Fondazione ASINO per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica

What Fondazione ASINO per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica does

Fondazione ASINO per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica ETS is an Italian non-profit foundation (Ente del Terzo Settore), established in 2018 by the late Fabrizio Carretti and headquartered in Milan (Via Bronzetti 19). Registered with Italy's RUNTS since May 2022, the foundation's stated mission is to fund and organize training, fellowships, scholarships, and research projects in oncological neurosurgery. Its core programs include the NEUROMED Fellowship Program (two six-month fellowships per year at the G. Cantore Neuroanatomy Laboratory), the annual SINch Scholarship for neurosurgeons under 40, the Asino Scholarship research grant, and the Global Training Project coordinated with the WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Forum across eight countries (Morocco, Brazil, Cameroon, Venezuela, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria). The foundation also funds patient-family accommodation support at CNAO (Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia Oncologica) in Pavia and a cognitive well-being study with Università di Urbino and IEO Smartfood.

Its flagship technology asset is the Asino Atlas, a 3D Atlas of Neurosurgical Approaches co-developed with Italian medtech firm UpSurgeOn. The atlas uses photogrammetry-based 3D reconstructions of step-by-step anatomical-surgical dissections and is distributed globally as a free mobile app with a planned VR headset extension, targeting neurosurgery trainees in both developed and developing markets. The foundation does not own or operate clinical infrastructure; instead it acts as a philanthropic intermediary, channeling donor funds into fellowships, grants, and digital educational content curated and validated by its Scientific Committee of senior Italian neurosurgeons.

The foundation's revenue model is exclusively donation-based, combining individual giving (online preset amounts of €25/€50/€100 plus custom, with Italian tax-deductibility), corporate sponsorship (Kitra Advisory as Main Sponsor; Gold Sponsors WishItalia, MATIAS, RPLT; Technical Sponsors Brera Boutique, FP Costruzioni, Guendalina, Magnolia Immobiliare; media partner Brand039; major supporters Fondazione KPMG Italia, Permira, Aurora Growth Capital), event fundraising (annual Charity Dinner at €200/person minimum, Charity Drink at €30/person, Milano Marathon Relay), solidarity product sales (Venchi chocolate bells at €20–€25, Christmas panettoni), and Italian 5x1000 tax designation (CF 97830750150). Go-to-market is event-driven and direct-to-consumer via fondazioneasino.it, with a hybrid segmentation approach across individual donors, corporate partners, young neurosurgeon grantees, and event attendees.

Name

Fondazione ASINO per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica

Legal name

Fondazione Asino per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica ETS

Website

https://fondazioneasino.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondazione ASINO is a Milan-based Italian non-profit foundation funding training, fellowships, scholarships, and research in oncological neurosurgery, including the Asino Atlas 3D educational platform, NEUROMED fellowships, SINch scholarships, and global training projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Healthcare Foundation

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

Keywords

• Oncological neurosurgery training
• Medical research grants
• Nonprofit foundation fundraising
• Neurosurgery fellowships
• 3D surgical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time or recurring donations from individuals via the website (credit card or bank transfer). Donors receive tax deduction certificates. Minimum suggested amounts of €25, €50, €100, or custom.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Financial and in-kind support from companies (Gold Sponsors, Technical Sponsors, Media Partners). Includes Main Sponsor Kitra Advisory and other corporate supporters.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue raised through Charity Dinners (minimum donation €200/person), Charity Drink events (minimum donation €30/person), solidarity product sales (chocolate bells, panettoni), and Milano Marathon Relay participation.
4. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of IRPEF to Fondazione ASINO (Tax Code: 97830750150). Donors can deduct this from taxes at no additional cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondazione ASINO is a non-profit foundation that funds and organizes training programs and research projects in oncological neurosurgery. Its primary offerings include funded fellowships and scholarships for young neurosurgeons (NEUROMED fellowships, SINch scholarships, Global Training Project), the Asino Atlas — a free 3D educational atlas of neurosurgical approaches developed with UpSurgeOn — and financial support for patient families receiving hadrontherapy at CNAO. It raises funds via individual and corporate donations, charity events, solidarity products, and Italy's 5x1000 tax designation.

Product overview

Fondazione ASINO is a non-profit foundation supporting oncological neurosurgery through funding training programs and research projects. The foundation operates primarily as a charitable organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include educational initiatives like the Asino Atlas 3D surgical training platform, the Global Training Project for international neurosurgeon education, and fellowship programs at NEUROMED. The foundation also conducts fundraising through solidarity products (chocolate bells, panettoni) and events (Charity Dinner, Charity Drink). Research projects include CNAO family reception support, cognitive well-being studies, and grants for neuro-oncology researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asino Atlas: A 3D Atlas of Neurosurgical Approaches developed with UpSurgeOn for training young neurosurgeons through photogrammetry-based 3D reconstructions.
• Global Training Project
• Borsa di Studio NEUROMED
• Borsa di Studio SINch

Products and services

• Asino Atlas (3D Atlas of Neurosurgical Approaches) Free 3D educational atlas of transcranial neurosurgical approaches developed with UpSurgeOn using photogrammetry-based reconstructions of step-by-step anatomical-surgical dissections; accessible globally via mobile app and VR headsets for neurosurgery students, specialists, and surgeons in developing countries.
• Global Training Project (GTP) International neurosurgical training program coordinated with the WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Forum, providing hands-on training courses to improve psychomotor skills of young neurosurgeons worldwide, especially in areas with limited access to cadaver-based training.
• NEUROMED Fellowship (Borsa di Studio NEUROMED) Two 6-month fellowships per year at the G. Cantore Neuroanatomy Laboratory of I.R.C.C.S. NEUROMED (Pozzilli, Italy) for young neurosurgeons to study skull base and vascular anatomy and practice surgical approaches on anatomical specimens.
• SINch Scholarship (Borsa di Studio SINch) Annual scholarship for neurosurgery specialists under 40 years old awarded at the Italian Neurosurgical Society (SINch) National Congress, supporting professional development and training internships. The 2025 edition was awarded to Dr. Grazia Menna.
• Asino Scholarship / Research Grant One-year postdoctoral scholarship supporting laboratory or field research on brain tumors and oncology, awarded to researchers conducting innovative neuro-oncology projects. The 2023 grant was awarded to Dr. Valeria di Caro (AOUI Verona).
• CNAO Reception Project (Progetto Accoglienza CNAO) Project supporting families of children traveling from Italy and abroad to receive treatment at the National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) in Pavia, covering accommodation and living expenses during treatment courses.
• Cognitive Well-being in the Elderly Research Project Research project coordinated with Università di Urbino Carlo Bo and IEO Smartfood program, investigating factors that preserve cognitive functions in an elderly population aged 65-80; data collected from approximately 200 participants.
• Charity Dinner Annual fundraising dinner in Milan (e.g., November 13, 2025 at Galleria Meravigli) bringing together supporters, corporate sponsors, and partners; minimum donation €200 per person, with tables of 10 available; the 2022 dinner raised over €26,000 and was attended by 240+ people.
• Charity Drink Informal networking events introducing Fondazione ASINO to new supporters, featuring aperitifs and project presentations; minimum donation €30 per person; first edition hosted by Fondazione Riccardo Catella in May 2024 in Milan.
• Solidarity Chocolate Bells (Campane di Cioccolato) Easter solidarity chocolate bells (300g, milk or dark chocolate) produced in collaboration with Venchi (founded 1878), sold at minimum donation of €20 (2021-2022 price), increased to €25 in 2025, to raise funds for neurosurgery training and research.
• Solidarity Panettone Christmas solidarity panettone cakes sold annually at a minimum donation amount (specific price not publicly listed) to support training of young neurosurgeons and neuro-oncology research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 fellowships per year funded at NEUROMED for skull base and vascular anatomy training
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• UpSurgeOncoreTechnology or IntegrationUpSurgeOn, an Italian medtech company founded by neurosurgeon Dr. Federico Nicolosi and Dr. Giannantonio Spena, developed the Asino Atlas (3D Atlas of Neurosurgical Approaches) — the foundation's flagship educational project. The atlas uses photogrammetry-based 3D reconstructions of anatomical dissections accessible via mobile app and VR. This is a co-development partnership for a globally accessible neurosurgical training tool.
• WFNS Young Neurosurgeons ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Global Training Project is coordinated by the WFNS Young Neurosurgeons Forum, which organizes training courses worldwide to improve psycho-motor skills of neurosurgeons. Fondazione ASINO funded all 8 GTP 2022 training events across Morocco, Brazil, Cameroon, Venezuela, Kenya, Brazil (second), Egypt, and Nigeria.
• VenchicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration with Venchi (Italian premium chocolate maker, founded 1878) to produce and sell solidarity chocolate bells (campane di cioccolato solidali) at Easter and panettoni at Christmas. Fondazione ASINO organizes production and sales; Venchi provides the chocolate products.
• CNAO - Centro Nazionale di Adroterapia OncologicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNAO in Pavia is the only facility in Italy (and one of 6 worldwide) treating difficult tumors with proton and carbon ion beams. Fondazione ASINO supports accommodation expenses for families of pediatric patients and participated in the Think Hadron 2025 Neuro-Oncology conference. The foundation also funds research in hadrontherapy context.
• I.R.C.C.S. NEUROMEDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEUROMED in Pozzilli hosts the 'G. Cantore' Neuroanatomy Laboratory where Fondazione ASINO funds two 6-month fellowships per year for neurosurgeons to study skull base and vascular anatomy and practice surgical approaches on anatomical specimens.
• Università di Urbino Carlo BominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe university, led by Dr. Cristina Claudia Rosazza, coordinates the project on promoting cognitive well-being in the elderly (65-80 years), collecting data from approximately 200 participants. Fondazione ASINO provides financial support for this neuro-oncology adjacent research.
• Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO) - Smartfood ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Smartfood program of IEO in Milan collaborates with Università di Urbino and Fondazione ASINO on the cognitive well-being research project investigating protective factors against age-related cognitive decline.
• AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAt the 2026 Charity Drink, Fondazione ASINO will present the AIRC researcher it supports, highlighting its contribution to neuro-oncology research within the broader Italian cancer research ecosystem.
• Kitra AdvisorycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMain Sponsor of the annual Charity Dinner. Kitra Advisory is a private advisory firm that provides concrete, generous, and ongoing financial and promotional support to Fondazione ASINO.
• Fondazione KPMG ItaliamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn collaboration with Fondazione KPMG (the foundation arm of KPMG Italy), supporting the foundation's activities as part of its philanthropic mission.
• PermiramajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn collaboration with Permira (global private equity firm), associated with the foundation through founder Fabrizio Carretti's career at Permira. Listed as a collaboration partner on the supporters page.
• WishItaliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. WishItalia is an e-commerce company that supports the foundation's fundraising activities.
• MATIASminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. MATIAS (fashion outlet) supports the foundation as a corporate sponsor.
• RPLTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. RPLT supports the foundation as a corporate sponsor.
• Brand039minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia Partner providing web agency and communications support to Fondazione ASINO. Listed as credits and media partner on the supporters page.
• Fondazione Riccardo CatellaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the foundation's first Charity Drink event (May 2024) at its venue in Milan (Via Gaetano De Castillia 28), providing the event space as an in-kind contribution.
• Laureus Sport for Good ItaliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaureus Sport for Good Italia launched the 'Sport for good Vimercate' project in memory of Fabrizio Carretti (founder of Fondazione ASINO), using sport as a tool for growth for children and youth in hardship.
• Brera BoutiqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. Provides in-kind support as a fashion boutique.
• FP CostruzioniminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. Construction company providing in-kind support.
• GuendalinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. Creative workshop/boutique providing in-kind support.
• Magnolia ImmobiliareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnical Sponsor of Fondazione ASINO. Real estate company providing in-kind support.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Brain Tumor Society: US non-profit dedicated to brain tumor research, policy, and patient support. Direct peer on disease focus (neuro-oncology) and mission structure (funding research + advocacy + training), though operating at much larger US scale.
• Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC): Italy's largest cancer research nonprofit, funded through donations, 5x1000, and corporate partnerships. Comparable in mission (disease-specific cancer research funding), revenue model (donations + Italian tax designation), and event-driven fundraising — already a partner of Fondazione ASINO.
• American Brain Tumor Association: US-based non-profit funding brain tumor research, providing educational resources for patients and clinicians, and supporting fellowships. Comparable to ASINO in combining research funding with educational/training outputs for neuro-oncology.
• The Brain Tumour Charity: UK-based charity funding brain tumor research and providing support/education. Closest international disease-specific peer to ASINO, with similar mix of research grants, training programs, and donor-driven model.
• Fondazione Umberto Veronesi: Italian foundation funding oncology and biomedical research, scholarships, and fellowships. Directly comparable as a disease-focused Italian grantmaking foundation with similar fellowship/scholarship programs and high-profile corporate partners.
• Fondazione Telethon: Italian non-profit funding rare genetic disease research via donations, televised events, and 5x1000. Highly comparable in structure: registered ETS foundation, donation-driven, science-led grantmaking, and Italian household-name brand.
• LILT – Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori: Italian non-profit focused on cancer prevention, screening, and patient support with 106 provincial chapters. Comparable as a national Italian cancer non-profit using donations, 5x1000, and a federated structure to deliver programs.

Others

• SINch – Società Italiana di Neurochirurgia: Italian professional society for neurosurgeons that co-awards the SINch Scholarship with Fondazione ASINO. Adjacent rather than competitive — a scientific ecosystem participant that channels ASINO's funding into early-career neurosurgeons and validates the foundation's training programs.

Emerging players

• UpSurgeOn: Italian medtech company founded by neurosurgeon Dr. Federico Nicolosi, co-developer of the Asino Atlas 3D platform. Closely tied to ASINO as the technology partner for its flagship educational product and operates in the surgical simulation/training space intersecting ASINO's mission.

Broad incumbents

• IFOM – Istituto FIRC di Oncologia Molecolare: Italian molecular oncology research institute funded by FIRC/AIRC. Broader incumbent in the same Italian cancer research ecosystem — comparable as a destination for cancer research funding and as a scientific credibility reference, though IFOM directly operates research labs rather than only funding them.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/asinoprofit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asino-fondazione-italiana-neurochirurgia-oncologica
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondazione_asino

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Fondazione ASINO per la Neurochirurgia Oncologica