Rino Rappuoli, scientific coordinator at the MAD Lab of Toscana Life Sciences and Scientific Director of the Biotecnopolo Foundation of Siena
The project of Biotechnopole suffers a severe blow with the 40% cut in funding between 2024 and 2026, established by the new Pnrr decree of Minister Raffaele Fitto. The news was communicated to the Board of Directors and calls into question the future of the del Biotechnopole and of theAnti-pandemic Hun Of Siena with a cut in resources of 135 million euros.
“The 135 million euro cut communicated to the Board of Directors by the Minister of Health opens up a huge question about the future of the two centers for which immediate and certain answers are urgently needed. In recent months and weeks I have hoped for joint action from institutional levels with respect to the silence that had fallen on the whole matter from the Government and if the answer to our doubts is what we have learned, there is something to worry about. Especially compared to those who in recent months, like the Honorable Michelotti and the mayor of Siena Fabio, having always reassured themselves that they have a direct line with the Government, have hastened to say that with respect to the future of the Biotechnopole and the anti-pandemic Hun it would have been any kind of problem”. This is underlined by President of the Province of Siena David Bussagli.
“The two centers are an opportunity for our entire territory but a silence has fallen on the future of which for 18 months and clarification is needed. The recent statements of Prof. Rino Rappuoli, scientific director of the Biotecnopolo Foundation, world-famous scientist and point of reference for research in the field of vaccines, had worried us greatly and now we understand their full force even more. The Biotechnopole project and the National Anti-pandemic Center of Siena connected to it represent an extraordinary and concrete opportunity for development, growth and employment on which, as a system of institutions, we cannot retreat in the slightest and which instead, today, due to choices that we don’t understand, they are suddenly weakened. In order for citizens to have clarity, as a territory and system of institutions we will immediately ask to clarify in the appropriate places the Government’s real intentions on the future of the two centres” he concludes Knock on him.
“Damage to Siena, Tuscany and Italy given that a strategic infrastructure such as the national anti-pandemic center is called into question”, commented the health manager of the Tuscany PD Marco Niccolai. “We already understood that the right wanted to bury it when they voted against our motion in the Regional Council, but now we have absolute certainty. All this is scandalous, because the Biotecnopolo Foundation represents a strategic infrastructure, especially in terms of health safety and scientific research activities, with all the resulting economic and employment implications. As PD Toscana we will continue to mobilize at every level against this choice which goes against the national interest, as well as representing a slap in the face to the city and Tuscany”, he concluded.
Source: Press Office
