PNRR: University and Research Provisions

20.07.2022

On June 29, 2022 Gazzette Ufficiale published changes made to the April 30, 2022 Legislative Decree no. 36 now containing Law no. 79 for “Implementing Additional National Recovery and Resilience Plan Measures (PNRR)."

The provision introduces a project that modifies public employment competitions (concorsi) and scientific disciplinary sectors.  Scientific-disciplinary sectors will not only be divided based on the relative affiliation of first and second level professors and researchers, but also with regards to teaching obligations.

Fixed-term (tempo determinato) research contracts, replacing research grant holders, are carried out based on agreements for specific research projects that are financed by public or private third parties.

Universities can offer tenure contracts (tempo inderterminato) to highly qualified professionals to support and manage research activities, the technology transfer sector, the design and management of infrastructure projects, and for the protection of industrial properties.

Changes mase to the role of researcher versus fixed-term researcher are based on two distinctions referred to as type a) and type b). Fixed-term researchers (RTT) will hold a six-year contract with the possibility of tenure starting from the end of the third year, as long as they possession the Italian scientific qualification for the role of associate professor.

A transitional phase of 180 days is given to research grant holders and a 3-year transitional phase for type a) researchers.

The University will soon issue further instructions on the subject.