarity between the European approach, which emphasizes regulation and legislation, and the UAE and Gulf approach, which focuses on national strategies that promote innovation and accelerate digital transformation.
Book Launch and Expansion of Training Cooperation
The event also featured the launch of the book Global Trends in AI, which provides a comprehensive analytical study of the impact of artificial intelligence on the global economy, labor markets, and international policymaking, and offers practical recommendations for decision-makers to respond to rapid technological change.
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the TRENDS Training Institute and the Academy for Innovation, Economic Development and Security of the AISES Foundation, opening new avenues for cooperation in training, capacity building, scientific research, and innovation.
Mohammed Al-Ali: Knowledge Diplomacy Is a Pillar of International Partnerships
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, Chairman of TRENDS Group, stated that the partnerships established with Italian institutions represent an advanced model of cooperation built on mutual trust and a shared vision.
He noted that the Rome mission demonstrated that knowledge diplomacy and meaningful scientific dialogue have become among the most effective instruments for building international partnerships and shaping evidence-based policies. He added that the mission further reinforced TRENDS’ position as a global research platform and a knowledge bridge connecting East and West while leveraging academic research to promote development, stability, and a more secure, prosperous, and sustainable future.
Awadh Al Breiki: The Rome Mission Strengthens TRENDS’ Global Presence
Awadh Al Breiki, Senior Researcher and General Manager of TRENDS Global, affirmed that the Rome research mission marks an important milestone in TRENDS’ international journey and reflects its commitment to building bridges of cooperation among research and academic institutions.
He added that these partnerships help deliver forward-looking insights and practical solutions to regional and global challenges while reinforcing the role of academic research in advancing sustainable development and stability.
