Silvius Magnago-Stiftung

The Silvius Magnago-Stiftung (Silvius Magnago Foundation), operating as the Silvius-Magnago-Akademie (SIMAK), is a political education institution based in South Tyrol, Italy. Named after Silvius Magnago (1914–2010), the long-serving governor of South Tyrol and chairman of the South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP), the foundation was established in 1991 to honor his legacy and to promote civic and political education. Its core mission is to foster knowledge about South Tyrolean autonomy, a unique constitutional arrangement that grants the province extensive self-governing powers within Italy. Since 2007, the academy has offered a comprehensive program of seminars, workshops, and study trips aimed at citizens, young people, and local administrators. It maintains partnerships with prominent political foundations in Austria and Germany, including the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung in Munich, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Bonn, and the Politische Akademie in Vienna. The foundation also awards the Silvius-Magnago-Preis, a prize for scientific research on South Tyrolean autonomy, first granted in 2022. Through its activities, SIMAK seeks to ensure that the understanding of autonomy and the values of democratic participation are passed on to future generations.

The Silvius Magnago-Stiftung was established in 1991, named after Silvius Magnago, a pivotal figure in South Tyrolean politics. Magnago served as chairman of the South Tyrolean People's Party (SVP) from 1957 to 1991 and as governor (Landeshauptmann) of South Tyrol from 1960 to 1989. He is widely regarded as the 'Father of South Tyrolean Autonomy' for his role in negotiating the autonomy agreement that granted the province extensive self-governing rights within Italy. The foundation was created to honor his life's work and to continue his commitment to education and democratic values. In its early years, the foundation focused on funding academic initiatives, such as a scholarship for an assistant position at the University of Innsbruck, alternating between South Tyrolean and Tyrolean candidates. Since 2007, under the operational name Silvius-Magnago-Akademie (SIMAK), it has expanded its activities to include a broad range of political education programs. These include seminars, workshops, study trips, and conferences aimed at fostering civic engagement and understanding of South Tyrolean autonomy. The academy collaborates with international partners such as the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and the Politische Akademie. In 2022, it awarded the first Silvius-Magnago-Preis for research on autonomy, and in 2024 it announced the second edition of the prize. The foundation remains active in promoting political education and commemorating Magnago's legacy.

• 2024

  Second Silvius-Magnago-Preis announced; second German-Italian Municipal Congress held.

• 2022

  First Silvius-Magnago-Preis awarded to Matthias Haller.

• 2007

  Silvius-Magnago-Akademie begins offering comprehensive political education programs.

• 1991

  Foundation established in memory of Silvius Magnago.

Non-partisan political education foundation focused on South Tyrolean autonomy and civic engagement.

• Political education seminars

  Training courses on South Tyrolean autonomy and civic topics.

• Study trips

  Political-cultural trips, e.g., to Rome.

• Silvius-Magnago-Preis

  Prize for scientific research on South Tyrolean autonomy, endowed with 5,000 euros.

1. 1Startsilvius-magnago-akademie.org
2. 2Namensgebersilvius-magnago-akademie.org
3. 3Partnersilvius-magnago-akademie.org
4. 4Wikidatawikidata.org