In Memory of Arturo Licenziati

Arturo Licenziati, President and CEO of the IBSA Group and Honorary Member of Università della Svizzera italiana, has passed away. With his entrepreneurial vision, philanthropic commitment, and unwavering support for education and research, he made a decisive contribution to the development of USI's Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and the growth of the University project in Southern Switzerland. Università della Svizzera italiana remembers him with profound gratitude.

Appointed Honorary Member of USI during the 29th Dies academicus, Arturo Licenziati was awarded the honour "for his decisive and generous support to the development of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at Università della Svizzera italiana"

Through the IBSA Foundation, established in 2012, Arturo Licenziati supported numerous initiatives in the scientific, cultural, and educational fields over the years. Since 2017, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of scholarships to students of the USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, accompanying the growth of the Master of Medicine with vital, multi-year support. In recent years, this collaboration was further strengthened by renewed support for the Master's programme until 2037 through the Culture and Health project, promoted alongside the City of Lugano, and by support for USI's House of Sustainability.

A visionary entrepreneur and a leading figure in the international pharmaceutical industry, Arturo Licenziati successfully combined innovation, social responsibility, and a dedication to educating future generations, leaving a profound mark not only on the corporate and scientific worlds but also on the academic and civic communities of our region.

In memory of Arturo Licenziati, we republish the Laudatio delivered by Professor Luisa Lambertini on the occasion of the conferring of his title as Honorary Member of Università della Svizzera italiana.

Laudatio for Arturo Licenziati

Arturo Licenziati, a law graduate from Sapienza Università di Roma, began a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1963 after spending a few years practising as an attorney. He started as a manager at Zambon in Vicenza, where he played a crucial role in establishing and developing the company's Belgian branch and other important subsidiaries. After a brief period as Vice President of the Italian branch of Merck Sharp & Dohme, he returned to Zambon before ultimately leaving the company in 1985.

That year, driven by a desire for new challenges and a passion for creating something of his own, he used his personal capital to acquire a small pharmaceutical company in Lugano called IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA), which had 40 employees at the time. From that point onward, through his entrepreneurial vision and relentless determination, IBSA grew into a multinational company operating in more than 90 countries, boasting 20 subsidiaries worldwide and over 2,500 employees.

IBSA's success stems from its ability to intelligently and effectively respond to the practical needs of doctors and patients, particularly in areas where larger companies overlook opportunities. For Licenziati, focused scientific research and quality innovation are essential for making a small company competitive.

IBSA's pillars - people, innovation, quality and responsibility - permeate every aspect of Arturo Licenziati's entrepreneurial and philanthropic actions. Interestingly, these values are very close to USI's: "quality, openness and responsibility". Today, Licenziati is recognised as a leading example of dedication, vision, and proactive action, leaving a significant impact on the pharmaceutical industry and civil society.

With this in mind, he founded the IBSA Foundation for scientific research in Lugano in 2012, crowning a vision that combines science, culture and social commitment. The Foundation awards scholarships in the medical-scientific field and promotes cultural and outreach events and projects to support the training of young researchers and build bridges between scientific and humanistic knowledge.

The IBSA Foundation aims to engage institutions, schools, and communities at all levels by encouraging collaborative reflection on the role of science in society. It seeks to inspire new generations as they navigate their growth paths.

IBSA Foundation supports educational training activities in the biomedical field.

Since 2021, the collaboration between IBSA Foundation, the City of Lugano and USI with the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences for the 'Cultura e Salute' project is also active.

This year included a three-year support initiative for USI's House of Sustainability, aimed at promoting the Alpine Seminars and fostering a culture of sustainable development through public events.