Rain of funds for the doctorates search in Puglia. Over 16 million euros arriving. The Ministry of University and Research has published in recent days the breakdown of resources for covering doctoral scholarships linked to certain objectives and financed by the Pnrr. Most of the money is intended for innovative research doctorates, which are financed half by the Mur and half by the companies in which the activity will be carried out. The innovative doctorates, now in their third call (it should be the last), represent a possibility to combine research with work. That is, these are activities that are carried out in collaboration between some companies that join the project and the universities. The projects, clearly, have practical discoveries that are achieved during the duration of the doctorate.
A year ago 18 million
The resources allocated to Puglia have decreased. A year ago around 18 million euros arrived between Foggia, Bari and Lecce. The reason is elementary, but it reveals important glimmers. The number of innovative doctorates has dropped sharply, even halving in some universities. At the same time, however, the amount of money per project was doubled. The first two “editions” of the innovative doctorates provided for an allocation of 30 thousand euros from the State and the same amount from companies. This time the Mur guarantees 60 thousand euros, thus increasing its share. Not bad, therefore, if the “fundable” projects are just over half. Also because almost no body has managed to guarantee coverage of all the projects, given that the response must come from the territory and from companies. Yet the Apulian universities have “defended” themselves well. The results of the University of Salento are excellent, with a structured group of partners. The other universities also did well.
A residual (much lower) portion of resources are instead allocated to scholarships for three-year doctorates in topics relating to the digital or environmental transition, research in the PNRR field, public administration and cultural heritage. These are financed with 70 thousand euros per project, but the number is decidedly lower (in Puglia Bari can activate 20, Lecce 9).
The distribution between universities
The distribution between the Apulian universities: in Bari around 6.5 million euros (of which 5.2 coming for innovative doctorates), the Polytechnic of Bari reaches 2.6 million, the University of Salento 3.5, and UniFoggia stands at two million euros. The number of innovative research doctorates that can potentially be activated: 87 in Bari (in the South only Federico II will have more), 37 at Poliba, 49 in Lecce, 28 in Foggia. Now the university merry-go-round starts again, and to reach the goal they will have to identify the companies with which to form a partnership. The system requires academic institutions to find companies that can co-finance the projects, otherwise the amount allocated by the Mur remains in the Ministry’s coffers.
The novelty of the call for 2024/25 is that for the first time Afam, conservatories, academies and ISIA will also access funding. Among the Apulian grants are funding for the Academy of Fine Arts of Lecce, Foggia and Bari and for the conservatories of Lecce and Bari. Four grants in total for each institution (amounting to 260 thousand euros). In this regard, the Academy of Lecce had already started research projects in the last academic year.
«We value higher artistic, musical and dance education even more. Even conservatories, academies and ISIAs – commented the Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini – will benefit from the innovative doctoral scholarships. I have always considered the Afam institutions as the third pillar of the Mur’s skills, like the university and research. Higher education is a key element with great educational value, but also with enormous economic potential, therefore investing in it through new doctorates represents a decisive element for the training system.”
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