An excellence centre able to attract foreign investments and that involves an increasing number of researchers. This is Tigem, the Telethon Institute for Genetics and Medicine, ready to move to the new and bigger facilities located in the area that was in the past designed for the Olivetti Plant in Pozzuoli.

The new offices have been presented at the Accademia Aeronautica of Pozzuoli, and President of the Republic of Italy Giorgio Napolitano and President of Regione Campania Stefano Caldoro attended the conference. Speeches by President of Telethon Foundation Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, General Director of Telethon Francesca Pasinelli, Director of Tigem Andrea Ballabio.

President Caldoro pointed out: “Naples and Campania have always been a national and international benchmark as for Tigem, and shortly the new offices will open in Pozzuoli, in the area where the Olivetti Plant was. Campania is the first region, immediately after Lombardy, for the research investments, if compared as for GDP. We are far above the national average and we are an excellence centre”.

Mr Montezemolo stated: “In Italy, we have several qualities of excellence and for sure, many of them are at the Tigem. A chance to make many researchers come back home”.

The new offices will be operational in spring 2014 and will be dedicated to the memory of Susanna Agnelli, President of Telethon since its foundation, from 1990 to 2009, when she died. The Centre will have 4 big research open space labs, offices, an auditorium and recreational areas. When completed, it will host 200 people among researchers and administration workers.