Universities are major players in today’s knowledge society, creating know-how, transferring it to industry and society, and fostering innovation. Our fast changing environment and the new challenges of a more complex world call for a stronger commitment from the universities to improving and broadening both personal qualities and professional skills.

Life sciences and biotechnology are widely recognized to be, after information technology, the next wave of the knowledge-based economy, creating opportunities for our societies and economies.

On the basis of scientific breakthroughs in recent years, the increase in the knowledge on living systems is set to deliver a continuous stream of new applications and innovations.

But biotechnological inventions require high capital investment, long development cycles and comprehensive regulatory approval. Effective patent protection is a crucial incentive to R&D and innovation, and an essential means of guaranteeing return on investment.

To promote a culture for innovation and new research-based business ideas, the Università della Svizzera italiana has developed a short advanced course on BioBusiness. We want to provide an in-depth understanding of the interactions between science on the one hand and business creation on the other hand in order to foster new opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Piero Martinoli
President, Università della Svizzera italiana