Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "To honor those who have served the Republic with a high level of civic duty, dedication to the community, and a concrete contribution to strengthening democratic values and social cohesion." This is the goal of the 2026 Spes Award, established by the Aises Foundation (Academy for Innovation, Economic Development, and Security), as part of the activities of the "Carlo Azeglio Ciampi" Spes Academy. The award, in its first edition, was presented yesterday to Councilor Ugo Zampetti, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Italian Republic, "for having given a name and a face to that silent commitment that sustains the institutions."
The awards ceremony was held at the Casino dell'Aurora in Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi in Rome. Moderated by journalist Maria Latella, the event was opened by Valerio De Luca, president of the Aises Foundation and director of the Spes Academy. This was followed by an introduction to the award by its creator and president Giuseppina Rubinetti and a reading of the citation, curated by Renata Cristina Mazzantini, Daria Perrotta, and Maria Teresa Sempreviva, reflecting the diversity of institutional spheres involved.
Finally, Ambassador Giampiero Massolo delivered the laudatory speech before the award winner's closing remarks.
Councilor Zampetti's award is presented with a work by Emilio Isgrò, a leading figure in international contemporary art, who is called upon to translate the very essence of civic engagement into aesthetic form. The jury is composed of: Alessandra Dal Verme, Director of the State Property Agency; Andreina Draghi, art historian and board member of the Aises Foundation; Maria Latella, journalist; Emma Marcegaglia, entrepreneur, president and CEO of Marcegaglia Spa; Renata Cristina Mazzantini, architect and director of the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art; Daria Perrotta, State Accountant General; Maria Teresa Sempreviva, Prefect and Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Interior; and Giuseppina Rubinetti, President, lawyer and head of the Technical Secretariat of the Minister of Justice.
"The 2026 Spes Award is of great importance because, on the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, it aims to highlight the significance of service to the Republic, and in particular the work carried out within its highest institutions," said Ugo Zampetti.
"The Spes Award was created to center a demanding concept of service to the Republic, which is not limited to the performance of a function, but is measured by the quality of commitment, continuity, and responsibility with which it is performed," stated Giuseppina Rubinetti. "The choice of an all-female jury symbolically recalls the first women's vote in 1946, a founding moment of the Republic, and is intended to underscore the value of participation and responsibility in shaping institutional life. The Award seeks to recognize careers characterized by moderation, rigor, and a sense of institution, offering new generations a credible benchmark of public engagement. From this perspective, the figure identified for the first edition, Councilor Ugo Zampetti, consistently and recognizably embodies these traits. The Award is embodied in a work of art, created for this edition by Emilio Isgrò, in the belief that the values it inspires also belong to an intangible dimension."
"The Spes Award was born within the framework of the activities of the Aises Foundation's Spes Academy, the result of a proposal we wholeheartedly supported, with the aim of enhancing the theme of service to the Republic within a higher education program. The Spes Academy, named after Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, aims to be a space for reflection and growth on the principles of institutional culture and public responsibility, of which the Award represents a natural extension. The selection of Ugo Zampetti fits coherently within this perspective," stated Valerio De Luca.
"The Spes Prize offers us a rare opportunity to publicly explore the thinking and work of a Grand Commis of the State, Ugo Zampetti. Beyond the silence and discretion inherent in his role, his tireless work to strengthen trust between citizens and institutions stands out. His tools are the impartiality of the administration and the transparency of its processes, as well as culture as a factor of identity and a bond between generations. The reforms implemented in the administrative apparatuses of the Chamber of Deputies and the Quirinale Palace remain enduring testaments to this approach. This is also reflected in the Quirinale Palace's openness to contemporary art, a hallmark of modernity that has consistently characterized the current Presidency of the Republic," concluded Ambassador Giampiero Massolo.
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