The event bridging groundbreaking Life Sciences research and business concluded with a 20% increase in attendance compared to its debut edition.
Milan, October 1–2, 2026 – Research institutions across diverse disciplines (including IRCCS research hospitals and universities), corporate leaders, investors, and innovation experts from around the globe gathered in Milan for PerfeTTO Match-Up 2026: a two-day networking and business-matching event dedicated to Life Sciences technology transfer.
Organized by the PerfeTTO Network, this second edition featured panel discussions, pitch sessions, B2B meetings, and targeted networking opportunities. The event drew more than 300 participants representing 65 research centers, 94 companies, investment funds, and industry specialists, generating over 250 B2B partnering meetings between Italian and international organizations.
At a time of pivotal opportunity for Europe — marked by an increased focus on technological and healthcare sovereignty, alongside strategic investments in biotechnology, advanced therapeutics, and diagnostics — PerfeTTO Match-Up positions itself as an operational hub connecting knowledge, capital, and industrial capabilities. The presence of global stakeholders further reinforced the initiative’s international footprint and opened new avenues for cross-border collaboration.
The event started with opening remarks from: Prof. Giulio Pompilio, Scientific Director of IRCCS Centro Cardiologico Monzino and Scientific Coordinator of the PerfeTTO Network; Dr. Luca Padua, Director of Office 3 (“IRCCS Networks and Current Research”) at the Directorate-General for Health Research and Innovation, Italian Ministry of Health; Prof. Luca Guidotti, Deputy Scientific Director of IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital; Prof. Gianluigi Giannelli, Scientific Director of IRCCS Saverio de Bellis Specialized Gastroenterology Hospital; Dr. Luca Battistelli, Head of Research and the Technology Transfer Office at IRCCS Dino Amadori Romagna Cancer Institute (IRST).
Two focal panel sessions, featuring 14 speakers from industry, venture capital, and research institutions, explored the interplay between science, industry, and financing, outlining what is required to translate laboratory breakthroughs into market-ready, patient-centered innovations. Core discussions addressed open innovation models, public-private partnerships spanning universities and clinical research centers, the evolving role of academia, and the urgent need to modernize technology transfer practices by aligning incentives, development timelines, IP strategies, scalability, and technology readiness levels. Panels drew on international benchmarks and best practices, emphasizing that in order to remain competitive alongside global powerhouses like China and the United States, Europe must foster greater standardization, shared research frameworks, and upstream collaboration across industry, funding bodies, and academia. Speakers also underscored the necessity of early, proactive stakeholder engagement—including regulatory bodies—while maintaining a patient-centric, application-driven approach.
Day two opened with a keynote address by Prof. Luigi Naldini, Director of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy and Professor at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, who outlined the current landscape, opportunities, and frontiers in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs).
The program continued with two dedicated pitch sessions showcasing the 16 winning projects from the second edition of the TT Accelerator program. Pitched innovations focused primarily on the Pharma and Therapeutics sectors, presenting advances in neurology, oncology, precision medicine, mRNA vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and targeted drug delivery systems.
“Match-Up was created to introduce a truly international format to Italy—one that puts our research and innovation ecosystem in direct dialogue with global markets, adopts proven international best practices, and showcases Italian Life Sciences excellence,” stated Prof. Giulio Pompilio, Scientific Coordinator of PerfeTTO.
“We are especially proud,” added Pompilio, “to inaugurate the ‘Nicolais Award’ in memory of Professor Luigi Nicolais, honoring his extraordinary legacy in advancing Italian biomedical research and technology transfer. This award celebrates visionary thinking that looks beyond traditional research silos to build a lasting bridge between scientific excellence, market innovation, and national growth.”
The inaugural Nicolais Award was presented to AAVantgarde, a pioneer in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector technology, accepted on their behalf by Dr. Annamaria Merico, Business Development Director at Fondazione Telethon.
“This gathering has firmly established itself as an essential meeting point where leaders from finance, industry, research, and innovation can tackle shared challenges across Italy and Europe. Chief among these is strengthening the innovation ecosystem, boosting its investment appeal, and unlocking fresh avenues for collaborative growth. IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, returning as co-organizer of PerfeTTO Match-Up, reaffirms its commitment to catalyzing dialogue among science, business, and capital to build a more open, competitive ecosystem,” remarked Prof. Luca Guidotti, Deputy Scientific Director at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital.
“The true strength of a network like PerfeTTO lies in continuous exchange and cross-pollination across diverse skill sets—uniting scientific discovery, tech transfer, enterprise, and capital. That is how innovation turns into sustainable economic development and, above all, tangible benefits for patients and society,” emphasized Prof. Gianluigi Giannelli, Scientific Director of IRCCS Saverio de Bellis.
“Match-Up demonstrates year after year that the Life Sciences ecosystem needs shared infrastructure. As of today, PerfeTTO partners can leverage a dedicated Technology Platform designed to give lab-developed assets greater visibility and streamline their evaluation by prospective commercial partners,” concluded Prof. Antonino Musolino, Acting Scientific Director of IRCCS IRST “Dino Amadori”.
About the PerfeTTO Network
PerfeTTO is Italy’s premier network of Life Sciences technology transfer offices, backed by an overall investment of €30 million, including €15 million funded by the Italian Ministry of Health via the Complementary National Plan (PNC) to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), under the Health Innovation Ecosystem E.3 framework.
Bringing together 54 leading institutions across Italy—including public and private IRCCS research hospitals, universities, foundations, and hospital trusts—the PerfeTTO Network works to embed tech transfer culture across Life Sciences, bridge the gap between academic discovery and clinical reality, and translate scientific insight into socio-economic impact.
segreteria@networkperfetto.com
