Ministro dell’istruzione, università e ricerca (MIUR) – Italy

The Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR) is the key RTD policy actor and funding agency in Italy at state level. MIUR is in charge to prepare and to submit the National Research Programme (PNR – Piano Nazionale della Ricerca) proposal to the Government and to directly manage it. In preparation of the new PNR, MIUR adopted, on March 2013, a new strategic document called “Horizon 2020 Italy” aimed at defining a reference framework coherent with the European one.

Besides, the Ministry, in charge of definition of strategic priorities in Research and higher education, has the following responsibilities: coordination, assessment and evaluation of the national university system and advanced training schools; supporting and fostering basic research in university and research institutions, programming intervention in public research institutions; coordination, regulation and funding of national research institutions; coordination of the research activities promoted by other Ministries; monitoring and supporting the integration between the research system and industries; integration between public research and applied research; promoting and supporting research in the industry system; funding research programmes for southern regions; promoting initiatives such as the Funds for the diffusion of scientific culture (PUS); enforcement of EU and international rules on university education and research. The Ministry also has key responsibilities for international co-operation.

It concludes bi- and multilateral agreements on research and technology collaboration and is in charge of co-ordinating Italy’s participation in the European Union’s Framework Programme. The coordination and funding of international collaborative RTD actions is insured, within the MIUR, by the Directorate General for Internationalization of Research.