CISI scrl is not a service company (non-profit nature), but neither is it an R & D company with an integrated structure within, as our platforms are almost exclusively oriented towards chemistry (see Platform Technologies). For this, our goal is to be considered an ideal partner for creating value on innovative projects in the field of Life Sciences, and consequently to work with public private research groups with competence and valuable assets in the pharmaceutical sector.

Collaboration is the key term. In fact, CISI scrl favors the establishment of working relations based on collaboration and strategic contribution, rather than customer-driven service business. CISI scrl therefore prefers the participation to the increased value of the project that requires technical support for chemical design, when it is progressed successfully (risk sharing): this is an interesting model for young and dynamic Life Sciences companies, with few funds and little capacity in chemistry, but who have biological skills and IP to be exploited to discover new active principles.

In detail, in exchange for a significantly reduced FTE or project cost (in line with the prices of chemical CROs in India, but ensuring a more proactive/problem solving attitude, a teamwork attitude and greater competence of the researchers allocated to the project) one can choose among a limited shareholding for CISI scrl in the young company, milestone payments in correspondence of significant objectives achieved with the contribution of CISI scrl and small royalties related to future project incomes, and/or a share of the IP generated during the development of the project.

Obviously, also a pure fee-for-service model is also acceptable to us, if specifically requested by a partner, possibly as the first "trial period" to assess our capabilities. In this case, the FTE or project cost is greater (but still much lower than for European or American CROs), and the IP generated, as any other tangible asset, is owned by the partner.

Two important points must be finally mentioned. First, the long business experience of CISI scrl managers has brought to a waterproof compartimentalization for both tangible (laboratories, people, etc..) and intangible structures (data, databases, etc..) in our labs, so to protect sensitive data generated during a collaboration. Second, our "hybrid" public-private nature, the national and international visibility of the key figures at CISI scrl and their scientific and entrepreneurial networks, make CISI scrl an excellent partner in the search for Italian or European public funding for collaborative projects. An early injection of public funds at an exploratory project stage, so to be validated and to acquire significant value before the investment of significant private funds, is surely an opportunity to be exploited.