THE ROLES of TLS
RESEARCH FOUNDATION
The Toscana Life Sciences Foundation was established as a non-profit organization to support research activities in the field of Life Sciences and orphan diseases. The horizon with which it works is that of Europe 2020: a strategic and integrated approach to research and innovation as key drivers of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Translational research applied to orphan diseases plays a significant role in the Foundation’s mission. Thanks to a grant from the Tuscany Region through the project Orphan-2, over the years TLS has undertaken a series of economic support and coordination measures in the field of enzyme replacement therapy that have enabled significant results to be achieved in the development of possible therapies for three identified diseases. TLS has now taken on a growing role in the experimental design and performance of applied research thanks to its technological platforms and scientific expertise. The goal is to continue along this path of studying orphan diseases by creating networks and conducting research activities.
BUSINESS INCUBATOR
TLS is one of the few certified incubators on the national scene dedicated exclusively to supporting the startup of businesses in the Life Sciences sector. Operational since 2007, the bioincubator is a point of reference for companies that need to give legs to their ideas through spaces, technological facilities and services. "Basic" tools to grow and be able to compete on the market, with all its risks and opportunities. TLS provides the companies of the future with a team of professionals with experience in the scientific and industrial world who are specialized in technology transfer processes. Starting from this mix of skills, spaces and services the bioincubator offers support to companies at every stage of their development, also providing a consolidated network of experts and consultants.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FOR THE TUSCANY REGION
Through the UVaR office, TLS collaborates with the Research and Innovation sector within the Directorate General of Citizenship Rights and Social Cohesion of the Tuscany Region to structure an integrated and synergistic research and innovation system in a coordinated context among regional universities and university hospitals. UVAR, in particular, is engaged in assessing, monitoring and exploiting the results of research in terms of applicability and transferability. An activity to support the Tuscan university hospitals and other institutions of the Regional Health Service, universities and public research organizations in order to develop and leverage innovative capacity and technology transfer, also through the creation of collaborative channels with companies and other stakeholders in the Life Sciences sector. TLS also supports the Directorate General in the definition of regional strategies and consequent actions to attract investments to the region, also according to the objectives of European programming: generating excellent science, fostering industrial leadership and innovating to tackle societal challenges.
MANAGER OF THE TUSCANY LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER
The Toscana Life Sciences Foundation is the operating entity that coordinates and manages the activities of the Tuscany Life Sciences Cluster, founded in 2011 by an initiative of the Tuscany Region aimed at creating an integrated Life Sciences system. Its mission is to act as the “glue” between the specialist industrial dimension and the institutional and systemic one, promoting dialogue among companies and the network of excellence present in the field of research and technology transfer in the region. Some aggregated data regarding the more than 190 member companies show the "weight" of the cluster in the regional economy: over 11,000 employees of which approximately 1,400 are engaged in R&D activities, and over 5.5 billion Euros total turnover. In its role as manager, TLS contributes to the objectives of the cluster: facilitating and promoting its affiliates in the national and international context, strengthening support for research and innovation in health, facilitating access to clinical trials, valorizing public and private research and technology transfer, and supporting business creation and development.
COORDINATOR OF THE “TOSCANA PHARMA & DEVICE VALLEY” PROJECT
The know-how and experience of TLS are now supporting an ambitious project: " Toscana Pharma & Device Valley ". The goal of the project is to increase investment in the region by the actors already present and to attract new ones in a sector characterized by a high propensity for research, high investments, and high-quality jobs. Reinforcing the public private partnership through a transparent and constructive dialogue among actors in the sector, Tuscany is betting on its cluster of excellence in the Life Sciences to make a contribution in the framework of the European strategy Horizon 2020 to generate excellent science, support economic activity and job creation, and stimulate the introduction of innovation onto the market to address major societal challenges.
REPRESENTATIVE OF TUSCANY IN THE ALISEI CLUSTER
The Toscana Life Sciences Foundation represents the Tuscany Region in the National Life Sciences Cluster ALISEI, a broad and inclusive network of Italian excellence operating throughout the country in one of the strategic areas for the national system. TLS, as part of the cluster, represents the excellence of public and private Tuscan research, acting as a representative of the entire system of businesses, research and technology transfer to best seize opportunities for development and internationalization. The operational approach of ALISEI involves the creation of specific working groups: two groups, to which TLS is also contributing through its representatives, are currently operational and aim at updating the cluster’s strategic plan and comparing regional smart specialization strategies at nation level.
ITS FOUNDATOR “New technologies for life”
TLS strongly believed in the creation of the Istituto Tecnico Superiore (ITS) “New technologies for life” and contributed as founder to the grouping of the main regional public and private actors that constituted the VITA Foundation in June 2015 (high schools, training organisations, local institutions, universities, research centres and companies). As coordinator TLS takes care of the administrative and organisational aspects of the training courses in the regional territory of the industrial biotechnologies and medical devices. The TLS General Manager holds the position of President of the VITA Foundation, led by the ITIS “Sarrocchi” of Siena.
