The inauguration of Casa Carlo Cattaneo, the new headquarters of IBSA Foundation for scientific research

On the tenth anniversary of its activity, IBSA Foundation for scientific research has officially moved to the new headquarters of Casa Carlo Cattaneo, in Lugano-Castagnola (CH). The inauguration ceremony was held last September 20, and officially initiated a new chapter dedicated to the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the intersection between humanities and science.
 
Established in 2012, IBSA Foundation is the main driver of the social responsibility activities of the IBSA Group. Its mission is to disseminate a reliable and accessible scientific culture, support research and promote the relationship between arts and science.

THE NEW HOME OF IBSA FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Christophe Almeida Direito, Sr. ESG & Real Estate Manager at IBSA Group, who took care of the restyling of Casa Carlo Cattaneo, explained: “Encouraged and supported by our President and CEO Arturo Licenziati, we try to bring our peculiar care and beauty to every IBSA site. Above all in Casa Cattaneo, we wanted to enhance the historical identity of the building, enriching it with the small details of the IBSA character. Preserving the historical identity of the place – while reconciling it with the practical needs of an office and a House open to the public, which must be welcoming, technological and functional – was our main goal”.

With the move to the new headquarters at Casa Carlo Cattaneo, IBSA Foundation aims to become a live “research lab”, open to the public, in a symbolic place chosen precisely for its historical and cultural relevance. Indeed, a strong affinity exists between the far-sighted vision of Carlo Cattaneo – the great political-theoretical philosopher of federalism and advocate of the synthesis between technical and humanistic thought – and the guiding philosophy of IBSA Foundation. Just as Carlo Cattaneo imagined a society in which technical progress and scientific literacy could be the driving force of a balanced overall growth, in the same way IBSA Foundation sets itself the objective of making scientific knowledge accessible to all, well aware that investing in education can promote the growth of the Communities. Indeed, among the Foundation’s objectives is to invest in training, inspire new generations of researchers and promote inclusive processes, for the benefit of integration and the future of the territory.

Silvia Misiti, Director of IBSA Foundation for scientific research, explained: “Supporting young researchers and attracting younger generations with a simple, rigorous, accessible and engaging language is the basis of the scientific dissemination that we promote through IBSA Foundation. Following the teachings of Cattaneo himself, we aim to also carry on our commitment in the new headquarters, making it a point of reference for scientific culture”.

THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY

The long-awaited ribbon cutting took place in the presence of the main political figures of the Canton Ticino and the City of Lugano, among whom:

• Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano;
• Roberto Badaracco, Deputy Mayor and Head of the Department of Culture, Sport and Events;
• Marina Carobbio Guscetti, State Councillor and Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports;
• Raffaele De Rosa, President of the Council of State and Director of the Department of Health and Social Affairs;

welcomed by Arturo Licenziati, President and CEO of the IBSA Group, and by Silvia Misiti, Director of IBSA Foundation.

After the ritual greetings and the short contributions of the cantonal authorities, the evening continued with a guided tour open to all participants, as well as a pleasant standing dinner accompanied by the notes of the Castagnola Philharmonic, the Lugano band directed by Maestro Mauro Ghisletta.

A HOME FOR SCIENCE; A BRIDGE FOR THE CITIZENSHIP

Casa Cattaneo will host permanent exhibitions – ​​including a detailed display precisely dedicated to Carlo Cattaneo – workshops for schools and events open to the public. Furthermore, the new headquarters of IBSA Foundation will become the competence centre in Culture and Health.

In continuity with what has been done over the years, the Foundation will continue its partnerships with several major cultural institutions on the Ticino and Swiss scene, including

• University of Italian Switzerland (USI, Università della Svizzera italiana),
• Culture Division of the City of Lugano,
• MASI (Museo d’Arte della Svizzera Italiana, Art Museum of Italian Switzerland),
• LAC (Lugano Arte e Cultura, Lugano Art and Culture),
• Cartoon Museum in Basel,
• ETH Zürich.

But the IBSA Foundation’s scope of action does not stop at the Swiss borders. In fact, the collaboration with the National Museum of Science and Technology “Leonardo da Vinci” in Milan and with the Science Museum in Trento (both in Italy) will continue.