Synergy Grant kicks off: Bernini signs 50 mln call for high-complexity projects between the public and businesses

Selection under the 2026-2028 Three-Year Plan to support applied, innovative and frontier research projects of high scientific complexity. Applications can only be submitted in English starting at 3 p.m. on 4 May and by 3 p.m. on 6 July

by School Editorial

29 April 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The Ministry of Universities and Research launches Synergy Grant 2026, the new EUR 50 million call for proposals under the 2026-2028 three-year plan to support applied, innovative and frontier research projects of high scientific complexity.

Certain times

Strongly advocated by the Minister for Universities and Research Anna Maria Bernini, the Plan introduced for the first time clear deadlines for calls for tenders, a single funding fund and stable resources for universities and research institutions.

A novelty

Synergy Grant 2026 represents a novelty among national funding instruments. It promotes collaboration between the public scientific community and the production system, capitalising on the expertise gained through the PNRR programmes and the National Complementary Plan (PNC - a programme allocating national resources complementary to the PNRR), thereby enhancing the scientific, technological and socio-economic impact of public investments through these synergies.

Large national poles in the crosshairs

Synergy Grant 2026 is aimed at the large national research poles created under the PNRR, which coordinate extensive networks of universities, research organisations and companies. These are the five National Centres financed by the MUR under the PNRR: the National Centre for High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing (ICSC), the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (MOST), the National Agritech Centre, the National Biodiversity Centre (NBFC) and the National Centre for Gene Therapies and RNA Drugs.

The application and contents

These Hubs can apply, as proposing subjects, in collaboration with the Hubs of the Innovation Ecosystems (territorial networks that bring together universities, research bodies and enterprises on specific production chains), Extended Partnerships (large public-private research programmes on national strategic themes) and PNC Initiatives, as implementing subjects.
The activities must concern industrial research and experimental development, with the aim of bringing technologies towards concrete applications. Projects integrating areas considered strategic for the country's competitiveness, such as high performance computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and innovative technologies in the health sector, will benefit from a bonus in the evaluation.

Cost per project

Each project must have a cost of between EUR 5 and 8 million and a maximum duration of three years. Activities corresponding to 51% of the total project cost must be carried out by the enterprises, confirming the strong focus on the applicative impact of the projects.
The eligible costs also include personnel costs - researchers, technologists and technicians - up to 35% of the total project value and a further 5% for employment contracts concluded by the enterprises, with a significant share earmarked for strengthening human capital.
In addition, a further 15% is earmarked to cover the costs of specialist consultancy contracts.

Consolidation Path

The call for proposals is part of the consolidation of the initiatives launched with the PNRR and PNC and is the fourth intervention planned for 2026 within the framework of the three-year research plan, together with the already published PRIN, PRIN Hybrid and the decree for joint projects at international level. Altogether, this amounts to approximately EUR 410 million for the research system.*

The selection and application deadlines

The selection will be entrusted to an Evaluation Committee appointed by the MUR, with the technical-scientific coordination of the National Committee for the Evaluation of Research (CNVR), and will reward the proposals with the highest standards of scientific quality and project soundness.
Applications may be submitted exclusively in English to https://synergy.bandi.cineca.it, starting at 3 p.m. on 4 May and by 3 p.m. on 6 July.

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