Developing and supporting research in Italy

The underlying premise of the Conference discussions was that the future and competitiveness of Italy depend on the further development of the country’s research sphere and on the productivity of its university system. Greater investment is thus needed, as are, above all, new rules and new organizational models which ensure a leading European role for the country in sectors where Italy already holds a strong position and which enable it to face the challenges posed by the United States, China and India. The debate focused on the rules and mechanisms required to innovate and strengthen Italy’s research sector, exploring, in particular, methods of funding research and mechanisms aimed at guaranteeing transparency and meritocracy. Another hotly-debated issue was the need to make the most of human capital and reinvigorate the research sector, thereby turning the brain drain into a brain gain, by overcoming excessive administrative and legal hurdles and attracting highly qualified human capital to Italian universities and research centers from abroad. The participants then moved on to explore the strategic areas on which research in Italy should concentrate as a priority, especially highly practical applied research. Finally, the discussions focused on the link between research, the national interest and local area development, analyzing the mechanisms needed to forge local area partnerships capable of fostering research and innovation.