Annual report 2004 - Compagnia di San Paolo

Institutional activities in 2004
Scientific, economic and juridical research
Grants breakdown per field of interest
European Constitution
0.4%
Foundations and non-profit sector
1.0%
The future of the
North-West of Italy
3.2%
Immigration
and citizens’ rights
1.7%
International role of the EU
5.5%
Human rights and development
1.3%
United Nations Centre in Turin
2.0%
Genetics and genomics
20.5%
Economic
and social research
26.7%
Biotechnology
and bioengineering
5.6%
Biomedical research
8.4%
Multimedia facilities
and centres
0.2%
Information and telecommunications
technologies
20.0%
Activities for the public
3.5%
Scientific research
During 2004, 37 grants were approved for approximately € 7.9 million in the Scientific Research
sector. The Compagnia’s attention was principally concentrated on the activities of the centres of
scientific and technological excellence and popularisation of science initiatives.
Centres of scientific and technological excellence
Four specific fields of interest have been identified in this area relating to: genetics and genomics;
biotechnology and bioengineering; biomedical research and information and communication
technologies (ICT). In the field of genetics and genomics in 2004 the major commitment was that for
the feasibility study for the constitution of a Higher European Interdisciplinary Institute for Human
Genetics (ISEIGU), having its headquarters in Turin. The objective of the project, promoted by the
Compagnia and by the University and Polytechnic of Turin, is that of achieving a critical mass of
researchers within a single structure, to perform research of excellence in those subjects which use
the results of human DNA sequencing. The cooperation between the three promoting bodies is
approved by a convention signed in April 2004 and implemented by the constitution of a Promotion
Committee. The Compagnia has ensured a financial commitment for the setting up of the Institute of
not less than € 20 million in the four-year period 2004-2007.
As regards the fields of interest of biotechnologies and bioengineering, the Compagnia has
confirmed its support to Institutes such as the Bioengineering Centre – Neuromuscular System and
Motor Rehabilitation Laboratory (LISiN) of Turin, which originated from collaboration between Turin
Polytechnic and the Consortium for Research and Continuing Education (COREP). In 2004 the
Compagnia co-financed a joint project of the European Space Agency and the Italian Space
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