The new headquarters of UCBM Academy hosted in Rome the meeting between the protagonists of the life science sector with the presentation of the report "The Life Science ecosystem in the Lazio Region" in the presence of Roberta Angelilli, Vice President and Councilor for Economic Development of the Lazio Region
Rome, 28 September 2026 -176 companies, 10 universities, 5 national level research centres and over 20 thousand professionals employed in the Pharma and Biotech sectors: today Lazio represents a true ecosystem of life sciences and an incubator of innovation (with exports of 14 billion euros per year, equal to 26 percent of the national exports of the sector) but to continue to be competitive it needs skills that only a university and postgraduate program that meets constantly evolving research and production standards can offer.
This is the need that emerged from the comparison between universities and businesses in the meeting “The Life Science Ecosystem in the Lazio Region” promoted by Ucbm Academy of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma in collaboration with Lazio innovates, Rome Chamber of Commerce and Unindustria and hosted in the new headquarters of UCBM Academy in via Amsterdam (Rome Eur-Torrino).
During the event, attended among others by the Vice President of the Lazio Region and the Councillor for Economic Development Roberta Angelilli together with the director of the office for the promotion of innovative industrial supply chains and start-ups of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sergio Strozzi, to the president of LazioInnova Francesco Marcolini and to the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Rome Lorenzo Tagliavanti, welcomed by the president of UCBM Carlo Tosti, from the Rector Prof. Rocco Papalia and from the CEO and DG of UCBM Andrea Rossi, the business world, institutions and academia discussed old and new skills and how to adequately prepare the future protagonists of the Life Sciences system.
“Today, traditional degree courses in Biology, Food Science, Pharmacy and Medicine, and numerous Masters and advanced courses offer significant job prospects in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. - said the professor Giorgio Minotti, Director of the Master in clinical research, open innovation and market access in the digital age of UCBM Academy - But standard training is one thing, and bringing to the pharmaceutical and biotech sector knowledge and a vision that already embraces the future of the industry is quite another. Those who join a company enter a world that, to be competitive, moves at a speed and requires a depth of knowledge that doesn't allow for long adaptation times. As teachers and trainers, we feel a responsibility to fulfill this role and support local entrepreneurs, listen to their needs, and respond with appropriate training programs.
Il white paper edited by UCBM It was illustrated by its Director of Research and Innovation Alessandro Caforio who commented:The report provides a clear picture of the region's life science ecosystem: all the key players are represented—large companies, SMEs, startups, research centers, universities, IRCCS (research institutes), and innovation players—and helps highlight the elements that can enable the region to be recognized as an international cluster in this field. Namely, the connection between universities, businesses, and institutions for large-scale supply chain projects involving academic and continuing education, co-design of research projects, and technology transfer. From this perspective, the report itself is an example of how a university can serve those called upon to act as innovation leaders—Lazio Innova, in our case—by providing research-based tools to address a systemic problem.
In panel discussion "Innovation in the Lazio Region's Life Sciences Sector: Success Factors," moderated by Prof. Giorgio Minotti the key points at the centre of the debate emerged: "For UCBM At Academy, dialogue with businesses has always been the cornerstone of our training model. Constant dialogue with key players in various production sectors allows us to understand their professional needs and requirements. - he stressed Rossella Ferreri, administrative manager of UCBM Academy- The challenge for the Academy is to grasp these diverse and specific needs, identify the skills that underlie them, and translate them into a comprehensive training program capable of responding to the needs of the industrial world..
In Italy, the skills mismatch costs €1,8 billion a year. This gap can be bridged through a collaborative system that allows us to better understand companies' needs. The goal is to develop tools, both academic and otherwise, to train professionals with a skill level as close to what businesses need. This result, in line with the Farmindustria-Mur Memorandum of Understanding, can only arise from cooperation between all stakeholders, from universities to businesses to trade associations like ours. This synergy must be structured to minimize the gap created by the evolution of a rapidly changing sector, strongly driven by innovation and new technologies. said Nicholas D'Erario Director of Labor and Skills at Farmindustria.
Italian businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, where training isn't always easy, have a huge need for staff who can operate at full capacity from the moment they graduate from university and postgraduate courses. Concrete products and projects are developed within businesses: this requires our employees to have a multidisciplinary approach, a set of transversal skills, and the ability for various sectors to fuse together to streamline processes in an industry that has seen continuous growth and constant change for years. As Assobiotec, we are available to help build a collaborative supply chain approach, from student training to placement within companies.stressed Luigi Aurisicchio, Assobiotec advisor and CEO inTakis, Evvivax & NeoMatrix.
"Three key points emerged from today's meeting: first, that resources must be spent as effectively and responsibly as possible. On this, for example, UCBM It has initiated the strengthening and reorganization of the doctoral school and the expansion of industrial doctorates, always in dialogue with businesses. The second key point is skills: we have opened a new Academy headquarters. UCBM where we want, together with companies, to fill the training gap they need for growth and development. The third point is the need for an innovation ecosystem in Lazio, a network that engages in continuous dialogue, pools ideas, and can put them into practice. In this regard, we thank the Lazio Region and Lazioinnova: our university is committed to creating this innovation and dialogue platform serving the manufacturing sector. Therefore, in the coming years, the creation of a life sciences hub will be a key element in implementing this strategy. said the CEO and DG of UCBM, Andrea Rossi.
L'UCBM Academy offers, in the Life Sciences field, two highly professionalizing Masters such as the second level one in Clinical Research, Open Innovation & Market Access in the Digital Age now in its sixth edition (mainly oriented towards professionals and aimed at developing skills through a practical approach and focus on upskilling and professional growth); and the new second level master's degree in "Sustainability in the Life Science sector", To train professionals capable of leading the sustainable transition in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and biotechnology sectors by integrating technical-scientific, managerial, and strategic skills. All information and registration details are available at https://ucbmacademy.unicampus.it/master-di-i-e-ii-livello/
