IBSA Foundation for scientific research

What IBSA Foundation for scientific research does

IBSA Foundation for scientific research is a Swiss non-profit foundation established in 2012 in Lugano, established by pharmaceutical group IBSA as an expression of its corporate social responsibility. The Foundation operates a portfolio of science-promotion programs across four pillars: research grants (annual Fellowships of €32,000 to researchers under 40 in Dermatology, Endocrinology, Fertility/Urology, and Pain Medicine/Orthopaedics/Rheumatology; USI Scholarships for medical studies), science education for schools (Let's Science! workshops, HappyLab, Museum Tours, Happiness2.0), culture-and-science public engagement (SciArt Switzerland at LAC Lugano, Lugano Happiness Forum, Forums on cancer and aging), and a publications program (books, booklets, digital columns, surveys such as Parole Fertili on Swiss parenthood).

Its primary beneficiaries are young researchers globally (Fellowship applicants from 45 countries), primary and secondary school students in Switzerland (especially Canton Ticino via DECS partnership), and Swiss general public audiences interested in science-culture integration. The Foundation is led by Director Silvia Misiti following the May 27, 2026 death of founder Arturo Licenziati; it operates from the historic Casa Carlo Cattaneo headquarters inaugurated in 2023. Strategic partners include LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, Università della Svizzera italiana, Cartoonmuseum Basel, MUSE Trento, and Lugano Living Lab.

The Foundation does not sell products or services; it distributes grants, fellowships, scholarships, and free educational content free of charge to recipients, with operating funding provided by parent IBSA Group. Financials are not publicly disclosed. Activity-scale proxies include roughly 6–7 annual Fellowship grants plus a new €5,000 Research Equity Prize, a 12-edition Fellowship track record, 259 fellowship applications from 45 countries in 2024, and a multi-program portfolio spanning digital, in-person events, and publications.

Name

IBSA Foundation for scientific research

Legal name

IBSA Foundation for scientific research

Website

https://ibsafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBSA Foundation for scientific research is a Lugano-based Swiss non-profit, established in 2012 by pharmaceutical group IBSA, that funds young researchers via annual fellowships, runs school science-education programs, and produces science-culture events and publications for the Swiss public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Scientific Research Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Scientific research grants
• Science education programs
• Non-profit foundation
• Research fellowships
• Science communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IBSA Foundation for scientific research is a Swiss non-profit foundation that promotes "Science for all" by funding young researchers through annual Fellowships (€32,000 each in Dermatology, Endocrinology, Fertility/Urology, Pain Medicine/Orthopedics/Rheumatology), running school science education programs (Let's Science!, Museum Tour, HappyLab), organizing public forums on happiness and health, and producing publications and digital content that bridge science, art, and culture.

Product overview

IBSA Foundation for scientific research is a Swiss foundation that promotes 'Science for all' through various educational and cultural programs. The foundation's offerings include research Fellowships (grants for young researchers), USI Scholarships, and educational programs like Happiness2.0/HappyLab (digital well-being for students), Let's Science! (school workshops), and SciArt Switzerland (art-science collaboration). Additional programs include Cultura e Salute, Parole Fertili (fertility research), Forums (scientific conferences), Digital Columns (online content series), and Book Series (I ragazzi di Pasteur and Let's Science! publications). The foundation also organizes events such as the annual Lugano Happiness Forum and supports various publications and digital content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Let's Science!: Science education program for schools combining science and art
• SciArt Switzerland
• Happiness2.0
• HappyLab
• Fellowship
• Lugano Happiness Forum
• Parole Fertili
• iWeekend
• Ticino Scienza
• Museum Tour

Products and services

• IBSA Foundation Fellowships
• USI Scholarships
• Let's Science!
• SciArt Switzerland
• Parole Fertili (Fertile Words)
• Cultura e Salute (Culture and Health)
• Happiness2.0 / HappyLab
• Museum Tour
• Forums
• Digital Columns (Rubriche digitali)
• Book Series (I ragazzi di Pasteur and Let's Science!)

Quantifiable outcome

• 259 applications from 45 countries for 2024 Fellowship program
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LAC Lugano Arte e CulturacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner for SciArt Switzerland initiative, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and events at LAC. Collaboration on science-art programming including events with Guido Tonelli, Stefano Mancuso, and other prominent scientists.
• Cartoonmuseum BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched in 2023 for Let's Science! workshops combining science and art for school classes. Each event takes theme from museum exhibitions. Continued collaboration through 2024-2025.
• MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, TrentominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for #iorestoacasa project during COVID-19 and Anthropocene exhibition at Carlo Cattaneo House. MUSE's Anthropocene Collection artwork displayed at Foundation headquarters.
• USI - Università della Svizzera ItalianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint scholarship program supporting medical studies at USI. Arturo Licenziati was awarded honorary membership of USI. Foundation supports various academic initiatives and events.
• DECS - Dipartimento dell'educazione, della cultura e dello sport (Ticino)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment education department partnership for Let's Science! school programs and Happiness2.0 project targeting high school students in Canton Ticino.
• Lugano Living LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Digitale consapevole (Digital awareness) project promoting responsible technology use among children and youth. Joint events including #digitaleOn0ff initiative.
• Città di LuganominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for various Foundation activities and events in Lugano.
• MASI LuganominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt museum partnership for cultural programming and exhibitions.
• Istituto Internazionale ArchitetturaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture institute partnership for cultural and educational events.
• Carrocci EditoreminorOthersItalian publisher for Foundation publications and books.
• Scuola RomanaminorOthersPartnership with Scuola Romana for educational initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjDFEjQv3sRTVfG2uBuL7YQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBSAFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibsa-foundation-for-scientific-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IBSA Foundation for scientific research