Milan/Turin, 14 October 2026 — Claris Ventures SGR announces the launch of Claris Biotech Lombardia – Parallel Fund, a new venture capital fund with €10 million in capital to support biotech innovation in Lombardy.
The fund is backed by Lombardia Venture STEP, an initiative of Regione Lombardia financed through the PR Lombardia FESR 2021–2027 programme and managed by Finlombarda S.p.A.
More capital for therapeutic innovation
The Parallel Fund will co-invest with Claris Biotech I and Claris Biotech II, the funds managed by Claris Ventures and dedicated to developing new therapies, in biotech companies operating in Lombardy with strong scientific and industrial potential.
Its objective is to increase the capital available to take scientific research towards clinical development and support the creation and growth of biotech businesses in Lombardy that can compete internationally.
Lombardy is one of Italy’s and Europe’s leading life sciences hubs, bringing together universities, research and clinical centres, the pharmaceutical industry and specialist expertise. Through Claris Biotech Lombardia, Claris Ventures aims to help translate this scientific strength into new therapeutic programmes and companies.
Connecting public resources and private capital
Pietro Puglisi and Ciro Spedaliere, Managing Partners of Claris Ventures, emphasised that biotechnology requires substantial capital and specialist expertise. Initiatives such as Lombardia Venture STEP combine public resources with private investment, strengthening the ability to support ambitious scientific projects until they can attract international investors and pharmaceutical partners.
The Managing Partners highlighted Lombardy’s rich research, clinical and industrial ecosystem and the new fund’s role in translating more of its scientific innovation into therapies and globally competitive biotech companies.
Building on the Claris Ventures platform
Claris Ventures is an Italian venture capital firm focused on early-stage therapeutic programmes. It works alongside researchers, entrepreneurs and management teams to build companies and advance programmes from preclinical research to clinical validation.
Claris Biotech I, launched in 2020 with total capital of €85 million, has invested in ten biotech companies, supporting therapeutic programmes in oncology, neurology, cardiometabolic diseases and rare diseases. Claris Biotech II, launched in 2025 with a target of €100 million, continues the same strategy to support new generations of biotech companies emerging from Italian research.
Claris Biotech Lombardia further strengthens the platform’s capacity to support innovation in the region, complementing the resources of its main funds with those made available through Lombardia Venture STEP.