Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele
UniSR
L’Università Vita-Salute da sempre basata sul perseguimento dell’eccellenza sia nella didattica che nella ricerca è una struttura che si articola tre Facoltà, fondamentalmente sedi della “scuola” UniSR in cui trova sede l’organizzazione dei corsi di studio e della didattica.
ID: 731214736423-30
Lobbying Activity
Response to European Research Area (ERA) Act
10 Sept 2025
Please refer to the attached document
Read full responseResponse to Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030
6 Aug 2025
The Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele GEP Committee is composed of members from both the academic and administrative staff. It is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the actions outlined in the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) and for discussing emerging challenges. Its role also includes fostering institutional awareness on gender issues and reflecting on our organisations position within the national and European academic context. Based on our experience over the last 5 years, we would like to offer some suggestions to help strengthen and further develop the upcoming European gender equality agenda. 1. Reframing gender equality to explicitly include intersectionality A single axis approach is no longer sufficient. Future strategies should adopt an intersectional perspective, recognising how multiple forms of discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and more, interact and reinforce one another. To be effective, this shift must go beyond principles and translate into concrete regulatory and strategic measures, including the obligation to collect disaggregated data across intersecting identity dimensions. Such data are essential for designing informed policies, enabling targeted actions, and ensuring meaningful progress monitoring. 2. Monitoring of GEPs GEPs have proven to be instrumental for increasing awareness, developing internal policies, fostering commitment to gender equality in research-performing organisations, andinitiating structural change. However, to ensure their impact is long-lasting and meaningful, a structured form of monitoring is necessary. While it is important to avoid increasing the administrative burden on institutions or the European Commission, it remains essential to establish a light, sample-based control system. This would help ensure that GEPs lead to concrete, measurable actions supported by clear objectives and indicators. Periodic checks on a representative sample could enhance accountability and support ongoing improvement. 3. Support for the implementation of the EU gender equality strategy Substantial progress has been made in recent years, largely thanks to targeted EU funding. However, if the goal is to continue advancing, this investment must not only be maintained but strengthened. Without consistent support and considering the current climate, the risk is not simply stagnation, but regression. Future Horizon Europe Work Programmes should include dedicated calls supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy. Moreover, the gender dimension must be integrated more systematically across all research areas, including those not traditionally associated with gender studies. Mainstreaming across disciplines is essential to make gender equality an actionable and cross-cutting priority. 4. Strengthening gender training Gender training must become a structural element across the research and innovation system. All members of the academic and research community, students, administrative staff, researchers, and decision-makers, should receive context-specific training tailored to their roles. For students, where possible, institutions should be encouraged to award academic credit. For professionals, training should include case studies relevant to their sector and discipline. Evaluator training is especially strategic, as these individuals assess project proposals and should reward those that meaningfully integrate gender and promote non-discrimination. Without adequate preparation, such efforts risk being overlooked. Ensuring that evaluators are fully trained is essential to consolidate achievements and promote lasting change.
Read full responseResponse to Biotech Act
11 Jun 2025
Contribution to the Consultation on the Future European Biotech Act Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UniSR) strongly welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a comprehensive Biotech Act and appreciates the opportunity to contribute. UniSR shares the Commissions views on the five main drivers that limit the full potential of the biotech research and innovation in Europe. However, the initiatives proposed by the Commission might still not be sufficient to safeguard Europes global leadership in biotechnology and reduce the translational gap with global competitors, particularly the United States. To achieve this ambitious goal while ensuring coherent support throughout the whole biotech value chain, UniSR proposes the following recommendations for the future European Biotech Act: 1. Strengthening and enabling support to academic scientists and developers in the EU 2. A Single Biotech Permit for EU-wide early-stage operations 3. A dedicated ERC-to-Market Biotech Track 4. Harmonized tax incentives for private seed-stage biotech investment 5. European framework for entrepreneurial leave from academia 6. EU-wide IP Passport for publicly funded biotech innovations 7. Creation of themed pan-European biotech accelerators 8. Promoting AI innovation and simplifying access to real-world data This document provides a summary of key information. For further details and additional considerations, please refer to the attached document.
Read full responseResponse to EU Life sciences strategy
16 Apr 2025
Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (UniSR) welcomes the European Commissions commitment to fostering Europes ability to deliver scientific and technological advancements to the benefit of its citizens. The forthcoming EU Life Sciences Strategy should build on this commitment and further expand the strategic role that life sciences and healthcare-related research play in enhancing the EUs global competitiveness. As illustrated by recent high-level expert reports, the innovation gap between the EU and its major international competitors (such as the US, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea) is widening, with the EU struggling to compete in high-value sectors. In addition to structural deficits (e.g., a tendency to favor mid-tech sectors with lower growth potential), the EUs innovation performance is further hindered by multiple systemic barriers, which include insufficient incentives to scale up production, limited market support for high-risk investments, a fragmented and inconsistent regulatory framework, and a shortage of critical skills and expertise. To effectively overcome these obstacles, the forthcoming EU Life Sciences Strategy should lay the groundwork for an innovation-driven life science ecosystem, by adopting a comprehensive and long-term approach that will foster growth and safeguard the EUs leadership in the life sciences domain. To this end, UniSR recommends the following actions: Fostering the strategic alignment between academic research, industry, and policymakers, and ensure the coordination between funding schemes. Simplifying both national and European-level regulatory frameworks, ensuring coherence with the political priorities of the EU. Strengthening the entire research and development pipeline by adopting a balanced approach that fosters both fundamental research and its application in real-world settings. Further expanding successful initiatives such as the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) which have a solid track record in supporting the innovation journey form the lab to the market. Implementing innovative approaches in clinical trial design, including innovative pathways of earlier access to medicines, and expanding existing clinical trial infrastructures.
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