Research funding is a key development tool and a crucial expenditure item for Italian universities. With this in mind, Luiss aims to attract various external funding sources to boost its competitiveness, internationalization, and to foster the transformation of knowledge into human and social capital. Below are the main national, European, and international funding streams that Luiss researchers can access to secure funds for their research projects.

In Italy, funding for universities, research organizations, and businesses comes from ministries and/or regional governments.

National funding for scientific and technological research is primarily provided by the Ministry of University and Research (MIUR), the National Research Council (CNR), public bodies, and other ministries (Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Health).

National policies supporting Research and Technological Development projects are developed through funds that can be:

• Regional: The regions can allocate their own funds and help manage the Structural Funds through their Regional Innovation Strategies.
• National: These are granted by the Ministries to support projects and activities that fall within the framework of national research policies. They are implemented through various operational instruments, structured as programs.

The main ones are:

• PRIN - Research Projects of National Interest
• FAR - Industrial Research Incentive Fund
• PNR - National Research Program

The European Union offers numerous funding opportunities for scientific research. The Framework Programs for Research and Development are the primary funding channel and are managed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research.  

Research activities funded by the European Union must have a clear “European added value.” A key aspect of European added value is the transnational nature of many initiatives: research projects must be led by consortia with participants from various European and non-European countries, and individual research grants involve mobility beyond national borders.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the framework program for research and innovation that succeeds Horizon 2020 and will run from 2021 to 2027. The strategic plan recently adopted by the European Commission sets out the guidelines for research and innovation investments at the European level for the coming years. Specifically, this plan outlines four key strategic directions where the Commission plans to focus its investments. These are supported by 15 impact areas that align with the Commission's priorities, with a particular focus on digitization and the European Green Deal. In turn, the 15 impact areas are linked to 32 anticipated impacts – the long-term benefits that research and innovation activities will bring to various sectors of society (science, the economy, academia, etc.) – which are structured into the 6 clusters of the second of the 3 pillars that make up Horizon Europe (table).

The three pillars are:

1. Scientific Excellence

• European Research Council: Frontier research through a bottom-up approach  
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Mobility and cross-sectoral training opportunities for researchers
• Research infrastructures: Enhancing collaboration among research infrastructures to push the boundaries of knowledge

2. Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, divided into six macro-areas (clusters):

• Clusters: Health; Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry, and Space; Climate, Energy, and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
• Joint Research Centre: Providing support for EU decision-making processes

3- Innovative Europe

• European Innovation Council: Supporting cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking innovations
• European Innovation Ecosystems: Creating supportive environments to drive development and innovation in the EU
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology: Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe

Additional programs, supported by other European institutions and the Commission's Directorates-General (DG Environment; DG Enterprise and Industry; DG Health and Consumers, etc.), help broaden the scope of opportunities for scientific research in specific fields. For example, in the political, socio-economic, and legal fields, we highlight the following, among others:

• ESPON - Observation network for European spatial planning and cohesion
• EIB Program - European Investment Bank initiatives to support universities
• Joint Program “Home Automation for Vulnerable Groups” (AAL) – A program to improve the quality of life for older people
• Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) - A program to promote active European citizenship and increase knowledge of the European Union, its rights, and its values
• Erasmus+ - A program that supports activities in the fields of education, training, youth, and sports
• Creative Europe Program - A program designed to support the audiovisual, cultural, and creative sectors
• European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) - A program to support collaboration among researchers across all fields of science and technology

The University Research Office supports Luiss professors and researchers in submitting and managing their funded research projects. Additionally, the Office promotes scientific research through various channels and disseminates research funding opportunities.

Useful links

• MIUR
• APRE
• CORDIS
• DG Research
• Funding & Tenders Portal
• Open Research Europe Platform