The initiatives included in M4C2 of the Italian NRRP are implemented by the Ministry of University and Research, with a budget of € 6 billion, and they aim to:
– strengthen research and foster the dissemination of innovative models for basic and applied research carried out in synergy between universities, research organisations and public subjects or privates investing in R&D;
– support processes for innovation and technology transfer;
– enhance research and innovation infrastructures, capital and expertise to support innovation.
Four are the action lines identified by the MUR in favour of research in business field:
1.3 Partnerships extended to universities, research centres, companies for funding of basic research projects [€ 1,6 billion]: the investment aims at financing at least 10 major programmes of basic and/or applied research, characterised by an interdisciplinary approach, carried out by consortia of universities, public research organisations and private entities.
1.4 Strengthening research structures for supporting the creation of National Centres, national R&D leaders on some Key Enabling Technologies [€ 1,61 billion]: it is foreseen the implementation of 5 centres dedicated to frontier research, i.e. aggregations of universities, public research bodies and private subjects, highly qualified, sharing common strategic research objectives and interests, involving the use of enabling technologies coherent with European research priorities.
1.5 Establishing and strengthening of Innovation Ecosystems for sustainability, building territorial leaders of R&D [€ 1,3 billion]: the innovation ecosystems will be up to 12, without predefined topics, with an approach oriented to major challenges with the aim of creating and promoting innovation for the sustainability of territories.
3.1 Fund for construction of an integrated system of Research and Innovation Infrastructures [€ 1,58 billion]: the measure will support up to 30 infrastructure projects, existing or newly financed.
The MUR defines Research Infrastructures as public entities or partnerships/consortia, consisting of facilities, resources and related services available to a wide national and international audience.
While, Innovation Infrastructures are defined as structures, tools, plants, resources and services, organised in the form of public-private partnerships, aimed at increasing competitiveness in the research and technological development activities of industry and public utilities.
For the implementation of the Extended Partnerships, National Centres and Innovation Ecosystems [lines of action 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5] a Hub & Spoke governance structure is foreseen, where
Hub is the implementing entity, public or private, responsible for the start-up and the management and coordination activities of the project financed by the NRRP, and
Spoke is the executing/realising entity, identified by the Hub for carrying out research
activities within the funded project.