The Embassy of Italy in Washington hosted the annual meeting of the Italian Scientist and Scholars in the North America Foundation (ISSNAF). The meeting, held under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, was opened by the Italian Ambassador Armando Varricchio and by the President of the Foundation Vito Campese, who was awarded the Order of the Star of Italy in the rank of Grand Officer.

The meeting allowed to review the important discoveries and innovative projects carried out by Italian researchers and scientists in North America and to plan the activities of the Foundation for 2020. Mauro Ferrari, nanotechnology luminary, President and CEO of the Houston Methodist Research Institute in Texas and, as of January 1, 2020, President of the European Research Council, attended the meeting. ISSNAF awarded Ferrari with the Life Achievement Award by as a recognition of his career.