Fondazione UNIMI

Fondazione UNIMI represents the strategic transformation of Fondazione Filarete into a comprehensive university foundation serving the broader University of Milan ecosystem. This evolution has positioned the foundation as a vital connector between academia and industry, bridging university research outcomes with market demands. By engaging with alumni networks, local enterprises, corporate partners, investment communities, and governmental bodies, Fondazione UNIMI has established itself as a crucial intermediary in the knowledge transfer process, facilitating the practical application of academic discoveries.

The foundation excels in navigating the complexities of innovation processes, providing comprehensive services that transform university intellectual assets into market-ready solutions. Their expertise encompasses scouting promising research, accelerating development timelines, and creating strategic partnerships between academic researchers and industry stakeholders. This systematic approach to knowledge commercialization has enabled breakthrough innovations to reach practical implementation, particularly in their core focus areas of Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, where the foundation has developed specialized expertise and networks.

A distinguishing feature of Fondazione UNIMI is its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship within the university community. The foundation provides incubation support for innovative startups emerging from research conducted by University of Milan students and faculty members. This entrepreneurial pipeline has proven remarkably successful, contributing to the foundation's recognition in 2024 as Europe's Leading Start-Up Hub according to the prestigious Financial Times and Statista ranking of European startup incubators. This achievement validates their methodical approach to transforming academic research into viable commercial ventures.

Beyond its core innovation activities, Fondazione UNIMI extends its impact through strategic support of complementary initiatives that enhance the university's broader mission. The foundation provides operational and strategic backing to Milano School of Management (MISOM), strengthening the institution's capabilities in business education and management research. Additionally, their support of Orchestra UNIMI demonstrates a commitment to cultural enrichment within the academic community. Through this holistic approach to university advancement, Fondazione UNIMI has established a comprehensive model for academic-industry collaboration that maximizes the societal and economic impact of university research while creating sustainable pathways for innovation.