LIFE SCIENCES IN TURIN AND PIEDMONT
Located in the heart of North West Italy, Piedmont enjoys a strategic position at the centre of European development. Traditional industrial strengths of the area include textiles and mechanics, but over the past few years the growth of new more knowledge-based sectors, among which Biotech and Pharma, has been actively promoted both at regional and national levels.
PIEDMONT IS AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE LIFE SCIENCES FIELD
- LS value chain developed in all its parts and covering all potential markets
- 344 companies operating in the Life Sciences and biomedical field, mostly streamlined, dynamic and flexible SMEs
- Active synergy with companies and research centres in complementary sectors such as electronics, IT, mechanics, nanotechnologies, etc.
- More than 550 research groups engaged in LS
- Over 60m
invested by regional institutions in the last six years to fund LS development - Over 3,000 scientific articles published by Piedmont's researchers in international scientific reviews over the last 5 years
- A network of incubators linked to Universities and the Politecnico of Turin
- 2 Seed Capital companies operating at regional level in high-tech sectors: Piemontech and Eporgen Venture
The existence of an extensive network of companies operating in LS has a positive impact on the growth of the sector. In fact companies like Serono, Bracco, UCB, Antibioticos, Takeda, Sorin Cardio, Diasorin, just to name a few, have already chosen Piedmont as a place to perform both R&D and production activities.
Many organisations in Piedmont work together for the development of Life Sciences: Science and Technology Parks, bank foundations (Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione CRT), public and private research and training institutions, clinical institutes and several other organizations.
The scientific base
The public research system in Piedmont offers a series of topranking centres of excellence fully integrated into worldwide networks.
The University of Turin (www.unito.it), the University of Eastern Piedmont (www.unipmn.it), the Politecnico of Turin (www.polito.it), the CNR (National Research Council) facilities in Turin, the IRCC Candiolo (Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, www.ircc.it), the CIRPark (Clinical Industrial Research Park, www.cirpark.it) and X-lab (Chilab Materials and Processes for Micro and Nano Technologies, (www2.polito.it/ricerca/thin-film).
R&D intensity
- 1st Italian region in terms of private expenditure in R&D and number of industrial patents
- Over 200 private and public R&D centres active in the region with 17,000 researchers
R&D centres
- Research centres and international companies focused on specific sectors such as oncology, neurosciences, diagnostics, heart diseases, auto-immune diseases, infective, metabolism and cosmetics diseases
- Main R&D centers: COES/CeRMS (www.coes.unito.it), LISiN (www.lisin.polito.it), Edo Tempia Foundation (www.fondoedotempia.it), Cavalier Ottolenghi Foundation (www.ottolenghi.unito.it), Tera Foundation (www.tera.it), Enichem-Research Centre Guido Donegani (www.polimerieuropa.com), The National Reference Centre (CEA) (www.izsto.it)
- Three centres of excellence recognised by the Italian Ministry of University and Research: NIS-Nanostructured Interfaces and surfaces (www.nis.unito.it), centre of excellence for the development of nanotechnologies; Cebiovem (www.cebiovem.unito.it), the only Italian CoE dealing with plant and microbial biosensing and CIMMolecularImaging Center of excellence (nmr.ch.unito.it) for the development of Molecular Imaging procedures based on the visualisation of molecules and/or cellular transformation.
Competitive R&D costs
According to KPMG's comparative analysis of business costs conducted in the main 11 developed countries, Turin is the best large European city for setting up research and development operations. Turin's leading role also helps Italy achieve the first place in the euro zone in the classification of the most competitive countries.
(Source: "The Competitive Alternatives" (www.competitivealternatives.com) by KPMG, 2003)
Resources available for research
In Piedmont research activities rely on the solid economic base of the region that produces almost 10% of the overall Italian income. Financing comes from both public and private players with the aim to foster innovation.
Availability of skilled personnel
- Three major universities (the University of Turin, the University of Eastern Piedmont and the Politecnico of Turin), National Research Council research groups and an extensive network of postgraduate schools provide a steady stream of highly motivated and skilled young people
- 18% of employment in the high-tech sector
THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR: AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Health Care
In this area oncology is a field of excellence in Piedmont, in particular for the presence of the Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment—IRCC and of the Cancer Centre and the Experimental Medicine Research Centre—COES-CeRMS. In other therapeutics fields companies such as Creabilis, TH Biotech, Spider Biotech and Serono work to develop new therapeutics and technologies.
Research centres and companies such as Diasorin, or Bracco Imaging provide scientific know-how in pharmaceutics and APIs as well as in diagnostics.
The departments of chemistry, proteomics and molecular biology that operate at the Bioindustry Park assure an interdisciplinary approach to support R&D activities in biopharmaceutical fields. The Politecnico of Turin, several labs such as LISIN and Chilab, and companies such as Sorin Cardio with strong competencies in microtechnology, new materials and microsensors are a further asset.
Several small biotech companies as Bionucleon, BIOCI, AETHIA, SAFAN, Nanovector, Narvalus, etc are acting as discovery engine proposing innovative technologies, diagnostics and therapeutics.
Agro-food
Green biotechnology is also involved in activities aimed at quality improvement of agro-food products and valorisation of typical productions, a field in which research groups at the University of Turin are involved. Research centres such as CNR-ISPA www.ispa.cnr.it) at Bioindustry Park are using a proteomic approach in order to identify allergens in food, and small companies such as Bioman work in the field of nutraceutics food.
Environment
At the University of Turin several research groups work in this field for the optimization of production processes. Consulting companies specialising in ground engineering and environmental science such as Golder Associates (www.golder.com), small dynamic companies like Bsa Ambiente (www.bsaplanet.com) focusing on biodecontamination or BIOPAINT, and water treatment companies such as the world leader Veolia Water Systems (www.veoliawatersystems.com) and the Italian Smat (www.smatorino.it) are based in Piedmont.
Nanobiotech and New Materials
Major areas of interest with local specific know-how are drug delivery systems and coating surfaces for biocompatible materials. Key players are Sorin and the Politecnico of Turin.
The use of micro arrays in the field of oncogenomics, is developed by the IRCC. Drug Delivery and new materials are two exciting areas of development, where research conducted by the University and Politecnico of Turin, and companies such as Nobil Bio etc, can provide support and know-how.
RegioneLombardia
AIRI—IPI: Compared with the main European areas, the province of Milan occupies a prominent position (in 7 fields out of 11) in relation to the greater part of the competitiveness in biotechnology, chemistry, oncology, microtechnologies, physics of the solid ones, energy, ICT and chip.
Lombardy Region is one of the largest regions and definitely the most flourishing in Italy, representing over 1/5 of the whole national economy. It is amongst the richest Regions in the EU: Italian R&D activity is mostly concentrated in Lombardy, with 12 universities and 74 courses, attended by 250.000 students on average. Almost 9.000 students earn a degree in technical and scientific subjects every year, with a range of more than 60 specializations. The 30% of private researchers and the 22,2% of the total researchers in Italy is localized in Lombardy.
Lombardy, covering an area of 23,858 square metres and counting around nine million inhabitants, is the fourth largest but most densely populated Region in Italy. Being it strategically placed for both Mediterranean and Alpine markets, its position has always had a favourable impact on the region's economic and cultural development.
Lombardy Region has a very complex economic structure, which can be defined as bipolar: some sectors can be described as innovative while others remain linked to tradition. Lombardy Region has the 22.4% of the whole Italian research budget, with private expenditure which is more than the 33% of the national level. The region accounts for 45% of the technological Italian export. From 1986 to 2000, more than 35% of the total national patents have been registered in Lombardy Region, whose 33% concerns electronical, mechanical, aeronautical and steal sectors. Moreover, the Lombard market is renowned for its exclusive sectors (for example Food Biotech, non-Food Biotech, ICT, New Materials, Design and Fashion), representing a new set-up that going beyond the traditional manufacturing boundaries, is able to optimize the production chains by enhancing their performance. The above mentioned sectors involve 57,159 local units making up the relevant production chains (equal to 45% of the Lombard manufacturing units) for a total of 274,833 employees (equal to 62.3% of the Lombard employees in the manufacturing sector).
"IN LOMBARDY THE RESEARCH PLANS THE FUTURE": The mission of Lombardy Region is "to promote what has been created by the society. Our aim is to create the right conditions and environment for letting the enterprises and organizations free to carry out their projects and ideas".
Lombardy Region leads Italy in the field of Research and Technology Innovation: it invests more in research and development than the national average, and 40% of patents filed with the EPO (European Patent Office) by Italian subjects over the last ten years were by Lombardy Companies.
Lombardy Region's objectives are to promote research, innovation and technology transfer as strategic factors for the development of a modern and competitive economy. Regional governance is playing a strategic role as a system integrator, both horizontally and vertically. The results we have targeted are: strengthening the capacity of research to push back the "frontiers of excellence", making it possible the application of knowledge, developing processes to transfer technology to new enterprises and fostering innovation in the SMEs.
QUESTIO Project [www.questio.it] provides a support to verify and gives credit to the structures operating in the field of scientific research and technological transfer in Lombardy (Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences, Art and Human Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Engineering, Calculus and Technology, Life Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Social and Behavioural Sciences). In October 2005 almost 155 research stakeholders have been included and registered within QuESTIO System (95 university departments,14 centres of national research Institute, 13 centres of business services, 4 universities consortia, 5 centres for business R&D and 24 fall in the "others" category). Categories of services offers from CRTT are Research (146), Technological Transfer (152), Support to the Technological Transfer (85), Education (148) and Other (34).
In the next future, the regional strategy should be oriented towards:
- consolidating and refining already started initiatives related to transversal policies, as far as the technological transfer concerns, aiming at the improvement of the quality of the system and of transfer processes, and as far as the training of young researchers concerns, increasing the PhD as contact point between research and industry;
- rationalising the governance sytem, defining an organic framework acting above all on interaction processes among the actors and completing and consolidating support instruments;
- increasing and systematising the financial instruments referring to connecting instruments among different actors of the system passing by an experimental phase to a package of sustainable instruments;
- developing portfolio policies, and particularly focalised policies (regarding technological/industrial sectors: Advanced Materials, Biotechnologies and Information & Communication Technologies), made progressively pursued thanks to the realisation of supporting instruments for the programme process.
In particular, Lombardy Region is carrying out a strong policy which is intended to attract and foster the setting up of business with a high added-value, to enhance the exploitation of the existing human resources while at the same time recruiting young talented people and to encourage firms to invest in R&D; for the above mentioned purposes to be fulfil led, an objective is being pursued to create a well balanced framework, helping exchange of technologies within an area that is rich in knowledge and know-how and where knowledge, studying and intelligence can be combined with practical skills underling the high technology development.
The working program related to R&D in the Region implies an exhaustive analysis of the existing structures and the single sectors' foresight (Health, Food, Energy, Manufacture, Environment, Valorisation of Cultural Heritage, Aeronautics and Safety) as well as of the related technologies (ICT, Biotech and New Materials) with a view to define and set up strategic initiatives in line with the industrial development framework and the competences of the scientific system.
CONTACTS: Regione Lombardia—Progetto Alta formazione ricerca e innovazione—Via Fabio Filzi 22- 20124 Milano (Italy)—Website: http://www.regione.lombardia.it—fax +39 02 67656882
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO
THE UNIVERSITY IN A CITY RICH IN FASHION,ARTS AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. CULTURE AND BUSINESS, AS WELL AS THE "ITALIAN WAY OF LIFE", IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES AND PERSPECTIVES IN TERMS OF TALENTS, TECHNOLOGIES AND TOLERANCE
THE UNIVERSITY IN ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND ATTRACTIVE EUROPEAN AREAS
The University of Milan is located in Lombardy, one of the "four engines" in the European innovation environment.
This large region in Northern Italy, strongly integrated in international networks:
- has the highest Regional National innovation index in Italy (over the European average), according to the EU Innovation Scoreboard
- has the highest regional number of granted patents by the USPTO, the highest regional number of new enterprises and the highest national expenses for innovation and R&D of business sector
- contributes for 22% at the Italian participation in the EU Sixth Framework Programme
THIS UNIVERSITY IS YOUNG, LARGE, DYNAMIC AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY
Although the University of Milan is relatively young—it was established just 80 years ago—it's one of the largest in Italy with a population of 2500 professors and researchers and over 60.000 students. Multidisciplinary research is guaranteed by its 9 Faculties offering 127 University degrees, 76 PhD degrees, 36 Masters, covering the following Faculties: Law, Political and Social Sciences, Humanities and Philosophy, Agriculture, Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Medicine and Surgery, Motory Sciences.
THIS UNIVERSITY IS PERFORMING HIGH LEVEL SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPING COOPERATION AND NETWORKS
The University of Milan developed a significant role in generating scientific results: this is the reason why this University is the only Italian member of the LERU, the League including 12 leading European Universities more oriented to R&D.
The propensity to be involved in relevant networks and the large opportunities offered by the scientific and economic context are confirmed by experience developed in creating and participating to other external scientific institutions. About 300 research contracts per year with national and international companies provide a very effective indicator of our know-how potential.
The patent portfolio, mainly in the areas of Pharmaceuticals, Life sciences and Biotech, Technical and Chemical devices and Agro-food, has significantly increased in the last three years. In the same period 11 spin-off companies have been created by our researchers using our know-how. Centres of excellence in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, nanotechnologies and technology platforms for drug development complete the picture.
CLOSER TO THE FUTURE: WHY NOT CONSIDERING MILAN?
The overall description brings to a final consideration. If you merge internal and external factors you could find an unique environment for:
- promoting your scientific and research career
- establishing scientific and economic links
- developing entrepreneurial perspectives
- enlarging your experience and way of thinking
- and, last but not least, . . . enjoying your life!
If you are interested, please don't hesitate in getting in touch with us.
CONTACT
Gianpiero Sironi
Vice-Rector for R&D
gianpiero.sironi@unimi.it
SCIENTIFIC STRENGTHS IN NAPLES
The University of Naples Federico II
Founded in 1224 by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, the University of Naples Federico II is the oldest lay university in Europe. Due to its strategic position and tradition in higher education, it tends to overcome territorial and national borders, and serves as a bridge between Europe and countries bordering the Mediterranean. Today, as in the past, it provides a well balanced mixture of high quality higher education in the Humanities and Sciences.
The University of Naples Federico II is the largest university in Southern Italy and offers degree courses in Agriculture, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine and Surgery, Natural Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physics, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Economics, Law, Letters and Philosophy, and Social and Political Sciences. Research is carried out in departments, interdepartmental centres, interuniversity research centres, and in its many museums and libraries. The University of Naples Federico II interacts with over 200 European and non-European universities, and has agreements with universities and research centres throughout the world.
The University of Naples Federico II in numbers
100,000 Students
162 Graduate Courses
85 PhD Programmes, including several International Programmes
65 Specialization Schools
92 Research Departments
