In this session, Pieranni will offer an overview of the history of technology in China, addressing both the most innovative aspects and also the problematic elements of its digital evolution while exploring parallelisms with European digitalisation.

The presentation will draw from his essay 'Technochina: A history of Chinese technology from 1949 to today', which traces the history of modern China, from the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 to the present day, through the lens of its relationship with technology. Pieranni will highlight that comprehending China's emergence as a significant global power requires understanding the intricate connections between its technological advancements and innovations.

Simone Pieranni lived in China from 2006 to 2014, where he founded China Files, an editorial agency that collaborates with various Italian media through reports and articles on China and Asia. Currently he works at Chora Media, for which he created the podcasts 'Altri Orienti', 'Fuori da qui' and 'Taiwan: perché' about news from Asia and beyond. He is also the author of the book 'Red Mirror. Il nostro futuro si scrive in Cina' and 'La Cina nuova', published by Laterza.

(Even if the book is written in Italian, the session will be in English)