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Francesco Bellini (businessman)
Encyclopedia
Francesco Bellini, CM
, OQ
is research scientist, administrator, entrepreneur
and Quebec
er business man born in Italy, Ascoli Piceno
, in 1947.
He is a pioneer scientist-entrepreneur in the Canadian bio-pharmaceutical industry, he was co-founder of Biochem Pharma, as well as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer from 1986 to 2001. He has authored or co-authored more than twenty-five patents over his 20-year career as a research scientist.
, Italy, Dr. Bellini came to Canada in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now Concordia University
) in 1972 and his Doctorate in organic chemistry from University of New Brunswick
in 1977. He is the author or co-author of some 25 patents and has published numerous articles and papers based on his research.
Dr. Francesco Bellini runs BELLUS Health, a company which develops new health products. BELLUS Health is engaged in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical activities. Dr. Bellini is also Chairman of Picchio International, Picchio Pharma, Prognomix and ViroChem Pharma – all companies involved in healthcare. He was also the Chairman, President, and CEO of Neurochem, which was developing Alzhemed, a compound for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease that ultimately failed in late stage clinical trials. Prior to this, Dr. Bellini was Chairman and CEO of BioChem Pharma an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases and cancer, which he co-founded in 1986. From 1968 to 1984, he had a fruitful career as a researcher at the Canadian subsidiary of a multinational pharmaceutical company. In 1984, Dr. Bellini established the Bio-chemicals Division of the Institut Armand-Frappier at the Université du Québec, which specializes in research, manufacturing and the commercialization of fine chemicals. He headed up this unit until leaving in 1986 to co-found BioChem Pharma.
Dr. Bellini is also a member of the following Board of Directors: Molson Coors Brewing Company
; Montreal Heart Institute Foundation; Italian Chamber of Commerce; the Government of Canada's Science Technology & Innovation Council; and Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.
. He made a major donation toward a new residence and centre for Alzheimer's sufferers.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OQ
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
is research scientist, administrator, entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
er business man born in Italy, Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
, in 1947.
He is a pioneer scientist-entrepreneur in the Canadian bio-pharmaceutical industry, he was co-founder of Biochem Pharma, as well as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer from 1986 to 2001. He has authored or co-authored more than twenty-five patents over his 20-year career as a research scientist.
Youth and schooling
Born in 1947 in Ascoli PicenoAscoli Piceno
Ascoli Piceno is a town and comune in the Marche region of Italy, capital of the province of the same name. Its population is c. 51,400.-Geography:...
, Italy, Dr. Bellini came to Canada in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
) in 1972 and his Doctorate in organic chemistry from University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
in 1977. He is the author or co-author of some 25 patents and has published numerous articles and papers based on his research.
Professional biography
Dr. Bellini is also a member of the following Board of Directors: Molson Coors Brewing Company
Molson Coors Brewing Company
Molson Coors Brewing Company is a company that was created by the merger of two of North America's largest breweries: Molson of Canada, and Coors of the United States, on February 9, 2005...
; Montreal Heart Institute Foundation; Italian Chamber of Commerce; the Government of Canada's Science Technology & Innovation Council; and Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.
Philanthropy
He donated $10 M towards a new life sciences building at McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. He made a major donation toward a new residence and centre for Alzheimer's sufferers.
Special honor
For his major contribution in the fields of entrepreneurship, research and economy, Dr. Bellini has received the title of ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’, the most prestigious honor granted by the Italian government. Over the years, Dr. Bellini has received the following awards.Awards
- 1987 - Successors: Second Annual Celebration of Canada's Unsung Business Heroes Canadian Business Magazine
- 1991 - Man of the Month Revue Commerce (Commerce Magazine)
- 1992 - Premio Award (Business Category) Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association
- 1993 - Ernest A. Le Sueur Memorial Lecturer Award Society of Chemical Industry of Canada
- 1994 - Prix Industrie 1994 Association de la recherché industrielle du Québec » (Industrial Research Association of Quebec)
- 1995 - Personality of the Year" Canadian Italian Business and Professional Association
- 1995 - The Golden Lion Ordine Figli d'Italia (Order of the Sons of Italy)
- 1996 - Work honoring five Italia Imprenditori Italiani nel mondo ieri eoggi, Milan: Libri Scheiwiller, 1996. Canada: Le nuove frontiere della farmacologia di FrancescoBellini."
- 1996 - Award of Distinction Concordia UniversityConcordia UniversityConcordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
Faculty of Commerce and Administration - 1997 - Imprenditore dell’anno- Premio International Ernst & Young / Camera di Commercio di Milano di Unioncamere
- 1997 – Onorificenza Di Grande Ufficiale, Government of Italy
- 1998 - Quebec's Top 50 Revue Commerce (Commerce Magazine)
- 1998 - Lauréat de la réussite Magazine Entreprendre
- 1998 - Honorary Degree Doctor of University of New BrunswickUniversity of New BrunswickThe University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
- 1998 - Honorary Degree Doctor of University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
- 1998 - National Merit of Ottawa Life Sciences Council
- 1999 - Member of Great Montrealer / Académie des Grands Montréalais
- 1999 - Les Bâtisseurs de 1950 à 1999 Revue Commerce (Commerce Magazine)
- 2000 – Member of C.P.Q.'s Entrepreneurs Club Conseil du Patronat du Quebec
- 2000 - Officer Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
- 2001 - Member of Excelia Club BioQuebec
- 2002 – Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal
- 2002 - Personality of the week La PresseLa Presse (Canada)La Presse, founded in 1884, is a French-language Monday-Saturday newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is owned today by Groupe Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada. The Sunday version was dropped in 2009.-Description:...
- 2002 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Laws Concordia UniversityConcordia UniversityConcordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
- 2003 - Personality of the year, Business Category, Cyberpresse La PresseLa Presse (Canada)La Presse, founded in 1884, is a French-language Monday-Saturday newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is owned today by Groupe Gesca, a subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada. The Sunday version was dropped in 2009.-Description:...
- 2004 - Honorary Degree Doctor of Science McGill UniversityMcGill UniversityMohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
- 2004 - Officer National Order of QuebecNational Order of QuebecThe National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
- 2005 – Cavaliere del Lavoro Italian Government (Italian orders of meritItalian orders of meritThere are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
)