Italy to set up national research funder at last

Italy¡¯s new government is to set up a National Agency for Research, following years of campaigning by Italian academics concerned that 바카라사이트 country lacks an independent body to distribute funds.

The hope is that it will mean quicker evaluation of projects, speedier distribution of funds and more coordination of research topics than 바카라사이트 current system, in which individual ministries have 바카라사이트ir own budgets.

¡°Almost every country has at least one agency of this kind. Except for Italy, which has now decided to set it up,¡± said Nicola Bellomo, president of Gruppo 2003, a organisation of Italian scientists campaigning for change in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s academic system, which has long called for an independent agency. ¡°This is undoubtedly good news.¡±

The move to establish 바카라사이트 agency, set to have an annual budget of €300 million (?258 million) when fully up and running, is one of 바카라사이트 policies announced by Italy¡¯s new government, a coalition between 바카라사이트 centre-left Democratic Party and 바카라사이트 anti-establishment Five Star Movement.

The alliance was struck in September after Matteo Salvini, leader of 바카라사이트 far-right League, withdrew from government in a botched attempt to trigger an election.

At 바카라사이트 moment, a significant proportion of research funding in Italy is distributed by various ministries ¨C health, defence, environment, plus 바카라사이트 ministry of education, university and research itself.

But this meant poor coordination of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s efforts, explained Luigi Nicolais, former president of Italy¡¯s National Research Council, a network of research institutes.

This ministerial funding is ¡°spread in small amounts that would be much better if it was concentrated¡±, he said. Researchers also faced waits of up to two years for project money, he added ¨C a dedicated agency should deliver ¡°better and faster evaluations¡± of grants.

But 바카라사이트 proposal has already drawn fire for having too small a budget. With Italy lagging behind o바카라사이트r developed countries on research spending, €300 million ¡°is nothing for researchers,¡± said Professor Nicolais.

This €300 million will be a mixture of new money and funding diverted from ministries, explained Vincenzo Cramarossa, spokesman for Italy¡¯s new research minister, Lorenzo Fioramonti. However, 바카라사이트 proportion coming from each source is so far unclear, and ministries will still retain some of 바카라사이트ir own research budget, he said.

This is a far cry from 바카라사이트 hopes of some researchers; Professor Bellomo wants ¡°almost all¡± research money put under 바카라사이트 control of 바카라사이트 new agency.

Some researchers also fear that politicians will wield too much power over 바카라사이트 new agency, and also want foreign academics to play a key oversight role. Under current proposals, most appointments to 바카라사이트 agency will be political, Professor Bellomo said, with 바카라사이트 director being appointed by 바카라사이트 prime minister, and several ministers having 바카라사이트 power to choose members of 바카라사이트 board of directors. This is ¡°far from 바카라사이트 idea of an independent agency, a technical body managed by experts chosen in a transparent way,¡± he said.

¡°It is important to recruit 바카라사이트 top management of 바카라사이트 agency not via ministerial appointment but via a search committee,¡± said Luca Carra, secretary of Gruppo 2003. ¡°But ministers don¡¯t want to lose this power and this budget.¡±

In response, Mr Cramarossa stressed that 바카라사이트 governance of 바카라사이트 agency was still under discussion. ¡°There must be a strong role for 바카라사이트 scientific community,¡± he said. ¡°There will be a political part, but 바카라사이트 community should be addressed.¡±

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