Code of Ethics – Fondazione Leonardo Del Vecchio

This CODE OF ETHICS (also the ‘CODE’), adopted by the Foundation, expresses the ethical commitments and responsibilities in the conduct of activities.
The Foundation adopts this CODE also as a further indispensable instrument for the achievement of its institutional aims and purposes, as indicated in Article 2 of the By-laws.
The Foundation is non-profitmaking and exclusively pursues solidarity, assistance, education, charitable and socially useful purposes.
The observance of the Code is fundamental to guarantee the good functioning, reliability and reputation of the Foundation in order to prevent unlawful behaviour and avoid any involvement of the Foundation in criminal conduct.

Principle of legality

The Foundation respects the laws and regulations, both national and European, and any other legislation in force and in force in the countries where it carries out its activities.

Social activities and institutional aims of the Foundation

The Foundation pursues its aims of solidarity, assistance, education, charity and social utility, on a non-profit basis, by carrying out, directly and/or indirectly, the following activities of general interest:

scientific research of social interest, with a particular (though not exclusive) focus on research in the medical and pharmaceutical sector;
the provision of social, health, and social-health services, including treatment and care activities;
education, school and university learning, as well as post-graduate and professional training.

Furthermore, the Foundation may carry out humanitarian interventions and charity acts in favour of persons, groups, categories, communities or populations being in a state of need, hardship, difficulty, even of financial or social nature.

Validity and application of the Code

This Code applies to the Foundation and the members of the Board of Directors, the Surveillance and Auditing Committee, the Supervisory Board, the Founders and subsequent members of the Foundation and all employees, collaborators and contractual partners.
In this regard, it is brought to the attention of all the Addressees, who, in general, have relations with the Foundation, which therefore undertakes to ensure its maximum diffusion by making the Addressees aware of its contents.

Principle of equality

The Foundation avoids any discrimination based on nationality, race, health, sexuality, political opinions or religious beliefs or any other form of discrimination based on personal conditions.

Conduct in social matters

The Foundation undertakes to support organisations with a social and welfare purpose, in accordance with Article 2 of the By-laws. Under no circumstances may the Foundation or its staff draw profit or any other utility from these interventions.

Conduct in political matters

The Foundation undertakes not to finance any political movement or party, either in Italy or abroad, and does not sponsor political propaganda congresses or parties.
Except for the above, the Foundation may only accept requests for contributions from organisations and associations that are declared non-profit organisations and have by-laws that acknowledge such purposes.
Sponsorship activities, which may relate to social, environmental, entertainment, sports and art issues, are only intended for events that offer a guarantee of quality or for projects to which the Foundation can constructively and positively contribute its experience.

Conduct with institutional bodies

Every relationship with State or international institutions is exclusively traceable to forms of communication aimed at assessing the implications of legislative and administrative activity for the Foundation.
In particular, every relationship with those in charge of a public service, in order to guarantee the utmost clarity in relations, will be managed exclusively through contact persons who have received an explicit mandate from the Foundation.

Conduct with regard to health and safety in the workplace

The Foundation is committed to complying with current legislation on health and safety in the workplace, undertaking to disseminate and consolidate a culture of safety, developing risk awareness and promoting responsible behaviour by all employees in compliance with the provisions of Legislative Decree. 81/2008.

Environmental conduct

The environment is a primary asset that the Foundation is committed to safeguarding.
To this end, the Foundation respects the regulations in force in every country where it carries out its activities and organises its corporate and economic management in compliance with them.

Value of human resources

Human resources represent an indispensable value for the Foundation and it protects their integrity, encouraging a better development and enhancement of technical and professional skills and thus prohibiting any form of discrimination.

Staff selection

The assessment of staff to be recruited is carried out on the basis of the correspondence of the candidates to the Foundation’s needs and in compliance with equal opportunities for all those concerned.
The information requested is closely linked to the verification of the aspects envisaged by the professional and psycho-aptitude profile.
Within the limits of the information available, the appointed function takes appropriate measures to avoid favouritism, nepotism or forms of patronage in the selection and recruitment stages.

Conflict of interest

All Addressees are required to avoid situations, even potential ones, of conflict of interest with the Foundation; should such situations occur, it is the responsibility of the Addressee to inform his or her supervisor or contact person without delay in respect of the decisions taken by the latter.

Management of confidential information

The Foundation – also in compliance with the provisions of EU Regulation 679/2016 as amended and supplemented – recognises the confidentiality and privacy of the information in its possession, refraining from any use that has not been authorised in advance in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned regulation.
Confidentiality is also guaranteed through the adoption of appropriate measures for the protection of the Foundation’s or third parties’ data stored on IT support.

Communication and dissemination

In order to ensure that the Code is adequately known, the Foundation shall disseminate it to the Addressees, also through the preparation of a training plan that enables them to become familiar with the ethical principles and rules of conduct by monitoring the level of actual knowledge achieved and the application of the principles and rules contained therein.

Supervisory Body and compliance with the CODE

All Addressees are obliged to observe the contents of this document, adhering to the canons of conduct, and also to communicate promptly to the Supervisory Body, instituted and appointed by the Foundation in accordance with Legislative Decree 231/2001 on the administrative responsibility of juridical persons, any information relative to possible violations of this Code that have occurred within the Foundation. Failure to comply with the rules contained in the Code entails the application of one of the measures listed in the system of sanctions regulated by the Organisation, Management and Control Model.