Fondazione Vita - ITS per le nuove tecnologie della Vita

What Fondazione Vita - ITS per le nuove tecnologie della Vita does

Fondazione VITA - ITS per le Nuove Tecnologie della Vita is a non-profit educational foundation (Istituto Tecnologico Superiore) founded in 2015 in Siena, Tuscany, that delivers free two-year post-diploma vocational training courses in the Life Sciences sector. It serves young people aged 18-35 holding an Italian secondary school diploma, offering courses in pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biomedical, and green chemistry disciplines, as well as continuing education for rural pharmacies (ECM). The academic model combines 1,000 hours of classroom and laboratory instruction with 800 hours of mandatory company internships, and grants a V-level EQF European diploma. Over 60-65% of teaching hours are delivered by industry professionals drawn from a network of 150+ partner companies, and 85%+ of graduates find employment within one year of completion, with 93% field-coherence for healthcare and pharmaceutical placements.

The foundation's core technology infrastructure comprises advanced Industry 4.0 laboratories located across Siena, Florence, Pisa, and Grosseto, including the V.I.T.A. Lab 2.0 virtual interaction environment (VR/AR for immersive training), high-technology laboratory equipment (fermenters, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, GMP workstations, 3D printing), and university co-located facilities. Five courses are offered for the 2026 cycle: BIOMEDTECH26, GREENLAB26, BIOQUALTECH26, PROFARMABIO26, and CHIMBIOLAB26. The foundation has secured €9.23 million in PNRR (Next Generation EU) grants between 2023 and 2025 to expand this laboratory footprint.

The revenue model is entirely publicly funded: the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), Regione Toscana, and PNRR / Next Generation EU grants cover tuition and operations. Courses are free for students; participants pay only nominal exam fees (€12.09 for the final exam, €15.13 for diploma retrieval). Additional revenue includes scholarships funded by public sources and small ECM course fees. The go-to-market is a direct-to-consumer recruitment model (Open Days, school visits, careers fairs, online applications) complemented by direct enterprise engagement for curriculum co-design and internship hosting. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees, and the organization operates as a non-profit under multi-stakeholder governance including industry partners (Menarini, Kedrion, GSK, DEKA, Marchesini), three Tuscan universities, regional institutions, and Confindustria Toscana Sud.

Name

Fondazione Vita - ITS per le nuove tecnologie della Vita

Legal name

Fondazione VITA - Istituto Tecnologico Superiore per le Nuove Tecnologie della Vita

Website

https://itsvita.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondazione VITA is a Tuscan non-profit ITS Academy founded in 2015 that delivers free two-year post-diploma vocational courses in Life Sciences — pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biomedical, and green chemistry — to young adults aged 18-35, combining classroom instruction with mandatory company internships across a 150+ partner employer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology (EDABALAU)

Keywords

• Higher technical education
• Life sciences training
• Post-diploma vocational courses
• Biotechnology technician training
• Pharmaceutical industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Siena, Toscana

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding for higher technical education: Fondazione VITA is entirely publicly funded. Revenue is sourced from the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), Regione Toscana, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), and other public funds. Courses are entirely free for students, with no tuition charged. Additional revenue includes exam fees (€12.09 for final exam, €15.13 for diploma issuance) paid by students, and PNRR grants for laboratory equipment and scholarship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Fondazione VITA delivers free two-year post-diploma higher technical education programs (ITS Academy courses) in Life Sciences, including pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biomedical, and green chemistry disciplines, primarily for young adults aged 18-35 in Tuscany, Italy. Each course comprises 1,800 hours of training split between 1,000 hours of classroom/lab instruction and 800 hours of mandatory company internships, awarding a V level EQF European diploma. The foundation also offers continuing education programs (ECM courses for rural pharmacies) and the Summer School of AI and Life Sciences.

Product overview

Fondazione VITA is an ITS Academy (Istituto Tecnologico Superiore) offering free two-year post-diploma professional courses in Life Sciences across Tuscany. The institution provides six main training programs: BIOMEDTECH26 for biomedical devices, GREENLAB26 for green chemistry, BIOQUALTECH26 for quality systems, PROFARMABIO26 for pharmaceutical plant management, CHIMBIOLAB26 for R&D, and ECM courses for healthcare professionals. All courses include 1,000 hours of classroom/lab instruction and 800 hours of company internships, with over 85% employment rate within one year of graduation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIOMEDTECH26 Two-year ITS course (1,800 hours: 1,000 theory/lab + 800 internship) training technicians for the design, production, testing, and maintenance of biomedical diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation devices and biotechnological systems. Located at the Florence campus. Awards a V level EQF diploma.
• GREENLAB26 Two-year ITS course training technicians for circular productions of green chemistry and innovative materials. Located at the Grosseto campus. Awards a V level EQF diploma.
• BIOQUALTECH26 Two-year ITS course training technicians for quality systems of biotechnological and chemical-industrial products and processes. Located at the Siena campus. Awards a V level EQF diploma.
• PROFARMABIO26 Two-year ITS course training technicians for the management and maintenance of chemical, biochemical, chemical-pharmaceutical, and biotechnological plants. Located at the Pisa-Pontedera campus. Awards a V level EQF diploma.
• CHIMBIOLAB26 Two-year ITS course training technicians for research and development of biotechnological and chemical-industrial products and processes. Awards a V level EQF diploma.
• Summer School of AI and Life Sciences Annual summer school program promoting AI and Life Sciences education for high school students, organized in collaboration with Fondazione SAIHUB. Sessions are held across multiple Tuscan cities including Siena, Volterra, Florence, and Grosseto. Now in its 5th edition.
• ECM Courses for Rural Pharmacies Continuing medical education (ECM) courses for subsidized rural pharmacies to help them meet professional training requirements, offered through the dedicated portal corsiecmfarmacie.com.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85%+ employment rate within one year of graduation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and important.

• Regione ToscanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegione Toscana is the primary institutional partner of Fondazione VITA, providing ongoing operational funding, accreditation, and oversight. Fondazione VITA operates as a Regione Toscana-accredited training agency under the regional ITS framework, with courses co-designed to meet regional labor market needs. Regional government representatives (e.g., Assessora Alessandra Nardini) participate in governance events and ceremonies.
• Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito (MIM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Italian Ministry of Education and Merit provides national funding for ITS institutions, co-regulates the ITS Academy system, and defines the national qualification framework (V level EQF) for diploma recognition.
• Università di SienacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Siena participates in Fondazione VITA governance (via Annalisa Santucci in the Assembly of Participants) and the Technical Scientific Committee (via President Ottavia Spiga). Collaborates on course design, research initiatives, and hosts Summer School programs. The Fondazione VITA headquarters is co-located within the University's scientific district.
• Università di PisacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Pisa participates in Fondazione VITA governance (Marco Macchia on the CdA) and hosts a new joint Fondazione VITA laboratory at Via Cristoforo Colombo, inaugurated in June 2026. Collaborates on biomedical and biotech training programs.
• Università di FirenzecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Florence participates in Fondazione VITA governance (Andrea Corvi in the Technical Scientific Committee) and hosts a new Fondazione VITA laboratory at Viale Morgagni for Life Sciences training. Collaborates on course delivery and Summer School programs.
• Menarini Ricerche SpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarco Mansani of Menarini Ricerche serves on the Board of Directors. Menarini provides company instructors, co-designs curricula, hosts internships, and actively recruits ITS graduates. HR Director Danilo Giampietro has publicly testified to the value of the ITS model.
• Kedrion SpacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassimiliano Baccetti of Kedrion serves on the Board of Directors. Kedrion provides company instructors, hosts internships, and has hired multiple ITS graduates as permanent employees. Expansion at Bolognana and Castelvecchio Pascoli sites will require additional Kedrion-trained technicians.
• GSK VaccinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSK participates in governance via Roberta Bianchi on the Assembly of Participants and in the Technical Scientific Committee. Provides industry expertise for biotech and vaccine production curriculum development and hosts student internships.
• Deka M.E.L.A. (El.En. Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStefano Frosini of Deka M.E.L.A. serves on the Board of Directors. Deka contributes expertise in medical devices, AI integration, and MDR regulatory compliance. The company participates in course design and instruction.
• Marchesini Group (divisione Corima)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarlo Locatelli of Marchesini represents the company in the Assembly of Participants. Marchesini provides technical instruction bridging mechanical engineering and pharmaceutical regulatory requirements, hosts company visits, and participates in curriculum co-design.
• Confindustria Toscana SudimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerMassimiliano Boggetti of Confindustria Toscana Sud serves in the Assembly of Participants. Confindustria connects Fondazione VITA with its broad network of regional industrial companies and supports policy advocacy for ITS education.
• Fondazione Toscana Life SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndrea Paolini of Fondazione Toscana Life Sciences serves as President of Fondazione VITA's Board of Directors. The foundation provides strategic direction, industry connections, and co-location of activities at its Siena facility.
• Fondazione SAIHUB (Siena Artificial Intelligence Hub)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerFondazione SAIHUB collaborates with Fondazione VITA on the Summer School of Artificial Intelligence and Life Sciences (5 editions, 2021-2025), which runs across multiple Tuscan cities. Valter Fraccaro, President of SAIHUB, participates in ITS governance events and advocates for the ITS model.
• INDIRE (Istituto Nazionale di Documentazione, Innovazione e Ricerca Educativa)importantStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDIRE conducts national monitoring of ITS performance and recognizes Fondazione VITA courses for excellence. Researcher Antonella Zuccaro presented ITS Life Sciences data at Fondazione VITA's States General event. INDIRE also assists with Summer School PCTO credit recognition.
• Pont-TechimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPont-Tech, represented by Andrea Puccini in the Assembly of Participants, is a Pontedera-based technology consortium that hosts Fondazione VITA practical training in pharmaceutical plant engineering and industrial automation at its facility in Via Rinaldo Piaggio, Pontedera (Pisa).
• Polo Universitario GrossetanoimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Polo Universitario Grossetano co-hosts the Summer School program and provides academic facilities in Grosseto for Fondazione VITA courses. President Gabriella Papponi Morelli participates in Fondazione VITA events.
• Ufficio Scolastico Regionale per la ToscanaimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional School Office for Tuscany collaborates with Fondazione VITA on school outreach programs, PCTO credit recognition, and the Summer School initiative, helping disseminate ITS course information to high schools across the region.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele: Private university in Milan offering programs in medicine, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences. Competes with Fondazione VITA for the top tier of Italian life sciences students, but at degree/postgraduate level rather than the two-year technician pathway.
• Humanitas University: Private medical university in Milan focused on medicine, biomedical sciences and health professions. Competes for Italian students seeking careers in life sciences and biomedical fields, but at the degree level rather than the technical-technician level that Fondazione VITA serves.

Broad incumbents

• Università degli Studi di Firenze: Public research university hosting a Fondazione VITA laboratory at Viale Morgagni and serving on the Technical Scientific Committee. Offers competing degree programs in biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical sciences that overlap with ITS VITA's biomedical and pharmaceutical training.
• Università degli Studi di Siena: Public research university co-located with Fondazione VITA's headquarters in Siena. Competes for the same pool of Tuscan secondary-school graduates pursuing life sciences, biotech and pharmaceutical education, while also serving as a governance partner — a dual incumbent/collaborator role.
• Università di Pisa: Public research university hosting a joint Fondazione VITA laboratory since June 2025. Provides degree-level programs in biology, biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences that overlap with ITS VITA's curriculum, while collaborating via governance (CdA representation).

Direct peers

• Fondazione ITS Giovanni Caboto: Italian ITS Academy focused on logistics, maritime transport and sustainable mobility. Same institutional form (ITS foundation, public funding, 1,800-hour curriculum with internships) and comparable in serving as a public-funded alternative to university for technical careers.
• Fondazione ITS Besta: Milan-based ITS Academy focused on business, marketing and digital communication. Directly comparable in terms of institutional structure, public funding model, and target student segment (18–35 post-diploma learners in Tuscany/Lombardy equivalent regions).
• Fondazione ITS Angelo Rizzardi: Italian ITS Academy in Bergamo specializing in mechanics, mechatronics and packaging. Comparable to Fondazione VITA as a regionally based ITS foundation delivering industry-co-designed technical training to diploma holders, with strong company partnerships.
• Fondazione ITS Academy Tech & Food: Italian ITS Academy based in Parma providing two-year post-diploma technical training for the food technology sector. Directly comparable to Fondazione VITA in structure (ITS foundation model, V level EQF diploma, mandatory internships) and differs only in sector specialization (food vs. life sciences).

Others

• Mérieux NutriSciences: Global life sciences testing and services company with strong Italian presence (Mérieux Université and corporate training programs). Functions as both a partner ecosystem participant (employer of technicians trained by Fondazione VITA) and an adjacent training provider in life sciences — thematically related rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@itsvita1572
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondazionevita
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/fondazione-vita
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazionevita
• TikToktiktok.com/@itsfondazionevita

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fondazione Vita - ITS per le nuove tecnologie della Vita