Lugano, 10 May 2025 – On the occasion of the 29th Dies Academicus of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Dr Arturo Licenziati was awarded the title of Honorary Member of USI, a distinction conferred by the University Council on individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the University.
Arturo Licenziati, President and CEO of IBSA Group, was honoured ‘for his decisive and generous support for the development of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Lugano’.
With this appointment, Dr Licenziati joins a select group of individuals who, through their support, have contributed significantly to the growth and development of USI, now a benchmark in the Swiss university landscape.
The ceremony took place during the Dies Academicus, the University's traditional annual celebration, which evokes the flavour of ancient academic celebrations: a solemn gathering to reflect on the evolution of the University and award honours such as the Honorary Doctorate, the title of Honorary Member, the University Medal, the USI Alumni Award and the USI Raiffeisen Best Teaching Award. The ceremony opened with a speech by Luisa Lambertini, Rector of USI, followed by a welcome address by the President of the Council, Monica Duca Widmer, and institutional greetings from Marina Carobbio Guscetti, State Councillor and Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of the Canton of Ticino. The keynote speech was given by Claude Nicollier, Swiss astronaut, interviewed by Giovanni Pellegri from L'ideatorio USI.
A vision ahead of its time
The award is intended to pay tribute to the authentic and forward-looking vision of Dr Licenziati, who was an early supporter of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences project, believing firmly in it even before it was formally established in 2014.
He financed and promoted the Master's in Medicine, sowing confidence in an idea that, at the time, still seemed a long way off.
Dr Licenziati recognised the concrete opportunity offered by the development of USI to train new doctors, responding to a need felt at national level.
Time has proven him right: in 2023, the first class of the Master's programme graduated, crowning a journey that continues today with an academic offering developed in collaboration with institutions of excellence such as ETH Zurich, the University of Basel and the University of Zurich.
The energy of doing and the cult of knowledge
The career of Arturo Licenziati, entrepreneur and philanthropist, is rooted in the values of innovation, quality, responsibility and people. For him, the energy of doing is not simply operational momentum, but a concrete vision: transforming ideas into projects, and projects into realities that generate impact. It is this attitude that has made him a leading figure not only in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in civil society, where he continues to distinguish himself through his commitment to education and culture.
It is therefore no surprise that his history is closely intertwined with that of USI, with which he shares fundamental values such as quality, openness and responsibility.
A concrete example of his vision is the IBSA Foundation for scientific research, established in Lugano in 2012 to make science more accessible and promote dialogue between the humanities and sciences. The Foundation provides ongoing support to students of the USI Master's programme in medicine: since 2017, it has awarded 591 scholarships, totalling over 1,290,000 Swiss francs.
The IBSA Foundation's commitment to supporting the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences has been renewed for another 10 years until 2038.
Arturo Licenziati is an entrepreneur, innovator and promoter of knowledge. His faith in research, knowledge and the talent of the younger generation is the same that drives the University, and it is precisely this deep bond of vision and values that the Dies Academicus sought to celebrate.
Credits: Tipress
