The agreement was signed by Maria Pia Pensabene, President of the ITS Academy, and Alessandro Pitruzzella, President of the Order of Biologists of Sicily, during a meeting held at 11:00 a.m. at the Culla Tecnologica Biomed & Biotech 4.0 in Palermo, a training and innovation hub established by the ITS Academy Foundation with funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The three-year agreement marks the beginning of a structured partnership aimed at strengthening dialogue between education, professional practice, research and industry. This will be achieved by involving qualified biologists in teaching activities, making greater use of laboratory facilities, developing applied research projects, and promoting new opportunities for career guidance and professional integration.
The Culla Tecnologica laboratories: advancing knowledge and innovation
One of the most significant aspects of the agreement is the opportunity to develop joint initiatives at the Culla Tecnologica Biomed & Biotech 4.0, an approximately 1,850-square-metre facility housing 20 technologically advanced laboratories dedicated to higher technical education, experimentation and innovation in the biomedical and biotechnology sectors.
Maria Pia Pensabene, President of the ITS Academy, and Alessandro Pitruzzella, President of the Order of Biologists of Sicily
Through specific collaborative programmes, the facilities and equipment may be made available for workshops, experimental activities, scientific and technical demonstrations, hands-on training and continuing professional development initiatives.
The objective is to maximise the value of a strategic public investment by transforming the Culla Tecnologica into an increasingly open environment for interdisciplinary collaboration, where students, teachers, professionals, researchers and businesses can meet and contribute to the growth of Sicily’s life sciences ecosystem.
Biologists at the forefront of training the technicians of the future
Particular attention will be given to involving professionals registered with the Order in the ITS Academy’s educational activities.
The Order will help identify biologists with proven experience across various scientific and technological fields, creating opportunities to connect the profession’s wealth of expertise with young people enrolled in higher technological education programmes.
Activities may include teaching, specialist seminars, laboratory exercises, mentoring and project work, in compliance with the selection procedures and institutional responsibilities of both organisations.
The partnership will focus in particular on two strategic programmes within the ITS Academy’s educational offering:
- BIOTECH 4.0 – Quality Control Biotechnologist, focusing on quality control, chemical and microbiological analyses, biotechnological processes, sustainability and digital technologies applied to manufacturing.
- Specialist in Biotechnology and Deep Tech Technologies for Life Sciences, co-designed with the CNR-IBF research institute in Palermo and dedicated to research and development in biotechnological products and processes, molecular biology, proteomics, bioinformatics, advanced diagnostics and artificial intelligence applied to the life sciences.
These are two-year, post-secondary programmes offered free of charge thanks to public funding. They award a Level V EQF Diploma of Specialisation in Applied Technologies and feature substantial business involvement, including a full year of work-based training.
Applications for the specialised biotechnology programmes are open until 10 November. Further information is available at www.itsvoltapalermo.it.
From education to applied research: building a network of new opportunities
The agreement also aims to establish a collaborative network that brings education closer to the practical needs of the scientific and industrial sectors.
The two institutions will promote applied research and experimental initiatives in fields with significant innovation potential, including molecular biology, microbiology, quality control, biomarkers, biosensors, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence and the sustainability of biotechnological processes.
Particular attention will be devoted to projects addressing real-world challenges faced by businesses and laboratories, facilitating knowledge transfer and maximising the value of research outcomes.
The partnership will also strengthen career guidance activities and improve links with professional practices, laboratories, companies and specialised facilities, including by identifying new internship opportunities for students.
“Bringing expertise and infrastructure together means investing in Sicily’s future. With this agreement, we take another step towards building an innovation ecosystem in which education, professional practice, research and business are not separate worlds, but integral parts of a shared development strategy,” says Maria Pia Pensabene, President of the ITS Academy Nuove Tecnologie della Vita Alessandro Volta.
“Working with the Order of Biologists of Sicily is particularly significant for us because it connects the wealth of knowledge and experience within a profession that is essential to the life sciences with our own mission: to train highly specialised young technicians capable of responding to technological change and the evolving needs of the labour market.
“We firmly believe that Sicily’s future also depends on its ability to retain and develop its talent. To achieve this, we must build bridges, not barriers, between the different stakeholders in the knowledge ecosystem. This agreement is precisely a step in that direction.”
A partnership to strengthen Sicily’s life sciences sector
“The signing of this agreement represents an important milestone in our efforts to enhance the value of the biologist profession and strengthen its role in scientific and technological innovation across our region,” says Alessandro Pitruzzella, President of the Order of Biologists of Sicily.
“Biotechnology, applied research, advanced diagnostics and quality control are fields in which biologists’ expertise is becoming increasingly strategic. Our collaboration with the ITS Academy Alessandro Volta gives us the opportunity to put this wealth of knowledge and experience at the service of the next generation, fostering direct exchange between professionals, students, researchers and businesses.”
“The Culla Tecnologica Biomed & Biotech 4.0 is particularly significant: a centre of excellence that can also become a key reference point for continuing professional development, experimentation and applied research. As an Order, we intend to contribute actively to this process by encouraging our members to participate and promoting new synergies between professional organisations and the education sector.”
“Investing in skills, sharing knowledge and bringing young people closer to scientific professions means investing in Sicily’s competitiveness and its capacity to generate innovation. This is the vision we aim to turn into concrete initiatives through the agreement signed today.”
This partnership looks to the future by investing in young people, recognising the expertise of professionals and strengthening Sicily’s position in biotechnology and the life sciences—a sector that is becoming increasingly crucial to addressing the challenges of tomorrow.
About The Author
