The reason for the 2021 Cavour Award states «For an unrivaled university, managerial, political and government career; always at the service of the country». «Professor Romano Prodi interpreted in a contemporary way the spirit, intelligence, courage and foresight Camillo Cavour first displayed. His post as President of the European Commission sanctioned the important role Italy has played in the great continental plan right from its beginnings, thus completing the work started by the Savoy statesman».

«For being a point of reference in Italian society, constantly guarding the public and private safety of every Italian and foreign citizen, day and night. For serving the national community every day, facing the most critical and extreme situations with courage, commitment, and spirit of sacrifice, as shown once again recently during the tragedy in Genoa. For the ability to immediately find the appropriate solutions during emergencies affecting the community as well as private citizens. For having become a symbol of heroism and generosity nationwide».

«For achieving absolutely exceptional levels of scientific, professional and cultural competence through in-depth studies and extraordinary experiences in Italy and abroad. For fulfilling these studies and experiences by taking part in a 199-day mission to the International Space Station as the only Italian and third European woman. For demonstrating extraordinary moral and physical gifts and a profound commitment to the Italian Military Air Force and deservedly becoming its symbol worldwide».

«For having demonstrated to the whole of Europe the profound sense of duty, perfect professional competence and boundless humanity of the crews of the ships that have saved thousands of men, women and children in the Mediterranean Sea».

«Bruno Ceretto started on a journey with his brother Marcello in the late 1950s that has brought the company established by their father Riccardo to export fine wines in 80 countries worldwide, conquering markets such as th U.S., Japan, Switzerland, Canada, Russia and China. Combining tradition and innovation, respect for the land and its valorization through cultural and enogastronomic tourism, rigor in production and research, Bruno Ceretto has become an ambassador of the best products made in Italy, refined, sophisticated and envied worldwide. The concept that wine producers should reinvest part of their profits in high quality tourism sets Bruno Ceretto as an example that must inspire all Italian entrepreneurs to contribute to a new resurgence of our Country».

«Mayor of a town in Campania, he dedicated his life to serving the community that elected him, fully respecting the environment, making lawfulness his overall modus operandi. With these values he managed his municipality for years, valorizing its most precious resources, his only objective being a better future for the land he belonged to. While restoring and defending the territory under his care Angelo Vassallo found himself confronted by murky interests, contrary to those of the community: he actively opposed such interests with the strength of the law, publicly denouncing the situations he had to face. His mindset is clearly expressed by him in this statement: “I live and serve the people, but I must say that the enemies of the State eat its bread and live off the sacrifices of the working population”. Angelo Vassallo left us a profound teaching: the fight against criminal organizations exploiting the natural resources of the sea, the land and the earth must inspire all of our everyday actions. In remaining faithful to this commitment Angelo Vassallo paid the highest price with his own life. May he be taken as an example by those who are called to manage public affairs all over Italy».

«With a career spanning 57 years working in radio, television, film, journalism and publishing he has provided an exceptional contribution to the constant growth of scientific culture among millions of Italian citizens. His work has fuelled in younger generations a renewed interest in studying and researching scientific phenomena in a number of fields. For this reason the Italian academic world has expressed its gratitude awarding him eight “honoris causa” degrees from the universities of Camerino, Ferrara, Cagliari, Chieti, Urbino, Palermo, Torino and Bari. His educational activity has enhanced our Country’s prestige worldwide, as shown by acknowledgements from the World Science Festival in Tokyo, the permanent exhibition at Musée de la Villette in Paris, New York State University, Unesco and the International Astronomical Union, who named an asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter after him».

«During his seven years as President of the Republic he has carried out exceptionally important work to bring forth in the souls of the Italian people feelings and values which appeared to have faded, but which were in fact just dormant: the same feelings and values the Count of Cavour drew inspiration from when looking for the strength necessary to complete his historic plan».