ROMA (ITALPRESS) – More than 364 million euros to support 239 projects, from basic research to strategic technologies, to the most advanced forms of cooperation between public systems and enterprises. These are the results of the bands PRIN – Projects of major national interest 2026, PRIN Hybrid and Synergy Grant 2026, the first of the new three-year research plan wanted by the Minister of the University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. The Plan has introduced a programming with certain times for bands, a single fund and stable resources for universities and research institutions.
“With the three-year plan we have changed step in funding research: we have gone from uncertainty of time to a schedule of bands and clear programming, from resources defined from time to time to a three-year budget. The first results show us a living scientific community, able to propose quality projects, put together different skills and confront the great technological transformations. We have changed the method and the first results are giving us reason: today the research has more certainties, more opportunity and a precise direction. It is a choice of national policy, because investing in research means strengthening Italy’s ability to innovate, grow and build its own future”, said the Minister, Anna Maria Bernini.
The change of pace also concerns the times and the international opening of evaluation procedures. For the PRIN 2026, in the face of 4.279 proposals, the selection was completed in about four months from the closure of the questions, compared to the approximately 15 months of the 2022 edition. 87% of the auditors involved in the evaluation are international. Also for PRIN Hybrid the international component was significant: of the 180 auditors called to evaluate the 395 proposals submitted, 50% came from abroad.
As for individual bands, the largest share of EUR 260 million is allocated to PRIN, which finances three-year basic research projects, characterized by high scientific quality and carried out in a collaborative form between universities, public research bodies and AFAM institutions. 4.279 proposals were presented for the 2026 edition, distributed in the three ERC macrosectors. At the end of the evaluation procedure, 199 projects were considered financial: 70 in Life Sciences, 69 in Physical and Engineering Sciences and 60 in Social and Humanities Sciences. Of the total budget, approximately 39 million euros are reserved for projects led by Principal Investigator under 40, in application of the 15% stake provided by the call.
The PRIN Hybrid, dedicated to three-year projects that enhance multidisciplinaryity and the connection between scientific, technological, humanistic, social and artistic skills, favouring integration between theoretical knowledge and application of new technologies. With a budget of 56.6 million euros, the call received 395 proposals, of which 30 can be financed. Ten concern artificial intelligence, for EUR 17.7 million; ten innovative technologies and paths in healthcare, for EUR 18 million; four quantum technologies, for EUR 7.6 million; three cybersecurity, for EUR 6.8 million; three High Performance Computing, for EUR 6.5 million. Also in this case, a 15% share of the budget, equal to 8,5 million euros, is reserved for projects led by PI under 40.
The Synergy Grant 2026, a new national funding tool dedicated to applied, innovative and border projects with high scientific complexity and aimed at the large national research poles born with the PNRR, which coordinate extensive networks of universities, research institutions and enterprises. The evaluation procedures considered all the 10 proposals to be financed, with a total budget of EUR 48 million. The projects involve a total of 112 subjects, including 38 firms and 74 research bodies.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
