Relationships with Universities
Edison has an ongoing relationship with major universities in Italy, with the goal of fostering a closer relationship between the educational background provided by schools and the job market.
Over the years, the Company has established a strong relationship with the Bocconi University in general and its Institute of Political Economics of Energy and the Environment in particular, which Edison helps in organizing seminars on topics that are relevant to its businesses. The Observatory of Local Italian Utilities, with which Edison collaborates from time to time, is also connected with the Bocconi. The Company’s relationship with the Milan Polytech University has deep roots that go back to Professor Colombo, who was Edison’s founder. The collaborative relationship with the University of Pavia is particularly intense. In 2006, it included the funding of two graduation prizes in memory of the late Ludovico Priori, who was a top executive of the Company for many years.
The Company schedules regular seminars at major universities in Milan and Rome during which it makes presentations and its managers speak on specific subjects. In addition, some Company representatives teach regularly or on special occasions at various colleges and post-graduate schools, and Edison offers students guided tours of its facilities. Moreover, the Company provides scholarships and numerous internship opportunities for recent graduates.
Edison is one of the founding partners of the Collegio di Milano, an institution created jointly by the universities, local government entities and major businesses of Lombardy with the goal of offering an innovative developmental path to the best students from universities in Milan. Recently, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research honored the Collegio di Milano by recognizing it as a College of Excellence. Edison’s work with the Collegio includes hosting students at its headquarters for project work (projects carried out working directly with Edison) and making its managers available for presentations on issues related to the energy business. For 2007, Edison and the Collegio di Milano are organizing a series of panel discussions on energy sources.
The Edison Foundation
Even though it operates independently, the Edison Foundation is one of the Group’s main cultural assets. Its mission is to support and carry out cultural and scientific research projects designed to provide a better understanding of the economic, cultural and social issues related to made-in-Italy products, local manufacturing systems and industrial districts, including problems related to training, research and innovation. The Foundation promotes studies, surveys, publications and events both on its own and in cooperation with outsiders and by sponsoring projects that are consistent with the purposes stated in its Bylaws. The Foundation seeks to attract to its programs individuals who can contribute a diverse array of analytical input due to their vastly different professional backgrounds: universities, research centers of large and small businesses, research agencies and institutions, businesses and other associations, and foundations that study local economic systems.
In 2006, the Edison Foundation pursued a number of projects, including a conference on “Eastern Europe, the EU and Italy – Finding a Strategic Connection,” which was organized in cooperation with the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, and the publication of two new volumes of a series developed as part of an institutional project created in 2000 by the Edison Foundation and Il Mulino, a prestigious Bolognese imprint. These two books are entitled Evolution of Public Local Companies – the Enìa case, edited by Marco Elefanti, and Industry and the Districts. A Paradigm of Continuing Italian Competitiveness, edited by Marco Fortis and Alberto Quadrio Curzio. The latter work is particularly innovative because, on the one hand, it highlights the renewed competitiveness of the Italian manufacturing system, within which small/medium-size businesses (SMBs) play a crucial role and, on the other, emphasizes the need to integrate Large Businesses (the Pillars), more structured Medium-size Businesses (the Columns) and Districts (SMBs) into a system.
More detailed information about the Foundation is available at its website: www.fondazioneedison.it.
Initiatives for Sustainable Development
The Abruzzo National Park and the Protection of the Marsican Bear
At the end of 2006, Edison agreed to collaborate with the Abruzzo, Latium and Molise National Park on a project planned for 2007 to protect the Marsican Brown and its habitat.
Specifically, the project will involve initiative to protect this species and raise public awareness, with the goal of improving the condition of the Marsican Brown Bear through campaigns of meaningful information. The Abruzzo National Park has been committed to protecting this endangered local species.
This project represents the first instance of partnering with a private enterprise in the Park’s history.
The PANE Project
The collaboration that Edison started with the Banco Alimentare Onlus Foundation in 2004 has evolved into a true partnership that works to feed the needy.
In 2006, Edison, which in 2005 helped the Foundation buy a refrigerated van used to distribute surplus food from corporate cafeterias to soup kitchens, purchased a temperature reduction system, paid in part by the contribution of Group employees, which is used to store surplus food in accordance with health laws.
In 2007, interested employees will have an opportunity to help preparing and transporting food to the delivery locations. The hours used to performed voluntary work will be treated by the company as regular work hours an will be paid accordingly.
Sports and Team Spirit
Team spirit is one of Edison’s fundamental values. The Company has supported sports for many years, especially at the local level. Specifically, at locations where it operates a production facility, the Company has sponsored local teams in sports ranging from rugby to soccer, from target shooting to athletics, from basketball to rowing. In 2006, the Group chose to extend its support also to major international events, such as the Soccer World Cup, the Italian Rugby Team and the Youth World Biathlon Championship.
The National Italian Rugby Team
Also in 2006, Edison agreed to become the Official Partner of the National Italian Rugby Team. The decision to associate Edison’s brand with this growing sport reflects a deeply felt commonality with the spirit that inspires rugby. Respect for your teammates and opponents, fairness in a game that does not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct and willingness to make sacrifices to achieve increasingly challenging goals are shared values. Rugby is the ultimate expression of energy and positive thinking, values of which Edison is the best embodiment.
The Youth World Biathlon Championship
At the beginning of 2007, Edison sponsored the Youth-Junior World Biathlon Championship (target shooting and cross-country skiing). Biathlon is a sport that helps develop in close correlation physical discipline and mental concentration. This event, in which 16 to 20 years old athletes from 35 different countries competed, was held in the Venosta Valley, an area in which Edison has been present for many years with hydroelectric power plants.
Sponsorships and Charitable Contributions
In 2006, to support various social and cultural programs reviewed above, Edison invested more than 1.9 million euros in sponsorships and about 430,000 euros in charitable contributions.
The charts shown at the bottom of this page provide a breakdown of these investments by type of project.

Page 32


Relationships with Universities
Edison has an ongoing relationship with major universities in Italy, with the goal of fostering a closer relationship between the educational background provided by schools and the job market.
Over the years, the Company has established a strong relationship with the Bocconi University in general and its Institute of Political Economics of Energy and the Environment in particular, which Edison helps in organizing seminars on topics that are relevant to its businesses. The Observatory of Local Italian Utilities, with which Edison collaborates from time to time, is also connected with the Bocconi. The Company’s relationship with the Milan Polytech University has deep roots that go back to Professor Colombo, who was Edison’s founder. The collaborative relationship with the University of Pavia is particularly intense. In 2006, it included the funding of two graduation prizes in memory of the late Ludovico Priori, who was a top executive of the Company for many years.
The Company schedules regular seminars at major universities in Milan and Rome during which it makes presentations and its managers speak on specific subjects. In addition, some Company representatives teach regularly or on special occasions at various colleges and post-graduate schools, and Edison offers students guided tours of its facilities. Moreover, the Company provides scholarships and numerous internship opportunities for recent graduates.
Edison is one of the founding partners of the Collegio di Milano, an institution created jointly by the universities, local government entities and major businesses of Lombardy with the goal of offering an innovative developmental path to the best students from universities in Milan. Recently, the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research honored the Collegio di Milano by recognizing it as a College of Excellence. Edison’s work with the Collegio includes hosting students at its headquarters for project work (projects carried out working directly with Edison) and making its managers available for presentations on issues related to the energy business. For 2007, Edison and the Collegio di Milano are organizing a series of panel discussions on energy sources.
 
The Edison Foundation
Even though it operates independently, the Edison Foundation is one of the Group’s main cultural assets. Its mission is to support and carry out cultural and scientific research projects designed to provide a better understanding of the economic, cultural and social issues related to made-in-Italy products, local manufacturing systems and industrial districts, including problems related to training, research and innovation. The Foundation promotes studies, surveys, publications and events both on its own and in cooperation with outsiders and by sponsoring projects that are consistent with the purposes stated in its Bylaws. The Foundation seeks to attract to its programs individuals who can contribute a diverse array of analytical input due to their vastly different professional backgrounds: universities, research centers of large and small businesses, research agencies and institutions, businesses and other associations, and foundations that study local economic systems.
 
In 2006, the Edison Foundation pursued a number of projects, including a conference on “Eastern Europe, the EU and Italy – Finding a Strategic Connection,” which was organized in cooperation with the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, and the publication of two new volumes of a series developed as part of an institutional project created in 2000 by the Edison Foundation and Il Mulino, a prestigious Bolognese imprint. These two books are entitled Evolution of Public Local Companies – the Enìa case, edited by Marco Elefanti, and Industry and the Districts. A Paradigm of Continuing Italian Competitiveness, edited by Marco Fortis and Alberto Quadrio Curzio. The latter work is particularly innovative because, on the one hand, it highlights the renewed competitiveness of the Italian manufacturing system, within which small/medium-size businesses (SMBs) play a crucial role and, on the other, emphasizes the need to integrate Large Businesses (the Pillars), more structured Medium-size Businesses (the Columns) and Districts (SMBs) into a system.
More detailed information about the Foundation is available at its website: www.fondazioneedison.it.

Page 33

 
Initiatives for Sustainable Development
 
The Abruzzo National Park and the Protection of the Marsican Bear
At the end of 2006, Edison agreed to collaborate with the Abruzzo, Latium and Molise National Park on a project planned for 2007 to protect the Marsican Brown and its habitat.
Specifically, the project will involve initiative to protect this species and raise public awareness, with the goal of improving the condition of the Marsican Brown Bear through campaigns of meaningful information. The Abruzzo National Park has been committed to protecting this endangered local species.
This project represents the first instance of partnering with a private enterprise in the Park’s history.
 
The PANE Project
The collaboration that Edison started with the Banco Alimentare Onlus Foundation in 2004 has evolved into a true partnership that works to feed the needy.
In 2006, Edison, which in 2005 helped the Foundation buy a refrigerated van used to distribute surplus food from corporate cafeterias to soup kitchens, purchased a temperature reduction system, paid in part by the contribution of Group employees, which is used to store surplus food in accordance with health laws.
In 2007, interested employees will have an opportunity to help preparing and transporting food to the delivery locations. The hours used to performed voluntary work will be treated by the company as regular work hours an will be paid accordingly.
 
Sports and Team Spirit
Team spirit is one of Edison’s fundamental values. The Company has supported sports for many years, especially at the local level. Specifically, at locations where it operates a production facility, the Company has sponsored local teams in sports ranging from rugby to soccer, from target shooting to athletics, from basketball to rowing. In 2006, the Group chose to extend its support also to major international events, such as the Soccer World Cup, the Italian Rugby Team and the Youth World Biathlon Championship.
 
The National Italian Rugby Team
Also in 2006, Edison agreed to become the Official Partner of the National Italian Rugby Team. The decision to associate Edison’s brand with this growing sport reflects a deeply felt commonality with the spirit that inspires rugby. Respect for your teammates and opponents, fairness in a game that does not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct and willingness to make sacrifices to achieve increasingly challenging goals are shared values. Rugby is the ultimate expression of energy and positive thinking, values of which Edison is the best embodiment.
 
The Youth World Biathlon Championship
At the beginning of 2007, Edison sponsored the Youth-Junior World Biathlon Championship (target shooting and cross-country skiing). Biathlon is a sport that helps develop in close correlation physical discipline and mental concentration. This event, in which 16 to 20 years old athletes from 35 different countries competed, was held in the Venosta Valley, an area in which Edison has been present for many years with hydroelectric power plants.
 
Sponsorships and Charitable Contributions
In 2006, to support various social and cultural programs reviewed above, Edison invested more than 1.9 million euros in sponsorships and about 430,000 euros in charitable contributions.
The charts shown at the bottom of this page provide a breakdown of these investments by type of project.