Italy and the United States enjoy a robust trade relationship, bolstered in part by ties that go back decades. The U.S. is Italy’s third-largest export market and a major trade partner related to intellectual property. Still, as Italy’s economic recovery gains momentum, experts say opportunities abound for increased collaboration between the countries’ companies and research centers, particularly in the area of advanced manufacturing.

“For historical reasons, the relationship is strong, but it could be stronger,” says Luca Settineri, head of the Department of Management and Production Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Turin. “I think there is still a long way to go before the potential of the cooperation is fully exploited."