ISTAO Delegation Visits Sano
Italian business school delegation explores the Teaming model of research, innovation, and knowledge transfer
On 9 July, Sano Centre for Computational Medicine welcomed a delegation from ISTAO — Istituto Adriano Olivetti, a business school based in Ancona, Italy. The visit was part of a broader study tour of Poland, designed to give students a firsthand look at healthcare systems beyond their own — and to understand how research institutions translate science into real-world solutions.
A journey through European healthcare
Before arriving in Kraków, the delegation explored several facets of the Polish healthcare system in Warsaw: they visited the National Health Fund (NFZ), the Warszawsko-Ochocki District and a Specialist Outpatient Clinic, as well as a Primary Healthcare Centre. Together, these stops painted a detailed picture of how Poland organises and delivers care to its citizens — a system that combines universal public coverage with a substantial role of the private sector, making it a particularly interesting case study for comparative analysis.
Inside Sano: where science meets impact
At Sano, the guests stepped into a different dimension of healthcare — one built not on clinics and waiting rooms, but on algorithms, computational models, and the conviction that better medicine begins with better science. Katarzyna Baliga-Nicholson introduced the delegation to Sano’s structure and mission as a Teaming for Excellence centre — funded under the prestigious Horizon 2020 programme. The guests also had the opportunity to learn about the research teams and innovative solutions being developed at Sano, and to tour the Centre’s facilities — including the Virtual Reality lab – Medical Imaging and Robotics.
A highlight of the visit was a presentation by Rosemary Blanco and Luca Gherardini, who shared their personal journeys through scientific entrepreneurship — showing how a laboratory idea can evolve into a real-world startup with the right mix of skills, support, and ecosystem connections.
A conversation worth continuing
The ISTAO delegation proved to be exceptionally engaged guests, asking sharp questions and bringing fresh perspectives from the world of business education. The visit was a reminder that meaningful innovation rarely happens in isolation — it grows at the intersection of research, institutions, and the people willing to ask the right questions.
We thank the ISTAO delegation for their visit and look forward to future opportunities for exchange and collaboration.
