We are in ECSIN LAB –a new entry in Mérieux NutriSciences Italia–, an Innovation Lab that matches the attention toward the efficacy of the proposed solutions to emerging risks, and the participation in international scientific strategic projects for the future. Today, we will meet the person who developed the Lab, has always believed in it and continues innovating it every day, Federico Benetti.
Read the interview #BehindTheScenes.
ECSIN LAB from its origins until now. What is the story?
ECSIN LAB and I are all one; it is really part of me. It is something I started building many years ago, and for a long time I was one of the few who believed in its future and opportunities. In 2010, ECSIN LAB was established by the Veneto region to perform research in the field of nanomaterials safety. Researchers were hired and the first steps into the world of nanotechnology sustainability were taken. In 2015, a management change took place and EcamRicert S.r.l., –which strongly believed in its vision and bet on its recovery– acquired the laboratory. With this setup, we learned a new attitude to work, switching from the development of research projects to analytical services to offer innovative solutions to the market; moreover, we also grew in terms of numbers! Thanks to the study and projects on nanoparticles and microplastics, we were noticed by Mérieux NutriSciences Group and joined in 2019. When I look at the past, today pays me back for the gamble I made: I never abandoned ECSIN LAB and managed to combine innovation with the development of both services and work recognized by the scientific community.
Two acquisitions in a short time. ECSIN LAB also attracted the interest of an international group: how is it going?
It is a radical change. National and international visibility has dramatically grown and we would certainly never have achieved these results on our own. Increased visibility and interest from companies lead to an increase in management complexity and the possibility of approaching new topics. This means an increase in knowledge and skills and innovation development. However, ECSIN LAB researchers and scientists are very well prepared and always ready for new challenges, leading us to continuously improve and innovate.
Why ECSIN LAB, what does it have over other research laboratories?
We are the reference point for many companies for complex projects; they contact us when there are no standard or official protocols or easy answers. In fact, we do not provide a simple reply, but try to give a complete solution supporting the customer in its growth! The approach we use is multidisciplinary, and based on a deep knowledge of the topics and their integration. This service is mostly required by pharmaceutical companies, characterized by a high level of in-house expertise: when they ask for the support of an external laboratory, they expect to find real benefit, something that makes the difference.
All previous interviewees share a common feature: the passion for their work. What makes science so special and attractive?
How can you not enjoy a job where you learn something new every day? I do not only mean from a technical point of view, but also in terms of new spurs. When a company submits us a request, we study it until a solution is found. As I said before, we often work on ad hoc and non-standardized projects, so it is necessary to manage the unexpected, critical issues and the ability to develop complementary approaches to achieve the goal, leading to great satisfaction when it is achieved! A recent example? We supported a pharmaceutical company in the process of developing and submitting a registration dossier for a novel food, so I am talking about a very new project for which there was a rationale but the approaches to be used were and still are borderline. In addition to obtaining a positive opinion, we were invited by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) to present our work as a positive example of technological excellence.
Tell us about the ECSIN LAB team, pros and cons.
I try to be surrounded by people with the same passion, sense of responsibility and lateral thinking. To be successful, every project must be analyzed from different points of view. I am lucky enough to have some skilled colleagues by my side; they help me conveying these values and goals, to create a cohesive and high profile group.
ECSIN LAB today, what do you expect? Where are you going?
ECSIN LAB is growing and evolving. This is perfectly logical. An industry like this needs to reinvent itself every day not to fall behind, so not only do we have to study new projects but we also have to continually improve the management of the group, introducing new resources or moving others to ease everyone’s growth. Certainly, the increasing interaction with pharmaceutical companies brought major challenges that have required even greater commitment and dedication, but it has also given us huge satisfaction.