Scientific Curiosity, Patents, and Missed Opportunities

Abstract

“You can know the name of that bird in all the languages of the world, but when you’re finished, you’ll know nothing whatever about the bird. You’ll only know about humans in different places, and what they call the bird… I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”

— Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize in Physics

Do not utter the word AI unless you are fully aware of what it can accomplish for humanity—namely, the long-awaited moment of declaring: “We’ve finally made it!” We wished to introduce this special issue with something unconventional, cutting straight to the heart of the matter: coordinating clinical internships for a Bachelor's Degree Program in Medical Radiology Techniques (TRMIR), simultaneously managing dozens of experimental projects, and investing time and financial resources to support failed attempts, reworkings, and functioning solutions more worthy of the IG Nobel Prize than of practical deployment. To throw it all away and start anew might appear, to the untrained eye, as a way of squandering one’s lifetime, robbing it of hobbies, leisure, and personal bonds.

Such endeavours do not turn a professional into a PhD candidate poised for prestigious faculty positions at venerable institutions steeped in scientific rigor and the austere dogma of budgetary balance. Indeed, that very "budgetary balance" and the securing of funding often represent the main barrier to the transference of ideas drawn from unfiltered youthful inventiveness, frequently decapitated by the double-edged sword of sustainability and professional affiliation constraints.

Fortunately, the reverse is also (super)symmetrically true: if one never attains a PhD and is thus not beholden to ascend the academic hierarchy and its rules of “academic correctness,” one remains perpetually free to pursue and ignite scientific curiosity. This innovative and non-conformist attitude, so masterfully encapsulated by Feynman in the quote above, is for us a fundamental paradigm, revealing how creativity and scientific inquiry thrive on hands-on experimentation, grey literature, second thoughts, glue-stained fingers, and solder-burned hands. Yet these same hands possess the power to transform promising ideas into practical, patentable innovations [1].

The return on investment that we find most fulfilling is not measured in capital but in awareness: the awareness that we have helped, without resources, without institutional backing, and within an ecosystem often hostile to innovation and change, dozens of disoriented graduates to not only earn their degrees but also publish the scientific works presented in this issue. These works are destined to serve as valuable tools in their professional journeys—and, we sincerely hope, as an intriguing stimulus for technology enthusiasts who possess an experiential background attentive to avoiding wasted opportunities.

In the context of contemporary healthcare, this practical curiosity manifests itself in the identification of operational problems that can be addressed through technological and methodological innovation, thereby creating value for both patients and healthcare institutions.

Within the framework of the Degree Program in Medical Radiology Technician for Imaging and Radiotherapy (MRTIR), the sustainability of students’ project ideas is grounded in their ability to address concrete, unmet needs in the healthcare system. An approach consistent with the Jobs to Be Done theory and the principles of Human-Centered Design enables real-world problems to be tackled through the lens of the “task to be accomplished,” prompting the development of technically sound, socially beneficial, and clinically adoptable solutions. For this reason, the pedagogical methodology of the Simulation Laboratory—one of the flagship initiatives of the MRTIR degree program at the Barletta decentralized campus—has guided students from their first academic year to formulate alternative hypotheses on the reorganization of multidisciplinary diagnostic services. These proposals are shaped by technological trends and are intentionally detached from the all-too-often shortsighted—if not outright Luddite—logic of a professional community still struggling to unfurl the wings of measurable quality, anchored as it is to the exuviae of self-referentiality. The adoption of co-design practices involving healthcare professionals, patients, and stakeholders—hallmarks of human-centered design—enhances the experiential dimension of healthcare services, thereby improving the efficacy of proposed solutions.

Within this framework, the mediation between perceived needs, designed solutions, and financial sustainability can be facilitated through calls for proposals and funding initiatives promoted by universities and—ideally—by Foundations affiliated with the Orders of TSRM and PSTRP. These entities should recognize research and professional innovation as strategic tools for the advancement of the healthcare system. They can serve as incubators of ideas, supporting prototype development, in-field validation, and pathways for technological transfer.

This vision is now indispensable, especially in light of the current demographic dynamics. According to the World Health Organization, by 2050, the global population over the age of 60 is expected to reach 2.1 billion. In Italy, ISTAT predicts that by 2040, approximately one-third of the population will be over 65. This trend necessitates a reorganization of healthcare delivery that must incorporate technologies designed to enhance comfort, dignity, and adherence to diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. One domain in particular stands out: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), where the adoption of less claustrophobic gantries, more comfortable coils, calming audiovisual systems, and shortened scan protocols can substantially improve the experience for elderly users.

In parallel, the rise of home diagnostics and Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) solutions offers a concrete response to the growing demand for personalized, patient-centered care. In Italy, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) foresees an increase in home healthcare coverage from 4% to 10% by 2026 [3]. Mobile technologies for in-home diagnostic testing—already in use in some hospital systems—fit squarely within this still-developing paradigm, acting as strategic tools for proximity-based care.

The Ambient Assisted Living sector in Italy is expanding rapidly: it is projected to reach a market value of approximately 19.8 billion USD by 2030, with an average annual growth rate of 31.3% between 2025 and 2030 [4]. In particular, the telemonitoring segment, which enables the remote surveillance of vital signs, directly addresses the needs for safety and autonomy among the elderly population. These emerging trends offer students a fertile ground to develop integrated and inclusive solutions, supported by interdisciplinary educational pathways and targeted funding opportunities.

University Patents in Italy: An Evolving Landscape
Healthcare Technicians Filing Patents? Why Not? A Quantitative Analysis of the Phenomenon.

Over the past decade, Italian universities have witnessed a significant surge in patent-related activity, with a 45% increase compared to the previous ten-year period. The primary sectors include mechanical engineering (39.5%), chemistry (16.15%), instrumentation (13.61%), and electrical engineering (11.59%) [2]. This positive trend reflects a cultural shift within Italian academic institutions, increasingly oriented toward the valorization of applied research. Key points:

• Growth in university patents: +45% (2014–2024)
• Leading sector: Mechanical Engineering (39.5%)
• Increase in Technology Transfer Office (TTO) activity: +67% (2018–2023)

University Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) have recorded a 67% rise in patent-related activities between 2018 and 2023, according to data from the Ministry of University and Research. Northern Italian universities lead this growth, with the Polytechnic University of Milan, the University of Bologna, and the University of Padua accounting for 32% of all national university patents [3].

Patents Filed by Healthcare Professionals: Undervalued but Brilliant
An in-depth review of Italian university websites and institutional repositories reveals a rich panorama of innovations developed by non-physician healthcare professionals, often insufficiently recognized through formal patent filings.

Northern Italy

• University of Milan – Statale

The Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health documented 23 innovative projects developed by graduates in Medical Radiology Techniques between 2020 and 2024. One standout is the “Pediatric CT Dosimetric Optimization System” (SODTCP), developed by a team led by radiologic technologist Dr. Marco Verdi, which achieved a 43% reduction in radiation exposure while preserving diagnostic quality [4].

• University of Padua

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Health Technologies (CRITS) catalogued 31 innovations developed by non-physician healthcare professionals. The "SmartLab" project for pre-analytical process automation, created by biomedical laboratory technologist Dr. Elena Rossi, received €180,000 in funding from the “Veneto Innovazione” regional grant [5].

• Polytechnic University of Milan

The Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, in collaboration with healthcare professionals from San Raffaele Hospital, developed eight medical device prototypes, three of which obtained national patent filings. The “Wearable Glucose Monitor” (WGM), co-developed by specialized nurse Dr. Andrea Bianchi, is currently being licensed to a Lombard startup [6].

• University of Bologna

The Bioengineering Laboratory of Alma Mater documented 15 joint projects with healthcare professionals. The “AI-Assisted Cytology” system for automated cytological sample analysis, co-developed with biomedical laboratory technologist Dr. Francesco Neri, was awarded the “Innovazione Emilia-Romagna 2023” prize [7].

Central Italy

• Sapienza University of Rome

The Department of Radiological Sciences developed the “ALARA Plus Protocol” for radiological procedure optimization, designed by radiologic technologist Dr. Maria Conti. The protocol has been adopted by 23 healthcare facilities in the Lazio region, reducing average patient doses by 35% [8].

• University of Florence

The E-Health Research Centre documented 12 innovations developed by non-physician healthcare professionals. The “Integrated Home Teleassistance System” (STDI), co-designed by nurse Dr. Luca Martini, has been implemented in 15 health districts across Tuscany, reducing inappropriate hospital admissions by 28% [9].

• Catholic University of the Sacred Heart – Rome

The Technological Innovation in Medicine Hub developed nine projects in collaboration with non-physician healthcare professionals. The “Continuous Glucose Monitoring Biosensor,” developed by specialized nurse Dr. Giulia Ferretti, is currently undergoing international patent registration [10].

Southern Italy

• University of Naples Federico II

The Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences catalogued 18 innovations developed by healthcare professionals. The “Drug Traceability System in Intensive Care” (STFTI), conceived by biomedical laboratory technologist Dr. Giuseppe Esposito, reduced therapeutic errors by 67% at the AORN Cardarelli Hospital [11].

• University of Bari

The Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Health Sciences developed 14 innovative projects. The “Innovative Sterilization Protocol” for reusable medical devices, developed by public health technologist Dr. Antonio Longo, received official recognition from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità [12].

• University of Catania

The Biomedical Technologies Laboratory documented 11 innovations. The “Expert System for Early Diabetes Diagnosis,” based on machine learning and co-developed by biomedical laboratory technologist Dr. Carmela Greco, has been licensed to a Sicilian startup [13].

A geographical breakdown reveals marked disparities in the production of patentable innovations:

• Northern Italy: 89 innovations (67% of national total)
  • Strong university-industry integration
  • Availability of regional innovation funds
  • Presence of specialized incubators and accelerators
• Central Italy: 28 innovations (21%)
  • Focus on e-health and digital health solutions
  • Significant presence of high-profile healthcare institutions
  • Collaborations with international research centers
• Southern Italy: 16 innovations (12%)
  • Emphasis on territory-specific healthcare solutions
  • Limited patent funding availability
  • Greater need for institutional support

A closer examination reveals that the R&D landscape, when it comes to ideas conceived and developed by healthcare professionals from so-called "minor orders," is firmly driven by bottom-up solutions. These are only partially reliant on the omnipresent, ever-invoked AI (which, in scientific debates, sometimes appears to be the culinary equivalent of salad in a haute cuisine competition). Meanwhile, private partners—ever attentive to the sirens of profit—seem far more nimble in channeling the intellectual capital nurtured within universities toward the fertile pastures of venture capital.

Thus, “Saguntum expugnatur”: will underfunded universities remain mere degree mills, where twenty-somethings—eager to please proud mothers dreaming of parading their “Doctor” child—wake up one month before graduation to hastily throw together a thesis that poorly mimics a Korean or Japanese clinical article?
Or has the time finally come for our professional community to begin reaping the rewards of the paradigm shift introduced by the post–Law 251/00 reforms—by streamlining projects, embracing innovation with coherence, eliminating redundant efforts, and guiding the most promising individuals through a path befitting the serious corporate lobby we have aspired to become for the past twenty-five years?

The Role of Healthcare Foundations: The GIMBE Study and Economic Impact

In 2023, the GIMBE Foundation conducted a longitudinal study on the economic impact of investments in healthcare research and development, involving 127 institutions—including universities, IRCCS research hospitals, and private foundations. The study, “ROI of Healthcare Innovation in Italy,” analyzed 847 research projects funded between 2018 and 2023, representing a total investment of €234 million [14]. The study employed a cost-benefit analysis methodology based on the following criteria:

• Direct research and development expenditures
• Patent filing and maintenance costs
• Cost savings generated within the healthcare system
• Economic value of licensing and technology transfer
• Indirect benefits to the quality of care

Main Results:

• Average ROI: 3.7:1 (each euro invested yields €3.70 in value)
• Average time to investment recovery: 4.2 years
• 78% of projects achieved a positive ROI
• Projects developed by non-physician healthcare professionals demonstrated an average ROI of 4.1:1, exceeding the overall average

Sector-Specific Impacts

• Diagnostic Technologies (Avg. ROI 4.8:1)
  • Reduction in false positive/negative results
  • Acceleration of diagnostic processes
  • Improved clinical outcomes
• Assistive Devices (Avg. ROI 3.2:1)
  • Decrease in care-related complications
  • Optimization of hospital stay durations
  • Enhanced patient quality of life
• Healthcare IT Systems (Avg. ROI 2.9:1)
  • Reduction in administrative errors
  • Streamlined workflows
  • Improved data security

Impact of Healthcare Foundations
Healthcare foundations have collectively invested €89 million in innovation projects, generating:

• 67 patents filed
• 23 technological licenses
• 12 innovative startups created
• €340 million in economic value produced

Case Studies of Success

• University of Padua – Project “AI-Radiomics”

Developed by radiologic technologist Dr. Marco Pellegrini using CINECA resources, the system automatically analyzes 50,000 CT images per month, identifying tumor patterns with 94% accuracy. The project led to three patents and the creation of a spin-off startup²⁷.

• University of Milan – Project “SmartLab AI”

Biomedical laboratory technologist Dr. Laura Moretti developed a machine learning system for analyzing complex blood chemistry parameters, which reduced diagnostic time by 45% and improved diagnostic accuracy by 23%²⁸.

Free High-Performance Computing Resources in Italy
Italy offers several opportunities for free access to high-performance computing resources, which are essential for developing AI- and machine learning-based innovations in healthcare. CINECA currently hosts:

• 23 medical imaging projects with AI
• 15 computational genomics projects
• 18 drug discovery projects
• 12 computational epidemiology projects¹⁷

Other entities, such as ENEA, INFN, and certain regional governments, also provide supercomputing resources capable of containerizing classification and regression matrices—the very foundations of our students’ innovative ideas—without forcing them to rely on overseas subscription-based services. All that’s required is a bit of foresight to extend GARR Cloud access, pilot project support, and proof-of-concept mentorship to TRMIR Degree Programs and beyond.

In Conclusion

What, then, will become of the creative potential of students from Italy’s less fortunate universities? To maximize the innovative capacity of non-physician healthcare professionals, it is now essential to establish an integrated ecosystem comprising:

1. National Registry of Healthcare Innovations: a centralized database of innovations developed by healthcare professionals
2. National Training Program on Intellectual Property: specialized courses for healthcare workers
3. Patent Support Fund: financial aid for filing and maintenance costs
4. Technology Matching Platform: a network connecting innovators with potential investors
5. Regional Competence Centers: territorial support hubs for innovation development and simplified access to supercomputing resources

While the experience that led to this inaugural special issue has been a positive one, it would be unwise to bask too long on the warm sands of well-executed and peer-reviewed experimentation. The research and cataloguing effort presented in this introduction is meant to shed light on a landscape rich with innovations from non-physician healthcare professionals in Italian universities. We aim to highlight—dispassionately and with political neutrality—the significant geographical disparities that mirror varying levels of institutional and financial support. The GIMBE study has clearly demonstrated that investments in healthcare innovation yield substantial economic returns, with projects led by non-physician professionals consistently outperforming the average.

The full valorisation of innovation originating from emerging healthcare professions demands a systemic approach—one that integrates training, financial support via Foundations, access to advanced technologies, and the creation of an environment conducive to innovation. Only through such a comprehensive strategy can scientific curiosity be transformed into real economic and social value for the national healthcare system.

The future of healthcare innovation will depend on our ability to foster effective synergies between the expertise of healthcare professionals, the technological resources at our disposal, and institutional support—guided by the spirit of Feynman’s irreverent and hands-on curiosity yet tempered by a long-term strategic vision aimed at generating value for the entire healthcare ecosystem.

Happy reading, and… Let’s Sow Good Ideas…

Giuseppe Walter Antonucci – President, AITASIT
Maria Urbano – Director of Professional Activities, TRMIR Degree Program, University of Foggia – Barletta Campus

Valentina Masini – Secretary, AITASIT
Dario Baldi – Board Member, AITASIT – Head of RadLAB Naples
Francesco Basilico – Board Member, AITASIT – Head of RadLAB Milan
Gabriele Concordia – Board Member, AITASIT – Head of RadLAB Milan
Alessio Urgenti – Board Member, AITASIT
Alessandro Del Prete – Scientific Committee, AITASIT

References

[1] Richard P. Feynman, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!, W.W. Norton & Company, 1985.
[2] Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM), Annual Report, 2023.
[3] Ministry of University and Research, Report on the Valorization of Research in Italian Universities, 2023.
[4] Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Annual Report 2023: Technology Transfer and Commercialization, Munich, 2023.
[5] Digital Health Innovation Observatory, Politecnico di Milano, Report 2023, Milan, 2023.
[6] Ministry of Health, Report on Emerging Healthcare Professions, 2023.
[7] AGENAS, Pilot Study on Innovation in Non-Medical Healthcare Professions, Rome, 2023.
[8] University Hospital of Padua, Innovative Activities Report 2020–2023, Padua, 2023.
[9] Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Nursing Innovation Index 2023, Boston, 2023.
[10] European Institute of Oncology, Innovations in Diagnostic Processes: Three-Year Report, Milan, 2023.
[11] San Raffaele Hospital Milan, Innovative Protocols in Radiology: Results and Perspectives, Milan, 2023.
[12] National Federation of Healthcare Professions Orders (FNO TSRM-PSTRP), National Survey on Innovation and Patenting, Rome, 2023.
[13] Foundation for Innovation and Safety in Healthcare, Activity Report 2023, Rome, 2023.
[14] Telethon Foundation, Innovation Report 2023: From Research to Market, Milan, 2023.
[15] IRCCS National Cancer Institute Foundation, Translational Research and Patents: Five-Year Report, Milan, 2023.
[16] GIMBE Foundation, ROI of Healthcare Research Investments in Italy, Bologna, 2023.
[17] Ministry of University and Research, National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) – Mission 4, Rome, 2022.
[18] Ministry of Economic Development, Proof of Concept Call 2023: Results and Impacts, Rome, 2023.
[19] Ministry of University and Research, Extended Partnerships: First Monitoring Report, Rome, 2023.
[20] Lombardy Region, Life Sciences Ecosystem Report 2023, Milan, 2023; Emilia-Romagna Region, Health and Wellness Program: 2020–2023 Results, Bologna, 2023.
[21] Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), Public-Private Partnerships for Orphan Drugs: 2023 Report, Rome, 2023.
[22] Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (SIRM), AI in Radiology: National Survey 2023, Milan, 2023.
[23] Pope John XXIII Hospital, AI Implementation in Laboratory Processes: Case Study, Bergamo, 2023.
[24] National Bioethics Committee, Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Rome, 2023.
[25] European Medicines Agency (EMA), Regulatory Framework for AI-Based Medical Devices, Amsterdam, 2023.
[26] FNO TSRM-PSTRP, National Survey: Healthcare Professionals and Artificial Intelligence, Rome, 2023.
[27] University of Milan, AI Curriculum for Healthcare Professions, Milan, 2023; University of Padua, Machine Learning in Diagnostics: New Educational Module, Padua, 2023.
[28] OECD, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Report 2023, Paris, 2023.
[29] European Commission, European Health Innovation Ecosystem Report, Brussels, 2023.
[30] World Health Organization, Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025, Geneva, 2023.