Italy is investing €25.5 million to attract leading young researchers from around the world, with 54 scholars selected for the latest round of the Rita Levi Montalcini Programme.
University and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini has signed the decree approving the final ranking for the programme, which aims to encourage talented researchers working abroad to return to Italy while also attracting international scholars to Italian universities.
The programme is open to graduates of any nationality who obtained their PhD no more than six years ago and have completed at least three years of scientific or teaching activity abroad.
Successful candidates will be appointed as researchers on a tenure-track basis, known in Italy as RTT positions, with additional funding provided for their research projects.
More than €21 million of the total investment will be used to finance research contracts, while the remaining funds will directly support scientific activities and the development of individual research projects.
Congratulating the 54 successful candidates, Bernini said their internationally recognised talent represented an important resource for Italy.
“Italy’s universities need ideas that travel, skills that engage with the world and researchers ready to transform knowledge into a shared future,” she said.
The ministry described the Rita Levi Montalcini Programme as an important instrument for strengthening the international appeal of Italy’s university system and encouraging the return of researchers who have built their academic careers overseas.
The initiative also reflects a broader effort to invest in a new generation of researchers and strengthen Italy’s position within the international academic and scientific community.
For Italian researchers living abroad, the programme offers a structured pathway back to Italy, combining an academic appointment with financial support for research.
The final ranking of successful applicants has been published on the dedicated Rita Levi Montalcini Programme portal.
