Extend

Extend is a National Technology Transfer Hub entirely dedicated to the biopharmaceutical sector for the development of new therapeutic approaches, set up on the initiative of CDP Venture Capital through its Tech Transfer Fund and with the co-investment of Evotec and Angelini Ventures as project partners.

With a funding target of 30 million euros, the initiative is open to the entry of new industrial and financial partners, to support the financing of the best initiatives originating from the national research system, both in the proof-of-concept and start-up stages.

The Scientific Promoters of the initiative include IRSCC Ospedale San Raffaele in Milan, the Universities of Milan, Florence, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Padua, La Sapienza in Rome, the regional research district of Puglia through H-Bio and the Human Technopole.

Extend acts as an aggregation platform for the main players in biotech research of high scientific standing in Italy, technical and business incubation partners with a proven track record, leading companies in the sector and specialised venture capital funds. The ambition is to create an aggregator of skills and investors dedicated to the competitive development of the sector in Italy, aiding access to the market for new drugs and therapies that can help improve people's lives.

More specifically, Extend focuses on therapeutic areas with the greatest unmet medical needs, such as oncology, the central nervous system, rare diseases, and using biotechnologies as enabling solutions, such as gene and cell therapy, RNA and monoclonal antibodies.

The Hub is part of a total investment of more than 55 million euros allocated by the Technology Transfer Fund to build infrastructure to support the entire technology transfer chain, from the laboratory to the market. With this in mind, 15 million euros are allocated directly for the Extend Hub and 40 million euros are dedicated to supporting the development of new venture capital funds specialising in the biopharmaceutical sector. The investment plan is intended to finance approximately 50 proofs of concepts and 40 start-ups thanks to Extend's activity and the contribution of the related vertical funds.