{"id":1156,"date":"2021-07-29T14:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-29T14:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/?p=1156"},"modified":"2023-02-09T11:08:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T11:08:41","slug":"francesco-menegoni","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/francesco-menegoni\/","title":{"rendered":"Francesco Menegoni"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our Stories<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our Stories<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFrancesco Menegoni \n\t\t\t<\/h2> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Francesco Menegoni<\/strong> is a biomedical engineer with a passion for information technology who has always put his intellectual curiosity, his talent and skills at the service of other people health and well-being, first as a researcher and then as president and CEO of g&life<\/strong>, a cutting-edge company based in Trieste that operates in the nutrigenetics sector and helps people to feel better by offering them \u201cDNA-tailored\u201d solutions and lifestyles.<\/p>\n

Since last year, with the spirit of a civil servant, Francesco has taken a small step back from his business activity to become an expert consultant for the Department for Digital Transformation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers<\/b> as part of an important project aimed at promoting innovation and experimentation with new technologies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Francesco, tell us something about you: what\u2019s your professional and educational history? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I started by enrolling in a degree course in Electronic Engineering in Trieste, but meeting a heart surgeon quickly directed me to bioengineering<\/b>. So I decided to move to Milan and study Biomedical Engineering at the Politecnico, where a few years later I graduated in Medical Informatics with Prof. Francesco Pinciroli, with whom I then continued to collaborate as a researcher dealing with health information systems, biolanguages and bioarchives.<\/p>\n

Later on I obtained the title of PhD in Bioengineering under the supervision of Prof. Emanuela Galli, who taught me, among other things, to present the results of scientific research in the most effective way possible in national and international contexts. During the years of my doctorate I had the opportunity to collaborate with various entities outside the Politecnico, especially in the clinical field, and to work closely with patients<\/b>. That was a fundamental experience for my subsequent career because it made me understand what my true calling was. From this point of view, working with the Italian Auxological Institute<\/b> was particularly satisfying because it gave me the opportunity to apply my research on biomechanical systems not only to patients but also to high-level athletes.<\/p>\n

One day, out of serendipity, a friend \u2013 also a graduate from the Politecnico \u2013 contacted me and asked me to work on a very interesting business project in the nutrigenetics sector<\/b>. The project, born from an idea of Prof. Paolo Gasparini, envisaged exploiting the genetic information usually used to diagnose potential diseases and concerning the way we metabolize foods to improve people's life, developing diets and other customized solutions based on accurate genetic testing.<\/p>\n

I found the idea very fascinating, so I accepted the proposal and came back to Trieste to meet Prof. Gasparini and the rest of the team. Here I discovered a beautiful reality that I did not yet know: the Area Science Park<\/b>. As part of the Innovation Factory program, the park operated as a real business incubator, selecting the most promising start-ups and offering them logistical and financial support to start the business and perform their first tests. Our project was judged promising and in 2009, after a year of hard work, we founded g&life<\/b>. In the meantime, we had also participated in several international events, including Webit in Barcelona, where we pitched with great success our idea in front of an international audience.<\/p>\n

At that time as a founding partner, I mainly dealt with the operational side, until in 2011 an important investment fund decided to intervene in the company's capital, transforming it into a joint stock company and asking me to take on the position of president and CEO: a proposal that I immediately accepted with great enthusiasm. In those years we have worked with companies of all types, from insurance companies to pharmaceutical companies, in Italy and abroad, offering our know-how and our technology from a b2b perspective<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Subsequently, the majority of g&life was acquired by the BioValley Investments<\/b> group, founded by the electronic engineer Diego Bravar and very active in the biomedical, biotechnology and bioinformatics sectors. Thanks to them we have also begun to probe the b2c market for the first time. We have created the Generame<\/b> brand and, based on the experience gained alongside our partners, we have also begun to create consumer products \u2013 mainly food supplements and cosmetics \u2013 which are giving us a lot of satisfaction.<\/p>\n

From September 2020 I started collaborating with the Department for digital transformation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers as an expert consultant, with the idea of dedicating at least one year of my life to serve the community<\/b> and to contribute to the transformation of the country with my skills and experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What are you working on right now? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As for g & life, in recent years, in addition to precision genetics<\/b> \u2013 which has always been our strength \u2013 we have also studied epigenetics<\/b>, i.e. the study of substances which, if introduced into the body, have the ability to stimulate certain groups of genes, regulating what in jargon is called \"genetic expression\". Furthermore, thanks to the experience gained by participating in an important European research project on cardiovascular risks, we have developed a technology that makes it possible to make certain substances much more bioavailable. When we decided to launch our brand, we brought together all these experiences, creating both non-specific products, valid for everyone because they are able to stimulate the epigenetic part, and specific products linked to the genetic variations of the individual. At this time, in pursuit of a vision as complete as possible of well-being<\/b>, we are mainly dealing with the genetic analysis of the intestinal biome.<\/p>\n

As a consultant to the Department, however, I am collaborating on the \u201cSperimentazione Italia\"<\/b> initiative: a project that has the ambition to create the necessary conditions for real and concrete experimentation in the sectors with the highest potential in our country. In a nutshell, it is a rule (article 36 of decree law n.76 of 16 July 2020 - Simplification and digital innovation, converted with law 11 September 2020 n.120) which on the one hand facilitates the field testing of innovative solutions by companies, universities and research institutes in the event of regulatory impediments; on the other hand, it is a tool that allows, following a successful experimentation, to propose regulatory changes to bridge the structural gap between innovation and current legislation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What are your plans for the future? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the coming years, my intention is to push forward the company internationalization<\/b>. Today we operate mainly on the European market but last year we began to open up to China and at the moment we are also working with the United Kingdom and Romania, where we are already present with our brand. Furthermore, I intend to combine the growth of g&life with the growth of the BioValley group to which it belongs. In any case, I know for sure that whatever I do will have the goal of improving people's lives<\/b> because this has always been the common thread of my work.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What do you like most about your job?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The thing I like most about my work is that the products I have helped to realize \u2013 and which are often the result of many years of research \u2013 actually and positively affect people's lives<\/b>. I often receive messages of gratitude from customers who fill me with joy and emotion: athletes who, thanks to our products, have managed to improve their performance, people who have finally managed to get the results they wanted after years of trying... This is the energy that pushes me to move forward and that gives me the confidence that what I do works and is appreciated.<\/p>\n

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What did studying at DEIB mean for you? How important was this experience for your career and what is the most precious thing you learned at the Politecnico di Milano?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Politecnico di Milano has given me a lot and the great advantages it offers are appreciated even more with time. Graduates from the Politecnico can count not only on a rock-solid technical-scientific background, but also on an internationally recognized and appreciated reputation: in the job market, the Politecnico is a real brand!<\/b><\/p>\n

As for me, during my graduation years the Politecnico taught me the ability to plan efficiently<\/b> while respecting the assigned deadlines. From this point of view it was an excellent school. In addition, it allowed me to follow lessons related to other departments or degree courses, promoting an interdisciplinary approach capable of stimulating my curiosity and my desire to learn><\/b>. More specifically, having had the luck of becoming passionate about computer science and programming, I was also able to take exams in robotics and artificial intelligence which guaranteed me an excellent foundation in these fields.<\/p>\n

Having a solid background in the IT field gave me an edge during my PhD years, when I found myself interacting with many companies that also required programming skills. Not to mention that the doctorate also allowed me to have experiences outside the academy<\/b> and to collaborate with different health structures, it gave me a method to be a more effective communicator and above all it made me discover my true calling: to improve people\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

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Is there a funny anecdote from when you were a student that you would like to share?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I remember that on my graduation day a friend of mine covered the Politecnico with pictures of me with the words \"If I made it, anyone can do it\"! Putting irony aside, this is actually the message I try to convey to all the kids I meet when I tell my story in schools. If you work hard, give your all and try to learn something from your mistakes, you can definitely do it<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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To conclude: what advice would you give to a student or a recent graduate who would like to work in your field?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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My advice is to always give your best so you don\u2019t have regrets<\/b>. Regardless of the outcome, being aware that you have done everything in your power is something that helps you live better and more at peace with yourself. If I think about my path, engaging in an entrepreneurial adventure was a very important experience that gave me a much broader perspective on my work and made me understand many things that I did not get when I was a researcher, such as the logic of patents or the enhancement of scientific research \u2013 fundamental aspects that help to do things that can actually have a positive impact on people's lives. Therefore, to the youngest I say: if you want to try to do something, do it! Maybe try to work in a small company or a start-up. It is very difficult and requires a lot of effort but it is an excellent school for developing the ability to communicate with people with a different background. And working with those who have knowledge and skills different from your own is very important because it allows everyone to give the maximum added value possible and to collaborate in a profitable way for all the parties involved.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Do you want to stay updated on all the research activities<\/strong>, events<\/strong> and other initiatives<\/strong> taking place at the Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria of the Politecnico di Milano? Subscribe to the DEIB Community newsletter!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Newsletter<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Do you want to stay updated on all the research activities<\/strong>, events<\/strong> and other initiatives<\/strong> taking place at the Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria of the Politecnico di Milano? Subscribe to the DEIB Community newsletter!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ingegnere biomedico con la passione dell\u2019informatica, Francesco Menegoni ha sempre messo la sua curiosit\u00e0 intellettuale, le sue competenze e il suo talento al servizio della salute e del benessere degli altri, prima come ricercatore universitario e poi come presidente e amministratore delegato di g&life, azienda triestina …<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[19],"class_list":{"0":"post-1156","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-le-nostre-storie","8":"tag-bio"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1156"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2008,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1156\/revisions\/2008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.community.deib.polimi.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}