BergamoScienza

What BergamoScienza does

Fondazione BergamoScienza is an Italian non-profit foundation (legal entity: Fondazione BergamoScienza, headquartered at Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 57, Bergamo) that promotes public engagement with science and technology. Founded in 2003, the foundation runs two principal operations: the annual BergamoScienza Festival, a multi-week autumn event held in venues across Bergamo and its province featuring conferences, workshops, shows, and exhibitions; and the permanent BergamoScienceCenter (BSC), which provides year-round interactive science education. A Schools Program integrates local teachers and students into festival programming, while the WeScience youth volunteer group (founded 2013, approximately 30 permanent members) organizes year-round events including ScienceCinema, escape rooms, and Random Science Shows.

The foundation's core 'products' are programmatic and educational rather than technological: 24 editions of the festival have cumulatively drawn more than 4,057,533 attendees and featured 37 Nobel laureates and 2,047+ speakers. Supporting digital assets include an online events calendar, a digital archive of past editions, and a merchandise e-commerce store. There is no proprietary technology platform, no app, and no disclosed AI/ML capability.

The business model is a non-profit funding mix. Revenue streams comprise (1) tiered annual membership subscriptions — €200 per individual adult, €50 per individual under 35, and €1,000 per corporate/legal entity; (2) merchandise sales via the online shop (t-shirts, gadgets); and (3) corporate partnerships and sponsorships, anchored by founding partners that include the Chamber of Commerce of Bergamo, Confindustria Bergamo, Università degli studi di Bergamo, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, UBI Banca, and Sinapsi Associazione per la Cultura, with additional partnerships such as UniAcque for water-themed programming. Most festival events are free to attend. Governance is exercised through a Consiglio di Indirizzo (Advisory Council) and a Consiglio di Amministrazione (Board of Directors), with the two universities holding board seats. The foundation employs 13 staff and operates exclusively within the Lombardy region of Italy.

Name

BergamoScienza

Legal name

Fondazione BergamoScienza

Website

https://bergamoscienza.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione BergamoScienza is an Italian non-profit foundation that runs an annual science festival in Bergamo, a permanent Science Center, and year-round school and youth volunteer programs, serving local families, students, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Education & Communication Events

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Science festival events
• Science education programs
• Public science communication
• Educational outreach activities
• Interactive science workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergamo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individuals and organizations that support the foundation's mission of promoting science education
2. Shop Sales: Sale of BergamoScienza merchandise including t-shirts and gadgets to support festival and foundation activities
3. Corporate Partnerships: Support from businesses and organizations as participating members and sponsors of the festival

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BergamoScienza is a non-profit foundation that organizes an annual science festival in Bergamo, Italy, and operates the permanent BergamoScienceCenter. The foundation delivers free science education through talks, exhibitions, workshops, and shows hosted across multiple venues, with particular emphasis on engaging schools, students, families, and the general public. It is supported through individual and corporate memberships, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

BergamoScienza Foundation operates a portfolio of science communication initiatives centered around two main offerings: the annual BergamoScienza Festival (running since 2003) and the permanent BergamoScienceCenter. The Festival transforms Bergamo into a science stage each autumn with conferences, workshops, shows, and exhibitions, while the ScienceCenter provides year-round educational activities. Supporting programs include the Schools Program involving local educational institutions, the WeScience youth volunteer initiative, an events calendar for registration, and a merchandise shop. By its 24th edition, the festival had surpassed 4,057,533 attendees and hosted 37 Nobel laureates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WeScience: Young volunteers group founded in 2013 that promotes scientific outreach throughout the year through original events including ScienceCinema, treasure hunts, Escape Rooms, and Random Science Shows

Products and services

• BergamoScienza Festival Annual multi-day science festival (held every autumn since 2003) featuring conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and shows accessible to the general public, families, and schools, with Nobel laureates and internationally renowned speakers.
• BergamoScienceCenter (BSC) Permanent facility operated by BergamoScienza in Bergamo that hosts laboratories, educational activities, and interactive science exhibits throughout the year for the general public and school groups.
• Schools Program Structured program for schools, teachers, and students in Bergamo province to organize scientific exhibits and participate in educational activities at the festival and Science Center throughout the year.
• Events Calendar Online events calendar and registration system used by the public to browse and sign up for festival events, workshops, conferences, and shows.
• Science Education Labs Interactive educational laboratory programs for students on topics such as water resources, marine biology, and environmental science, conducted at the Science Center and in schools.
• Festival Archive Digital archive documenting all past editions of the BergamoScienza Festival since 2003, including speakers, programs, and outcomes.
• BergamoScienza Shop Online merchandise store selling BergamoScienza t-shirts and gadgets, with proceeds supporting the festival and foundation activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4 million cumulative attendees since founding in 2003
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UniAcquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on water-related educational events and the World Water Day initiatives. UniAcque, the public company managing Bergamo province's integrated water system, partners with BergamoScienza to deliver scientific programs exploring water resources, environmental protection, and water technology. The partnership includes school laboratories, public conferences, and events like the Water Seminar and Water School at Kilometro Rosso.
• WeSciencecoreOthersYouth volunteer group founded in 2013 that promotes science communication year-round through original events including ScienceCinema, treasure hunts, escape rooms, thematic months, science aperitifs, and Random Science Shows. WeScience coordinates festival volunteers and develops new initiatives for future editions.
• Sinapsi Associazione per la CulturacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding association partner of BergamoScienza, contributing to the cultural mission of promoting science and technology in Bergamo.
• Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura di BergamocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBergamo Chamber of Commerce is a founding partner supporting the foundation's mission to promote scientific culture.
• Confindustria BergamocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bergamo employers' federation is a founding partner of the foundation.
• Università degli studi di BergamocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Bergamo is a founding partner and represented on the Board of Directors.
• Università Vita-Salute San RaffaelecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Raffaele University is a founding partner and represented on the Board of Directors.
• UBI BancacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking institution founding partner of the foundation.
• Delos (Press Office)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal PR agency handling festival press communications. Contacts: Paola Nobile and Annalisa Fattori based in Milan.
• Servizi CECminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExternal service provider handling organizational secretariat and coordination responsibilities for the festival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: Major UK-based science funding foundation supporting research and public engagement. Comparable as a science-focused foundation with substantial public engagement programming, though at a far larger scale and with grantmaking as the primary activity.
• European Science Open Forum (ESOF): Biennial pan-European science conference and city-wide science showcase. Comparable as a multi-day European science gathering featuring Nobel-tier speakers and public programming, but organized at a continental rather than local scale.

Direct peers

• Royal Institution: London-based science communication and education charity famous for its Christmas Lectures and public talks. Comparable as a nonprofit delivering high-prestige science programming for the general public and schools.
• Edinburgh Science Festival: Scotland's flagship science festival offering talks, workshops, and family programming across a city-wide footprint. Comparable as a long-running, free-admission science-communication event with school and family audience focus.
• Cheltenham Science Festival: Annual UK science festival featuring talks, workshops, and exhibitions with Nobel-tier speakers and a strong schools program. Most direct analog: a multi-day, free public science festival that has run for decades and targets families and schools.
• Città della Scienza: Naples-based science center and foundation operating interactive exhibits, schools programs, and a science festival. Directly comparable as an Italian nonprofit combining a permanent science center with schools-focused outreach.
• Science Gallery International: Trinity College Dublin-founded network running science engagement spaces and youth-driven programming in multiple cities. Comparable as a science-communication nonprofit combining permanent venue operations with traveling exhibitions and youth involvement.
• Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci: Italy's largest science and technology museum in Milan, offering permanent exhibitions, labs, and educational programming. Closest Italian peer — same country, same audience of families and schools, same mix of permanent venue plus structured programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wescience_bgs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bergamoscienza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BergamoScienza