A delegation from Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s leading banking group and one of the most important in Europe, recently concluded – during the first week of September 2025 – a mission to San Francisco and Seattle, aimed at fostering connections between Italian businesses and the vibrant U.S. innovation ecosystem. The delegation was led by Stefano Barrese, Head of Intesa Sanpaolo’s “Banca dei Territori” Division, and was welcomed in San Francisco by Consul General Massimo Carnelos and his team.
The Consul General and his staff assisted the delegation throughout business and institutional meetings, highlighting the importance of a strong Italian presence in California and Seattle and the crucial role that economic diplomacy plays in the United States.
While the delegation explored new opportunities for partnership and investment, 12 innovative SMEs selected through Intesa Sanpaolo’s “Imprese Vincenti” program took part in an intensive training, mentoring, and networking program organized by the Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in San Francisco, INNOVIT—demonstrating the cutting edge of Italian enterprise in advanced industrial sectors.
As Consul General Carnelos remarked, this commitment “not only supports the global ambitions of Italian companies but also promotes a renewed image of Italy’s entrepreneurial and technological fabric. The Consulate General’s support for this mission is a clear part of the action by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, within the broader framework of Growth and Innovation Diplomacy.”
The synergy between the Consulate General’s institutional presence, the Italian Trade Agency and the Innovation Center at INNOVIT and the innovative drive of Italian SMEs further reinforces San Francisco’s role as a focal point for Italian economic diplomacy and innovation in the USA.
