
European Structural and Investment Funds
The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI funds) are the instruments through which the European Union pursues its policies.
The funds finance projects with the ultimate goal of creating jobs and a healthy and sustainable economy and environment in Europe, focusing on five key sectors:
- Research and innovation
- Digital technologies
- Low carbon economy
- Sustainable management of natural resources
- Support for small businesses
In the 2021-2027 programming period, these are outlined in five objectives:
- Smart Europe: innovation, digitalisation, and support for SMEs
- Green Europe: carbon-free economy, implementation of the Paris Agreement, renewable energies
- Connected Europe: digital networks for strategic transport
- Social Europe: social rights, quality of work, education, social inclusion
- Citizens’ Europe: support for locally managed development strategies and urban development
More than half of the EU funding is provided through these funds, which are jointly managed by the European Commission and the EU countries (shared management). In Italy, part of the funds are centrally managed at the ministerial level (PON), while part is allocated to the Regions (POR, PSR) for specific interventions focused on their respective territories.
The Structural Funds and Special Projects Sector of the Research Enhancement Office offers support to professors and researchers for participating in calls funded by regional managing authorities through:
- European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
- European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
- European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)
- European Territorial Cooperation (ETC), also known as INTERREG
Information and instructions for participating in the calls and reporting on projects are available in the dedicated Reserved Area, accessible to all those with SSO credentials.
Partnership requests from external entities
The Research Enhancement Office gathers requests from external entities interested in submitting project proposals with the University of Padua and identifies the research groups to be involved. Please contact the office via email at fondi.strutturali@unipd.it