ICTP Director Miguel Virasoro gave a brief presentation before Italy's President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at Area Science Park on 24 February. The Director spoke about the role of international scientific institutions in Trieste and the surrounding area, noting that the historic roots of the city's thriving scientific network lie with the creation of ICTP in 1964. That network now includes the synchrotron light source Elettra, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), International Centre for Science and High Technology (ICS), International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), University of Trieste, and field offices of the Istituto nazionale di fisica nucleare (INFN) and Istituto nazionale per la fisica della materia (INFM). During his talk, the Director paid tribute to the inspired and dedicated work of Abdus Salam and Paolo Budinich and the generosity of the Italian government.