Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca

What Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca does

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca is a non-profit medical research foundation headquartered in Rozzano, Italy, that funds and coordinates translational research across oncology, immune-mediated diseases, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and orthopedics. It operates with a lean paid staff of 13 that supports more than 400 researchers, implying a fundraising-and-grant-deployment model rather than direct in-house laboratory operations at scale. Its scientific standing is anchored by the involvement of Prof. Alberto Mantovani as President, a globally cited immunologist.

The foundation's research is structurally integrated with Humanitas Group hospitals, providing a direct clinical-to-bench pipeline, patient access, and biological sample flow that is uncommon for independent foundations. It has built a multi-channel fundraising and engagement stack: the 5x1000 Italian tax-allocation channel, individual donations, corporate partnerships, bequests, a solidarity shop, and recurring community events such as the StraWoman races, alongside a portfolio of disease-specific sub-brands (Pink Union, Blue One, Argento Vivo, Yellow Young, Imprese per la Vita) that segment donor engagement by cause and demographic. During the COVID-19 pandemic it scaled a program of more than 50 studies involving 4,000 participants, and it runs an international training program that draws young researchers from more than 50 countries.

Its revenue model is donation-based and diversified across retail individual donors, high-net-worth bequests, and a corporate partner network that includes Armani, Ferrero, Dolce&Gabbana, Nestlè, and Coca-Cola, with transparency supported by publication of the Bilancio di Impatto 2024. While AI tools are referenced as part of its research toolkit, the foundation's core defensibility rests on its scientific talent, its embedding within the Humanitas clinical ecosystem, and its brand-driven donor acquisition infrastructure.

Name

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca

Legal name

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca ETS

Website

https://fondazionehumanitasricerca.it

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca is a Milan-based non-profit foundation that funds 400+ researchers across oncology, immunology, cardiovascular, neurologic, and orthopedic diseases, embedded within Humanitas Group hospitals and supported by individual, corporate, and tax-allocated donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Medical Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Medical research
• Translational research
• Cancer research
• Autoimmune diseases
• Scientific research funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Rozzano (Milan)

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting scientific research. The foundation promotes recurring donations as particularly effective for long-term research planning.
2. 5×1000 Tax Designation: Italian tax mechanism allowing taxpayers to designate 0.5% of their income tax to the foundation. Tax code: 97408620157.
3. Corporate Engagement (Imprese per la Vita): Partnership program with companies for employee involvement, product campaigns, and fundraising events supporting research and people who benefit from it.
4. Legacy Bequests: Testamentary bequests allowing individuals to support the foundation's mission beyond their lifetime.
5. Solidarity Shop: Sale of solidarity gifts and products where proceeds support research activities.
6. Bank Transfers: Direct bank transfer donations to support scientific research. IBAN: IT58Q0538701665000042435550, BPER Banca S.p.A.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca is a non-profit foundation that funds and conducts translational scientific medical research across cancer, immune diseases, cardiovascular, neurological, and orthopedic diseases. It funds over 400 researchers working alongside Humanitas Group hospital doctors to translate laboratory findings into patient treatments, raising funds through individual donations, 5×1000 tax designations, corporate partnerships, legacy bequests, and a solidarity shop.

Product overview

Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca is a non-profit institution operating as a unified research foundation rather than a commercial product company. Its portfolio comprises five core research programs (Tumors, Immune System Diseases, Heart Diseases, Orthopedic Diseases, and Neurological Diseases) supplemented by four specialized healthcare programs targeting specific demographics (Pink Union for women, Blue One for men, Argento Vivo for seniors, and Yellow Young for young adults 16-39). The foundation also operates supporting programs including corporate engagement (Imprese per la Vita), a 5×1000 tax donation initiative, an e-commerce solidarity shop, and a dedicated COVID-19 research program. Research activities are conducted in collaboration with Humanitas Group hospitals, utilizing advanced technologies from genetics to molecular imaging to accelerate the translation of laboratory findings into clinical treatments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pink Union: Program addressing women's health, prevention and early diagnosis of female pathologies
• Blue One
• Argento Vivo
• Yellow Young
• Imprese per la Vita

Products and services

• Research Projects - Tumori (Tumors) Scientific research program focused on the study and treatment of cancer tumors, integrating clinical and laboratory activities to translate research findings into patient treatments.
• Research Projects - Malattie del sistema immunitario (Immune System Diseases) Research initiative dedicated to studying autoimmune diseases and immune system disorders, aiming to develop new therapeutic approaches.
• Research Projects - Malattie del cuore (Heart Diseases) Cardiovascular research program investigating heart attacks, strokes, and related conditions to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
• Research Projects - Malattie ortopediche (Orthopedic Diseases) Research focused on osteoarticular diseases and orthopedic conditions, including degenerative joint diseases and trauma.
• Research Projects - Malattie neurologiche (Neurological Diseases) Neurological research program studying brain and nervous system disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis.
• Pink Union Women's health initiative addressing prevention and early diagnosis of female pathologies, providing specialized support for breast cancer and gynecological conditions.
• Blue One Men's health program focused on prevention and health awareness for male-specific conditions and general wellness.
• Argento Vivo Program addressing health issues and new treatments for the Silver Generation (elderly population), supporting age-related diseases and care.
• Yellow Young Program for young adults aged 16-39 (Adolescents and Young Adults/AYA) focusing on early diagnosis, personalized cancer care, and psycho-social support for young oncology patients.
• Imprese per la Vita (Corporate Engagement Program) Corporate engagement program enabling companies to support medical research through donations, employee involvement, and fundraising events.
• 5×1000 Donation Program Italian tax-donation initiative allowing taxpayers to direct 5 per mille of their tax return to fund scientific research activities at the foundation.
• Solidarity Shop Online shop selling solidarity gifts and merchandise, with proceeds supporting medical research activities.
• COVID-19 Research Program Research initiative launched during the pandemic, including over 50 studies on SARS-CoV-2 and a COVID care epidemiological program involving 4,000 participants examining immune response.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 researchers funded and working on new treatments for patients
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Humanitas Group HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca operates in close collaboration with Humanitas Group hospitals, creating an ongoing flow of information between laboratory and clinical activity. This partnership enables rapid implementation of research results into patient treatments, making the foundation's translational research model effective.
• Ariston ThermominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• ArmaniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• AutogrillminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• AvonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Coca-Cola HBC ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Dolce&GabbanaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• FerrerominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• KeringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Lindt & SprüngliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• MoschinominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Nestlé ItalianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• PomellatominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Reale MutuaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• RinascenteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Ermenegildo Zegna GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Sella SGRminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter, with specific partnership for telemedicine initiatives with Banca Sella
• E.ON ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• INGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• Cattolica AssicurazioniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• MediolanumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca
• EurovitaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter of Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• European Research Council (ERC): EU-level public funding body for investigator-driven frontier research. Comparable as a research-grantmaking counterparty for senior researchers at the foundation, though public rather than philanthropic.
• Fondazione Telethon - TIGEM: Telethon's affiliated genetics and medicine research institute in Pozzuoli (Naples). Comparable institute-level translational research structure within an Italian non-profit funding ecosystem.

Regional players

• Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori: Italian public IRCCS hospital and research institute focused on oncology. Comparable translational research activity and Italian geography, though publicly funded rather than donation-driven.

Direct peers

• IFOM ETS: Milan-based molecular oncology research institute originally established by FIRC/AIRC. Comparable translational biomedical research model in the same Italian ecosystem, focused on oncology and molecular biology.
• Fondazione Umberto Veronesi: Italian non-profit foundation funding scientific research (with strong oncology focus) and supporting young researchers. Closely comparable mission, fundraising mechanics, and Italian donor base to the subject foundation.
• FISM - Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla: Italian non-profit foundation funding and conducting research on multiple sclerosis, including via a dedicated research foundation (FISM). Directly comparable disease-specific Italian research-grantmaking model.
• Fondazione Telethon: Italian non-profit foundation funding biomedical research (notably on rare genetic diseases) and operating a translational model with affiliated research institutes. Highly comparable structure, funding model, and mission scope to Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca.
• AIRC - Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro: Italy's largest cancer-research charity, funding investigator-driven cancer research across Italian institutions via donations and 5x1000. Directly comparable non-profit research-grantmaking model with overlapping donor channels and disease focus.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: Large UK-based charitable foundation funding global biomedical and public-health research. Comparable mission (translational biomedical research funding) but at vastly greater scale and global footprint.
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Major US biomedical research organization funding investigator-driven science and operating research campuses. Comparable model of philanthropy-funded biomedical research with a translational orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fondazionehumanitasricerca.it
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondazione-humanitas-per-la-ricerca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Fondazione Humanitas per la Ricerca