9.41 billion for universities: 31 institutions receive funding

The ordinary funding scheme for universities, totalling 9.41 billion, is set to be finalised in 2026. Thanks to the 50 million secured at the last minute by Minister Anna Maria Bernini, more than one in two state universities (31 out of 61) will receive more funding than last year, whilst the remaining 30 will receive the same amount. This is confirmed by the tables attached to the decree setting out the allocation criteria, which has just been published.

This outcome was by no means a foregone conclusion. As reported in this newspaper in recent weeks, the introduction of the 2020–24 Research Quality Assessment to replace the previous 2015–19 VQR risked resulting, for many universities, in a reduction in funding compared with the previous financial year. However, Bernini’s dual decision – endorsed by the Conference of Rectors (CRUI) – to, on the one hand, keep the ‘floor’ of the 2026 allocation at the same level as in 2025 and set the ‘ceiling’ (i.e. the maximum increase), and, on the other hand, to allocate a further 50 million in the PA Decree (out of the 60 earmarked for tutoring and guidance), has changed the outcome of the story.

If we take the 8.32 billion distributed – comprising the basic allocation, the bonus allocation and the equalisation measure – out of the total of 9.4, we find that no state institution loses funding. Of the 61 institutions examined (plus seven postgraduate schools), 30 receive the same amount as 12 months ago, whilst another 31 gain an average of 1 per cent. Turning to the individual results, five institutions (the Polytechnic of Bari, Catanzaro, the Polytechnic of the Marche, Napoli Parthenope and Siena Stranieri) reach the maximum threshold of +5 per cent. Rounding off the top ten for percentage improvements are the two polytechnics in Turin (+4.4 per cent) and Milan (+3.77 per cent), along with the universities of Bergamo (+3.52 per cent), Ca’ Foscari Venice (+3.51 per cent) and Padua (+2.99 per cent). When compared to pre-Covid figures, the largest increases were recorded by Ferrara (+60.2 per cent), Foggia (+58.6 per cent), Bergamo (+48.9 per cent), Napoli Parthenope (+48.4 per cent) and PoliTo (+47.4 per cent).

If we look at contributions in absolute terms, the ranking is influenced by the economies of scale typical of our academic system, with mega and large universities coming out on top. In terms of millions of euros received, Sapienza University of Rome inevitably tops the list with 555.1, followed by Bologna (464.1), Federico II University of Naples (408.2), Padua (395.9) and Turin (347.3).

Special schools also deserve a mention. Here, the largest percentage increases were recorded by the IMT in Lucca and the Gran Sasso Science Institute (+5% for both), whilst in terms of total funding, the Pisa duo of the Normale and Sant’Anna took the lead, receiving 46.5 and 44 million respectively.