The allocation of resources

Earthquakes and AI, 94 million for research infrastructure

Resources allocated for 2025 by the Ministry of Universities and Research. Minister Anna Maria Bernini has in fact signed the decree distributing the Fund for research institutions.

by Redaction Rome

13 May 2025

3' min read

Key points

Bernini: research needs investment
Over a third of funds to the National Institute of Nuclear Physics
Almost 27 million to the National Institute of Astrophysics
Funds for the two Italian research bases in Antarctica

3' min read

Strengthening earthquake monitoring, in particular in the Campi Flegrei area, building the Italian backbone for quantum technologies, as well as technologies for particle accelerators and the modernisation of Italian research bases in Antarctica: these are among the research infrastructures that belong to 10 public bodies and that can be realised thanks to the total funding of 94 million allocated for 2025 by the Ministry of Universities and Research thanks to the Fund for Building and Research Infrastructures.

Bernini: research needs investment

Minister Anna Maria Bernini signed the decree distributing the Fund for research institutions. 'Research,' the minister noted, 'needs investment, it is necessary to guarantee resources for scientific projects, finance new infrastructures, and support the most advanced technologies.

Over a third of the funds to the National Institute of Nuclear Physics

More than a third of the funding (EUR 34 million) goes to the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, which will be able to co-finance the European AI Factory initiative to build a high-performance computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence applications. It will also be able to acquire the Lasa laboratory in Segrate-Milan, to develop cutting-edge technologies for particle accelerators, such as superconducting magnets and high-temperature superconducting materials. These are 'key investments not only for science but also, more generally, for society', notes Infn president Antonio Zoccoli.

Almost 27 million

to the National Institute of Astrophysics

The National Institute of Astrophysics can count on almost 27 million to modernise the observatories in Turin, Milan, Padua, Florence, Rome (with the Institute of Space Astrophysics and Planetology), Naples, Catania and Palermo. "Inaf redevelops, enhances, acquires and builds spaces for studies, laboratories, and areas for dissemination through projects that affect the entire nation," notes the organisation's president Roberto Ragazzoni.

Fibre optics, quantum technologies, metrology on a chip and infrastructure for the energy transition are among the projects planned by theNational Institute for Metrological Research in Turin thanks to almost EUR 7.5 million. The funding is "an important recognition of the strategic value of the activities carried out by our Institute," notes Inrim president Pietro Asinari, referring first and foremost to the Italian Quantum Backbone, the fibre-optic research infrastructure dedicated to time and frequency metrology, quantum communication, the PiQuET infrastructure for micro and nanofabrication, and quantum and iEntrance technologies for energy.

Funds for the two Italian research bases in Antarctica

The 7.5 million assigned to the National Research Council will allow the two Italian research bases in Antarctica to be renovated and upgraded: 'Mario Zucchelli in Baia Terra Nova (4 million) and Concordia (3.5 million) on the plateau. The aim is "to maintain the high scientific level of the stations and at the same time to respect the need, increasingly shared today, to ensure that the activities carried out in these extreme environments have a lower environmental and energy impact," notes the president of the CNR, Maria Chiara Carrozza.

The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has earmarked 6 million to strengthen the infrastructure for real-time monitoring of seismic signals and the study of earthquakes, particularly in the Campi Flegrei area. An investment that, according to the president of the INGV, Fabio Florindo, "will have an immediate and significant impact on the decision-making capacity of the bodies in charge of civil protection, guaranteeing greater safety for the population".

The 4 million assigned to the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (Ogs) will allow the modernisation of the oceanographic ship 'Laura Bassi' so as to guarantee it an operational life of another 20 years, said Ogs president Nicola Casagli. The 3.4 million assigned to the historic Anton Dohrn zoological station in Naples will allow the recovery of the Sea Library and work on the Marine farm. While the 2 million for Area Science Park in Trieste will be used to strengthen the laboratory housed at the University of Salerno. Finally, funding has been provided for infrastructure for the 'Enrico Fermi' Historical Museum of Physics and Study and Research Centre and the Italian Institute of German Studies.