DEFENCE: AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH FONDAZIONE SMILE HOUSE ETS FOR COLLABORATION IN THE SCIENTIFIC AND HEALTHCARE FIELD

The signing ceremony of the agreement between the General Secretariat of Defence and National Armaments Directorate (Segredifesa) and the Smile House Fondazione ETS: took place on Thursday 15 June: the agreement seals the collaboration between the military sector and the third sector for the development of technical and scientific research projects in the healthcare field for the benefit of the community, with special attention towards vulnerable minors, disadvantaged groups and people unable to access medical care.

The protocol, signed in the port of Ancona aboard the Vulcano ship, stems from the “dual use” vocation of the Armed Forces, which have always been at the service of citizens: exchanges of know-how are planned in order to stimulate joint initiatives and programmes in the sectors of interest, increasing the wealth of knowledge and expertise, with a view to the subsequent dissemination of the data collected.

All of this by drawing on the professionalism and specialist skills that characterise both protagonists of the institutional initiative.

“The signing of this important agreement,” declared Matteo Perego di Cremnago, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Defence, at the end of the activity aboard the Vulcano ship, “is a strong signal that military healthcare can make its resources available for social purposes and to support the weakest and most vulnerable, who cannot and must never be left behind”.

In his speech, Army Corps General Luciano Portolano, General Secretary of Defence and National Armaments Director, highlighted how the collaboration between the Defence and Smile House Fondazione ETS in the field of research responds to the need to look at structured processes that fall within the dual use philosophy, that is, specific and sector-based projects that can have an application in both the military and civilian fields; but also to broaden the vision towards a shared use approach, in the awareness that technological progress produces cross-cutting effects across all sectors, regardless of the field of application.

“The agreement signed with the General Secretariat of Defence marks an important step in the collaboration between Third Sector Entities and the Armed Forces regarding the use of the healthcare equipment and facilities at their disposal. Today’s signing will enable the launch of a virtuous synergy, from which the entire national health system and the disadvantaged groups of the population who have difficulty accessing medical care will be able to benefit,” commented Dr Domenico Scopelliti, Vice President of Smile House Fondazione ETS. The signing of the protocol, signed by General Portolano and the Vice President of the Foundation Scopelliti, was preceded by the Conference “Military healthcare and the national health system: dual use for a virtuous synergy, also for the benefit of disadvantaged groups”, which took place at the Marche Army Military Command.

The meeting was moderated by the lawyer Federica Mondani, who stated: “Honoured to have moderated speakers of such standing belonging to the Ministry of Defence, University and Third Sector fields. Confident that the experience of the debate, on technical and legal as well as economic aspects, (within the scope of the possible reform of healthcare) may, in the meantime, facilitate the process of cooperation between different public bodies and between the public and private sectors, also through virtuous actions in favour of people in need and disadvantaged groups”.