The Friends of Aspen participate in and contribute to enhancing the Institute's activities through several specific initiatives, including two yearly events (the group's Annual Meeting and Annual Conference) during which the group holds closed-door debates with Institute members and representatives from the institutional, business and academic spheres.

A selection of pertinent classical and contemporary texts and documents are specially compiled with unpublished works and handed out at these annual events with the aim of providing ample background material and facilitating an in-depth analysis of the topics to be discussed.

The group's activities help spread and strengthen the Aspen method, broadening both the range of people involved and the scope of topics discussed. As regards the people involved, the events have set out to bring together a representative and select group of entrepreneurs and business executives which, over time, has been extended to include leading figures from industry groups and regional and local government.

As for the topics debated, several issues have called for in-depth examination ever since the group's inception, including:
• improving the efficiency and competitiveness of public and private institutions and organizations;
• increasing the transparency of dealings with the public administration;
• corporate ethical and social values;
• issues relating to education, training and meritocracy;
• filling the void of leadership that characterizes Italian society;
• defining Italy's identity and the Italian national interest, to be promoted within a European context.

Today, these issues - several of which have now become key focus areas for the Institute itself as well as the basis for projects - resurface periodically as topics for discussion at Friends of Aspen events in conjunction with an ongoing debate over the state of businesses in Italy and their progress towards internationalization.

The annual frequency of these events and the re-examination of certain issues over time has enabled developments in these areas to be monitored. The group has had the opportunity to repeatedly reflect upon and thus provide guidance on those values, rules, culture and people that drive business, as well as on the capacity of businesses to act within a global context.

The group's annual meetings have also been characterized by a focus on new cultural developments and scientific advances in Italy, thanks to the participation of leading national figures, as well as the opportunity, at times, to visit the premises or facilities of successful Italian ventures.

Annual conference
This annual event - the first was in 1995 - is usually held in the fall as a one-day conference exploring a topic chosen from among those proposed by the group. It also offers an opportunity for new members of the Friends of Aspen to be introduced, to take stock of the achievements of the group and to present past and future activities.

Annual meetings
Since 1999, Friends of Aspen Annual Meetings have been held as a lead-up to the group's annual conferences. These meetings are conducted as roundtable discussions in the form of working breakfasts (usually in Milan, in the spring), aimed at fielding ideas and coming up with a list of desiderata from the group and those in attendance. They are also a forum in which suggestions are made for later use in the planning of Institute activities. There is usually a closing address by one or two guest speakers - leading experts invited to speak on a cultural or scientific issue of topical interest.