Diego TODARO

PhD student, Chinese public policy

Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (supervisor: Prof. Renzo Cavalieri)
Institute of Chinese Studies, Heidelberg University (supervisor: Prof. Dr. Anja Senz)

Education

• 2019-present: Ph.D. in Asian and African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Heidelberg University
• 2007-2009: Master's Degree in Public Policy, National University of Singapore
• 2004-2007: M.A. in Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
• 2001-2004: B.A. in Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice

Additional training

• 2005-2006 (September-June): advanced-level Chinese language courses, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 
• 2004 (February-June): intermediate-level Chinese language courses, East China Normal University, Shanghai

Scholarships

• 3-year Ph.D. full scholarship, Italian Ministry of University and Research/Ca' Foscari University of Venice (September 2019)
• 2-year Master's degree scholarship, National University of Singapore (July 2007)
• 1-year scholarship to study in China (Nanjing Normal University), China Scholarship Council (June 2005)

Publications

• Tecnologia e azione pubblica in Cina: il codice sanitario individuale e le principali tendenze delle politiche digitali contemporanee
  Paper on China’s contemporary digital policies, produced in the framework of the project “La geopolitica del digitale” by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (national think tank dedicated to international politics). Paper published in Italian in IAI Papers (Issue 20/46, December 2020, ISBN/ISSN/DOI: 978-88-9368-168, https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/tecnologia-e-azione-pubblica-cina). December 2020
• Efficienza e controllo: l'uso della tecnologia nei tribunali cinesi
  Paper on China’s progress toward developing technology-assisted courts and the main issues related to the use of technology in the Chinese judicial system, published in Italian on Mondo Cinese (national magazine specialized in contemporary Chinese studies, printed version nr. 167, Year XLVII – N. 1, pp. 67-79, ISBN 979-12-80045-10-2). October 2020
• California Dreamin': le 21 Silicon Valley cinesi
  Article on China's National Innovation Demonstration Zones (Guojia Zizhu Chuangxin Shifanqu) and the role of the government in supporting technological development in China, published in Italian on Wired (national magazine, printed version n. 94, Autumn 2020, ISSN 2035-7397). October 2020
• Recensione a Red Mirror, il nostro futuro si scrive in Cina (di Simone Pieranni)
  Review of the book: Pieranni, S., 2020. Red Mirror: il nostro futuro si scrive in Cina. Gius. Laterza & Figli Spa, Bari-Roma. The book describes the rapid evolution of China's technological landscape and various aspects related to the integration of IoT, big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies in the life of Chinese citizens. Review published in Italian on Sinosfere (academic journal, ISSN 2612-6982, http://sinosfere.com/2020/08/27/diego-todaro-recensione-a-red-mirror-il-nostro-futuro-si-scrive-in-cina-di-simone-pieranni). August 2020
• The Use of Artificial Intelligence in China’s Local Policies
  Commentary on the use of AI in China’s local policies, published in English on the official website of the European Observatory on Society and AI (https://www.ai4eu.eu/news/use-artificial-intelligence-chinas-local-policies). April 2020
• Crisi del coronavirus: una svolta per il modello digitale cinese?
  Commentary on the use of AI in China’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak, published in Italian on the official website of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (national think tank dedicated to international politics, ISSN 2280-9228, https://www.affarinternazionali.it/2020/02/una-svolta-per-il-modello-digitale-cinese/). February 2020
• L’uso dell’intelligenza artificiale nelle politiche locali in Cina
  Article on the use of AI in China’s local policies, published in Italian on Il Manifesto (national newspaper, paper version and website https://ilmanifesto.it/il-sogno-di-una-cina-leader-nellai-e-autosufficiente/), and Sinosfere (academic journal, ISSN 2612-6982, http://sinosfere.com/2019/11/11/diego-todaro-luso-dellintelligenza-artificiale-nelle-politiche-locali-in-cina/). November 2019

Academic and other activities

• Assistant supervisor, B.A. and M.A. final theses, Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
• Video seminar on the Social Credit System in China, M.A. course on Chinese law held by Prof. Cavalieri, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
• Participation to the online presentation of Mondo Cinese n. 167, event organized by Fondazione Italia Cina and Università degli Studi Roma Tre (https://www.fondazioneitaliacina.it/m/cesif/area-news/fondazione/2020/12/915/). 18 December 2020
• Interview on the use of artificial intelligence in China's public policies for Orizzontinternazionali, Italian website of research and analysis of international events focused on Asia and Africa (https://www.orizzontinternazionali.org/2021/01/11/intelligenza-artificiale-politiche-sociali-cina-intervista-diego-todaro/). 11 January 2021

Research networks

• 2018: Young China Watchers, Shanghai 
• 2011: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Alumni Shanghai Chapter 

Work experience

• Since 2010 I have lived and worked in Shanghai, where I gained significant work experience in both the private and public sectors.