The 12th edition of IBSA Foundation’s Fellowship program recorded the highest number of applications to date: 259 submissions from 45 countries worldwide.
From these, the Scientific Board of IBSA Foundation selected the six winning projects, and awarded a €32,000 Fellowship for each in the following key areas: dermatology, endocrinology, fertility/urology, pain medicine/orthopaedics/rheumatology, and Healthy Aging–Regenerative Medicine.
Healthy Aging–Regenerative Medicine, which received an exceptional number of applications, stood out as the most competitive area—resulting in two Fellowships being awarded.
On 27 May 2025, in the prestigious setting of Palazzo Giureconsulti in Milan, the official award ceremony brought together winners, Scientific Board members, and leading figures from the academic and scientific communities.
It was a moment of celebration, but also of reflection—on the strategic role of scientific research, and the urgency of investing in young talent to drive innovation and meet the challenges of today’s society.
At the heart of the event was a roundtable titled: “Investing in independent research to foster talent and strengthen competitiveness”, moderated by science journalist Luca Carra. The discussion tackled a timely and pressing question: how can we support and enhance the global competitiveness of the research landscape?
Joining the conversation were some of the most respected voices in the field:
The discussion emphasized the value of private foundations as key players in strengthening the research ecosystem, highlighting the importance of supporting the next generation of scientists—especially during the critical stage when ideas and ambition often meet limited opportunities.
The IBSA Foundation Fellowships were created to meet this very need: a concrete tool to recognize merit and innovation, offering young researchers the resources to bring their ideas to life.
It’s an investment that extends beyond individual careers—aiming to create a lasting impact on the broader research community.
Meet the winners of this twelfth edition and explore their projects.
The 2025 call for applications opens today, introducing an important new element: the Equity Prize—a €5,000 award that will go to the most outstanding scientific project conducted in a laboratory, institution, or university located in a country with limited access to funding and resources.
This new recognition will complement the six €32,000 Fellowships, which have been confirmed for the thirteenth edition of the program.
With this initiative, IBSA Foundation sets a new goal: to unlock underrepresented research potential in disadvantaged settings, and to promote a more inclusive international scientific landscape.
Applications are open until 31 January 2026 on the dedicated platform.
Now discover the winners and their projects from this 12th edition.