The legacy of Ugo Girardi, economist and top executive in the chamber system, continues to inspire esteem and gratitude even eleven years after his passing. A scholarship in his name has been launched to promote relations between Europe and Vietnam—topics dear to his professional and ethical vision.

A tribute to promote research and international cooperation
To mark the tenth anniversary of Ugo Girardi’s passing—former Deputy Secretary General of Unioncamere Italiana and Secretary General of Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna—the Italia-Vietnam Foundation ETS, in collaboration with the Rotary Club Bologna Galvani and under the patronage of Unioncamere, has established a €1,000 scholarship.

Dedicated to the best thesis on relations between Europe and Vietnam, the initiative aims to encourage research in economics and international relations, in line with the work of Girardi, who passed away prematurely at the age of 63.

Awarded a thesis on GDPR and its impact on Vietnamese businesses
Just days before what would have been his 74th birthday, the scholarship was officially presented during a meeting of the Rotary Club Bologna Galvani, chaired by Maria Grazia Diana.

The award committee granted the prize to Hoang Linh Minh, a student of the Master’s Program in Digital Innovation and Sustainability at Luiss University in Rome, for her thesis on the impact of European Regulation GDPR 679/2016 on Vietnamese artificial intelligence companies entering the European market.

During the event—which also took place online—the awarded student and the President of the Italia-Vietnam Foundation, Maily Anna Maria Nguyen, both spoke. Nguyen emphasized:

“This scholarship aims to promote in-depth study of Vietnam’s economy and its relationship with the European Union, continuing the work and connections built throughout the career of Dr. Ugo Girardi—jurist, economist, innovator, committed to ethical values and European themes, with a forward-thinking vision.”

A professional and human figure who left a deep mark
The memory of Ugo Girardi was warmly recalled by his son, Daniele Girardi, Lecturer of Economics at King’s College London; by economist Mario Pantano; by Monica Didò, a former colleague from Mondo Impresa; and by journalist Giuseppe Sangiorgi, his close collaborator for many years in Unioncamere Emilia-Romagna.

In the fall, a public event is planned to present Hoang Linh Minh’s thesis, with space for dialogue and discussion among researchers, experts, and representatives from institutions and businesses.

Ugo Girardi’s legacy: a work ethic in service of the common good
The scholarship project is a concrete and meaningful way to honor the memory of a respected public manager known for his organizational, interpersonal, and human skills. Girardi was able to inspire and motivate collaborators with passion and vision, building networks of cooperation and synergies geared toward sustainable and shared development.