Francesco Bellini

Francesco Bellini, (; 20 November 1947 – 10 July 2025) was an Italian-born Canadian research scientist, administrator and businessman.

A pioneer scientist-entrepreneur for the Canadian bio-pharmaceutical industry, he was co-founder of Biochem Pharma, as well as chairman and chief executive officer from 1986 to 2001. He authored or co-authored more than twenty-five patents over his 20-year career as a research scientist.

Background Born on 20 November 1947 in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, Bellini immigrated to Canada in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola College (now Concordia University) in 1972 and his Doctor of Philosophy specializing in organic chemistry from the University of New Brunswick in 1977. He was the author and co-author of some 30 patents and published numerous articles and papers based on his research.

Bellini died on 10 July 2025, at the age of 77.

Sport On 3 February 2014, Bellini refounded Ascoli Picchio F.C. 1898, and three days later the new club acquired all the rights of the bankrupted Ascoli Calcio 1898, the historical football team of Bellini's hometown.

Philanthropy Bellini donated $10 million towards a new life sciences building at McGill University. He made a major donation toward a new residence and centre for people with Alzheimer's in Laval.

Special honours For his major contribution in the fields of entrepreneurship, research and economy, Bellini received the title of "Cavaliere del Lavoro".

On 1 February 2016, he received a PhD honoris causa in Pharmaceutical Science from "La Sapienza University" of Rome.

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 – Italian Entrepreneurs Around The World Yesterday and Today – Canada: New Frontiers in Pharmacology « 5 Imprenditori Italiani nel mondo ieri eoggi, Milan: Libri Scheiwiller, 1996. Canada: Le nuove frontiere della farmacologia di Dott. Francesco Bellini » 1996 – Award of Distinction Concordia University Faculty of Commerce and Administration – Montreal, Canada 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 Doctorate of Science from University of New Brunswick – New Brunswick, Canada 1998 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Science from University of Ottawa – Ottawa, Canada 1998 – National Merit from Ottawa Life Sciences Council 1999 – Great Montrealer 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 Canada 2001 – Member of Excelia Club BioQuebec 2002 – Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal 2002 – Personality of the Week La Presse 2002 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Laws from Concordia University – Montreal, Canada 2003 – Personality of the Year, Business Category, Cyberpresse La Presse 2004 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Science from McGill University – Montreal, Canada 2004 – Officer National Order of Quebec 2005 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Laws from Queen's University – Ontario, Canada 2005 – Cavaliere del Lavoro Italian Government (Italian orders of merit) 2006 – Picchio D'Oro 2010 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Science from McMaster University – Ontario, Canada 2012 – Honorary Degree Doctorate of Science from University of Camerino – Le Marche, Italy 2013 – Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal 2014 – President of Ascoli Picchio F.C. 1898 2016 – PhD honoris causa in Pharmaceutical Science from "La Sapienza University" of Rome.