Dr. Alcide Barberis appointed new coordinator of the Start-Up Promotion Center (CP Start-Up), succeeding Roberto Poretti

The Start-Up Promotion Center is a service promoted by the Fondazione per le Facoltà di Lugano dell’USI (Foundation for the Lugano Faculties of USI). It was created in collaboration with the Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI) and with the Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI), with the purpose to assist Swiss and foreign graduates who plan to start a company in Canton Ticino. Dr. Alcide Barberis takes over from Roberto Poretti – nearing retirement – as coordinator of the Center.

Dr. Barberis is a biotechnology industry entrepreneur of with over 20 years of management and scientific experience in both the public and the private sectors. An expert in start-up companies (he is co-founder of ESBATech AG and Oncalis AG), Barberis has initiated and successfully negotiated commercial licensing and scientific collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies, contributing to fundraising campaigns with private investors and venture capital entities. In addition to having earned a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry at the University of Zurich, he has directed research teams as lecturer and group leader, as well as managing companies in the related sectors.

USI President Piero Martinoli has expressed gratitude to Roberto Poretti, “For his relentless and keen work that, since 2004, has supported 60 business initiatives selected with the innovation parameter among over 600 applications”. Martinoli has added, “I am convinced that Dr. Barberis shall succeed in further developing this key sector of activity for the economic evolution of our territory, by putting to work his extensive experience in the biotech and pharma sectors”.

For information on CP Start-Up: www.cpstartup.ch