Research Organizations
The Italian national research system consists of a network of both public and private entities engaged in scientific and technological research and aims to advance innovation and knowledge in different fields. At the top of this system is the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), an Italian government department tasked with overseeing university governance as well as scientific and technological research and manages the Italian research and innovation (R&I) strategy as well. The primary goal is to boost the creation of new knowledge, enhance skills, and drive the development of innovative products and production processes that contribute to economic growth and societal progress. For a detailed overview of Italy's national research system, visit the ResearchItaly website.
The Italian Higher Education System
Italy's higher education system includes 99 primarily state-run universities, seven universities of excellence, non-state universities, and newer online institutions. High schools for linguistic mediators (SSML) award first- and second-level degrees.
Italian higher education has a binary system and consists of two main sectors:
- the university sector, that is made up of more than 90 universities
- the non-university sector, that includes 4 education typologies: higher schools of Arts, higher education in language mediation, higher integrated education - FIS (e.g. higher technical education, etc.) and specific fields (e.g. diplomatic, archiving, restoration, military studies, etc.)
Universities provide teaching and carry out research activities. According to the principle of autonomy, each university draws up its own statutes and internal regulations which establish the rules for its administration, teaching and research.
As far as the internal structure is concerned, in the traditional university structure departments organise research in line with the teaching that is carried out and coordinated at a faculty level and they also organise PhD courses and engage in research activity and consultancy outside the university. Departments are administered by department councils and their directors. Specific units have been created to manage questions relating to the management of research and policies connected with patents and intellectual property rights.
Academic staff at universities are organised into the following main categories:
- Ordinary (or Full) professors – first level (professori ordinari)
- Associate professors – second level (professori associati)
- Contract professors (professori a contratto)
- University researchers (ricercatori) who can be given teaching responsibilities
For an overview of career levels in different countries click here (source: Ministerial Decree 2/05/2011) while the European Commission promoted in 2011 the paper "Towards a European Framework for research careers", a “Research profiles descriptors” that may apply to all researchers, independently of where they work, in the private or public sector.
University studies are organised into three cycles:
1. bachelor’s degrees (laurea triennale)
2. master’s degrees (laurea magistrale)
3. doctorates (PhD - dottorato di ricerca)
The second and third cycles also include specific adult education Degrees and Specialisation Degrees.
Each degree course is organised on the basis of major disciplinary classifications (known as “Classes” of degrees), pointing out the learning outcomes for the different subject areas.
Students are awarded credits expressed in CFU (Crediti Formativi Universitari). CFU are compatible with the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The ECTS makes it easier to compare the study programmes of different universities and thus facilitates mobility and academic recognition within the European Higher Education. It is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of learning outcomes and competences to be acquired. For more information, visit the ECTS website.
For information about studying in Italy please visit: http://www.universitaly.it/.
Tailored information on recognition of Diplomas and Qualification is provided by the National ENIC-NARIC Centre which is represented in Italy by CIMEA - Centro di Informazione sulla Mobilità e le Equivalenze Accademiche (Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence). It offers the following services:
• information for the recognition of foreign study qualifications
• advice to institutions on the comparability of foreign qualifications for recognition purposes
• free movement of EU citizens, in particular for international student mobility
• international documentation centre and specialised databases.
For further information visit CIMEA
Network & Clusters
The following development models have been identified in Italy to enhance relations among different actors involved in the research sector and to strengthen partnership and cooperation between public and private bodies and among training, research and innovation.
Public and private actors from different backgrounds operate within these virtual centres of excellence and work on real multi-sectorial projects of complementary nature. University centres for excellence in research were funded for the first time in 2000. Since 2016 Departments of excellence have been introduced to fund top class public university departments according to 14 selected areas listed in the National University Council – CUN.
For more information visit Ministry University and Research MUR
National Technology Clusters have been set up by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) in 2012 according with the priorities of Horizon2020 programme. These networks include public and private bodies operating throughout the country. Each cluster focuses its activity on a specific technology and application area of strategic interest to the national industry that are: aerospace; agrifood; green chemistry; smart factory; transport and mobility systems of land and ocean surface; life sciences; technologies for living environment; technologies for Smart Communities.
For more information visit Research in Italy
Set up in the ‘90s thanks to funds allocated by the Ministry for University and Research and the EU Structural Funds, Science and Technology Parks aim at enhancing, creating and transferring of scientific and technological knowledge so as to ensure the region’s innovative development in a way that is also economically and socially sustainable. Parks involve different actors, local and national, public and private, businesses and research institutions. Most parks have joined the Associazione Parchi Scientifici e Tecnologici Italiani (APSTI) (Association of Italian Science and Technology Parks) which counts members representing almost all the Italian regions that promote economic development through innovation.
Similarly, parks all over the world are members of the International Association of Science Parks (IASP).
The union of Italia Startup and APSTI has led to the creation of InnovUp, an association that brings together Italy’s innovation ecosystem, uniting startups, scaleups, innovative SMEs, innovation centers, science and technology parks, incubators, accelerators, startup studios, crowdfunding platforms, enablers, professional firms, and large companies.
National Research Programme 2021-2027
Italy has published its National Research Programme (NRP, 2021-2027), which is divided into system priorities, major areas of R&I and related areas of focus, national plans, and missions. The system priorities are designed to consolidate the strengths and overcome the weaknesses of the Italian research system. There are six core focus areas reflecting the six clusters of Horizon Europe while taking into consideration the National Strategy for Smart Specialisation. Research and innovation activities are also broadly aligned with the national context articulated through consultation with and contributions from the administrations involved.