A weeklong institutional mission to California has strengthened ties between the Lazio regional government and some of the United States’ leading centers for technology, research, and culture. The delegation was led by Francesco Rocca, joined by Vice President Roberta Angelilli and Regional Minister Renata Baldassarre, with the goal of expanding international partnerships in innovation, startups, higher education, and cultural promotion.
The mission officially opened on April 29 in Sacramento with a meeting between Rocca and Gavin Newsom. Discussions focused on several shared priorities between California and Lazio, including digital transformation, tourism development, agriculture innovation, and support for advanced business ecosystems. Regional officials said the talks could lead to a formal bilateral cooperation agreement in the coming months.
Another major stop was Cupertino, where the Lazio delegation visited Apple Park and met with Italian executive Luca Maestri, one of the company’s key financial leaders. In San Francisco, representatives also met Mayor Daniel Lurie to exchange ideas on social programs and public welfare initiatives. The economic portion of the mission included events at Innovit, the Italian innovation hub in San Francisco, where Lazio startups completed an acceleration program designed to connect Italian entrepreneurs with American investors and technology networks.
Culture played a central role throughout the visit. Delegates attended the opening of “The Etruscans: From the Heart of Ancient Italy” at the Legion of Honor Museum, described as the largest exhibition on Etruscan civilization ever presented in the United States. The exhibition features nearly 200 artifacts and is linked to the digital showcase “Experience Etruria,” promoted by Lazio institutions in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute.
The program concluded with meetings at the University of California, Berkeley and the signing of a memorandum supporting Lazio startups and high-tech small businesses seeking access to American acceleration and investment programs. Rocca said the initiative aims to give Lazio companies greater international visibility while encouraging long-term economic and cultural cooperation between Italy and the United States.
