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Funding research with scientific grants in Italy: the impact of "PRIN"

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Accetturo

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Raffaello Bronzini

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Federica Daniele

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Irene Di Marzio

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Elena Lazzaro

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Francesca Modena

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Lorenzo Raspollini

    (Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca)

Abstract

The Projects of relevant national interest (PRIN) programme is the most widespread instrument through which the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) funds basic research via competitive procedures. This paper estimates the programme's impact on publications, patenting capacity, career progression and the creation of new businesses, by comparing the performance of researchers funded for the first time by the 2015 and 2017 calls with that of researchers deemed eligible for funding but who were not financed because the funds ran out. The results show that PRIN programmes had a positive impact on the number of publications, including those of high quality. The effect was greater for the 2017 call, which featured more generous funding, and was driven by the STEM, biology and medical sciences fields. Younger researchers, and to some extent women, experienced a much more pronounced positive effect than the average. Patent activity and researchers' careers were not influenced by PRIN funding, while the effect on new business creation was positive, but only driven by medical fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Accetturo & Raffaello Bronzini & Federica Daniele & Irene Di Marzio & Elena Lazzaro & Francesca Modena & Lorenzo Raspollini, 2025. "Funding research with scientific grants in Italy: the impact of "PRIN"," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 972, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:opques:qef_972_25
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    File URL: https://www.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/qef/2025-0972/QEF_972.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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