Our history
The Network of Italian Core Facilities (NICo) was set up on the initiative of a group of Italian Universities and Research Institutes that had already individually established centralized technological platforms with highly specialized personnel. As of 2021, these Institutions developed a project which was strongly committed towards collaborative and open innovation.
Since its initial setting, NICo’s objective has been to ensure widespread access to Core Facilities services for the scientific community and enterprises, with the aim to promoting the implementation of cutting-edge projects.
2021 Initiative | Webinar
The initiative that led to the establishment of NICo began with the organization of four Webinars designed to facilitate interaction and exchange among Institutions already operating in the national landscape.
During these occasions, sixteen centralized Core Facilities were introduced, by detailing their key characteristics, missions, and governance structures.
A major source of inspiration for building a national network came from participating in CTLS (Core Technologies for Life Sciences) conferences and activities. The initiative received significant endorsement through the participation of CTLS president, Julia Fernandez Rodriguez, in the first Webinar.
The Webinars, which are a key resource for sharing experiences and best practices in the field of Core Facilities, can be accessed through the following links:
First Italian Core Facilities Meeting
Second Italian Core Facilities Meeting
Third Italian Core Facilities Meeting
Fourth Italian Core Facilities Meeting
2022 Kick-off Meeting @Trento | Memorandum of Understanding | NICo-BBMRI.it Agreement
The Kick-off Meeting of the Network of Italian Core Facilities was held in Trento on June 6, 2022.
During the event, the eleven member institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding , and NICo was formally established.
Another key objective of the inaugural meeting was to raise awareness within the Italian scientific and academic community about the role of Core Facilities and their critical importance in research and innovation ecosystems.
In 2022, NICo also entered into a Collaboration Agreement with the BBMRI.it Research Infrastructure in the framework of the PNRR project “Strengthening BBMRI.it”.
Under this project, which aims to bolster the Italian biobank network, NICo’s role is to leverage its expertise to enhance the value of biological samples provided by BBMRI.it, through sample characterization activities.
2023 Website & Logo | First National Congress of Core Facilities @Milan
After launching the website’s first version and designing Nico’s logo, the First National Congress of the Italian Core Facilities Network was held in 2023. Hosted by the University of Milan on March 30 and 31, the Congress brought together all member Institutions. It served as a platform to discuss future challenges and opportunities, strengthen connections, and enhance visibility among stakeholders from both the research community and enterprises.
NICo | A Snapshot of Our History
