When Californian biotech group Illumina was looking to expand its European presence back in 2021, it chose Milan. The ‘solutions centre and research hub’ the company set up in the Milano Innovation District (MIND) on the city’s outskirts is its fourth in Europe, with the others located in well-established life sciences capitals Paris, Cambridge and Berlin. 

The decision by the San Diego-headquartered group reveals the Italian city’s ability to attract the world’s most sophisticated biotech firms. Nasdaq-listed Illumina develops genomic sequencing technologies that examine the DNA of humans (and other living organisms) to determine its impact on health, improve diagnosis, and ultimately tackle some of medicine’s biggest challenges such as cancer and rare genetic diseases.

Marco Cappelletti, Illumina’s general manager of the Mediterranean region and central Europe, speaks to fDi about why the company chose Milan, and how the city could become one of Europe’s top-tier life sciences innovation centres

Q: What exactly does Illumina’s solutions centre and research hub do?

A: Illumina is a global organisation [selling across 155 countries], but we recognise the importance of engaging with customers at a local level. Our solutions centre and research hubs are a home for our technical experts to train customers on using our technologies. These centres are actually hosting our customers — including researchers in academics, government and commercial settings — in a lab, to support them on different applications and programmes. There is also the potential that it leads to partnerships [with customers] around the development of new solutions.  

Q: Why did Illumina choose Milan for this project? 

A: Although it doesn’t have the same level of recognition as the other European biotech hubs, Milan is home to over 250 biotechs and pharma companies, and has leading scientific research centres, including Human Technopole in MIND, which has a huge genomics programme. Plus, the city’s major hospitals are using genomics to develop research on new diagnostic tools and to help discover breakthrough therapies in multiple areas. Customer vicinity is one of the main reasons we’ve put these fully operational labs in the main European countries; therefore, within Italy, the obvious choice is Milan. 

Q: Governments have helped foster the rise of other European life sciences hubs. Is Italy helping too?  

A: More funding being injected into the area has [contributed to] a lot of activity and excitement. Human Technopole, which is [Italy’s] biggest life sciences research centre, was a public investment planned five years ago and is now really attracting companies and investment into the metropolitan area. Illumina is one example. The decision to invest in Milan via our solutions centre is because of the city’s changing life sciences landscape.  

Q: What must change for Milan to enter the top tier of Europe’s life sciences hubs? 

A: Milan is the first Italian [biotech] hub that could be compared to others across the region, such as those in the UK, Germany and Paris. But there’s still much more to do for it to enter the elite ranking of European innovation hubs. Policies that foster innovation and provide substantial funding for research and development must happen at the regional and national level. More tax incentives are also needed — especially as taxation in Italy is quite high — plus a more streamlined regulatory process for start-ups.

Strong collaboration between universities, research institutions, hospitals and private players such as Illumina is key to drive cutting edge research, and translation of that into practical solutions and potential businesses. This, and showcasing the real potential of the city and metropolitan area, can help create the ecosystem to support venture capital injecting more into the sector, which is super important.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Do you want more FDI stories delivered directly to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletters.

This article is part of the Special Report:
Milan’s life sciences ascent
Read more articles from the report