To provide financial assistance to students residing in Ticino who do not have sufficient means to pursue their studies, as well as to award prizes to students studying in Switzerland and abroad; to pay, on an occasional or recurring basis, financial contributions to needy individuals residing in the Canton of Ticino and to cantonal Ticinese entities that provide assistance to these individuals; to support research projects promoted by public or private institutions of recognized scientific quality and to needy and deserving individuals for profit and diligence.