Research and Innovation background
Italy’s research and innovation (R&I) landscape is characterized by a strong public science base and significant participation in EU funding programs. Two key documents establish the background for research in Italy:
- National Reform Programme (2020): Outlines the government's strategy for addressing the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme focused on supporting families and businesses, ensuring financial stability, and preparing for the recovery phase through reforms and investments.
- New National Research Programme (PNR) 2021-2027: Defines Italy’s research priorities and aims to increase R&D funding to 1.8-2% of GDP by 20272.
- National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR): Focuses on boosting R&D through significant investments, aligning with the EU’s Next Generation EU initiative.
- National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP): Outlines strategies for achieving national climate targets by 2030, including measures for transport decarbonization.
The New National Research Programme 2021-2027 revolves around nine system priorities:
- Invest in young people
- Strengthen fundamental research and encourage interdisciplinary research
- Promote internationalization
- Enhance the circulation of knowledge between research and the production system
- Support the widespread growth of the research system
- Ensure the centrality of the individual in innovation
- Ensure shared governance at a national, European and international level
- Explore new research horizons.
Strategy related specifically to transport research is covered under the sustainable mobility, aerospace and energy areas of the National Research Programme. Other key documents include:
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)
Institutional framework of transport research
The political level for R&D policies is the Parliament and the Council of Ministries. The highest level of Science and Technology policy coordination is with the Inter-Ministry Committee for Economic Planning (CIPE). At operational level:
- Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR): Coordinates national and international scientific activities, distributes funding to universities and research agencies, and establishes the procedures for funding public and private research, and technological development.
- Ministry of Economic Development (MISE): Supports and manages industrial innovation. Other Ministries manage research funding in their specific fields.
- Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT): Manages industrial and collaborative research funding
There are two bodies with advisory tasks:
- National University Council (CUN): Responsible for proposals and consultancy on academic curricula and recruitment;
- National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and the Research: Responsible for the quality assessment of the activities carried out by universities and research institutes, recipients of public funding.
The National Research Council (CNR) is the largest scientific public organisation of Italy and its duty is to carry out, promote, spread, transfer and improve research activities in the main sectors of knowledge growth and of its applications for the scientific, technological, economic and social development of the Country.
Organisations Responsible for transport innovation:
- Transport policy is developed and implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports.
- Transport research is funded through the general research framework and through programmes dedicated to transport. To promote larger R&D investment and to stimulate R&D projects in the private sector, the Italian State supports companies through grants and loans. These include the Fund for Applied Research managed by the Ministry for Education, University and Research, and the Fund for Technological Innovation managed by the Ministry of Productive Activities.
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)
Funding Sources and Support Initiatives
There are several thematic programmes, which fund research on transport related topics. These include:
- Fund for the National Research Programme (NRP) and Research Projects of significant National Interest (PRIN): Strengthens support for scientific research through the National Research Fund (FNR) in various strategic environments. In particular the fields of intervention will be those of the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation 2021-2027: health; human sciences and social transformations; safety for social systems; digital, industry and aerospace; climate, energy and sustainable transportation; food, bio-economy, natural resources, agriculture, environment.
- NP Metro+ and southern medium cities 2021-2027: Supports the territories of 14 metropolitan cities in Italy. Funding is allocated to measures in the sectors of digital services for citizens, social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, energy efficiency, green infrastructure, public buildings and support for sustainable mobility.
- National Operational Programme on Research and Innovation 2014-2020: Covers EU funding to the less developed and transition regions of Italy, including strengthening research, technological development and innovation.
- National Operational Programme on Enterprises and Competitiveness: Covers EU funding to the less developed and transition regions of Italy, including supporting a shift towards a low carbon economy.
- Interreg V-A - Italy-France (Maritime): Promotes entrepreneurship, a safer environment, the valorisation of natural and cultural resources, sustainable mobility and social inclusion through economic development. At the same time, it addresses climate change issues, connection of secondary and tertiary nodes to the TEN-T network and joint training schemes in the cross-border area.
- Smart Mobility Data Driven: Aims to foster innovative mobility solutions.
Other more specific regional programmes related to transport include:
- RP AP Bolzano ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Abruzzo ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Basilicata ERDF ESF+ 2021-2027
- RP Calabria ERDF ESF+ 2021-2027
- RP Campania ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Emilia-Romagna ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Friuli-Venezia Giulia ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Lazio ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Lombardia ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Marche ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Molise ERDF ESF+ 2021-2027
- RP Puglia ERDF ESF+ 2021-2027
- RP Sardegna ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Sicilia ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Toscana ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Umbria ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Valle d'Aosta ERDF 2021-2027
- RP Veneto ERDF 2021-2027
(Last updated: 04/11/2024)