Five years after the launch of the new Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at USI (Università
della Svizzera Italiana), the IBSA Foundation continues to support research and
education.
Carrying out research means investing in the future and this is why the IBSA Foundation began
supporting medical students at USI in 2017.
At a ceremony on 5th December 2022, 62 scholarships were awarded to first-year and 56 to second-
year Master of Medicine students.
The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Giovanni Pedrazzini, welcomed the large audience of young
students. He explained the award criteria in detail and emphasised that the scholarships offered by
the Foundation, worth 2,000 CHF each, are first and foremost a great opportunity for students and,
equally importantly, a way to attract talent from other countries to study medicine in the canton.
“The parable of the talents tells of a man who gives his workers a sum of money (talents) according to
their abilities. The first two make it profitable by doubling it, while the third one hides it. Predictably, the
man praises the first two and criticises the behaviour of the third.
What’s the point of having talents (not only physical, but also our skills and abilities) if we don’t put
them to good use?"
This is the thought offered by IBSA Group President and CEO Arturo Licenziati to emphasise a
commitment to playing one’s part, just like the Foundation, which is at the forefront of encouraging
academic study by supporting university students.
The event ended with a meeting and discussion with the students.
