PRIN 2026 vs PRIN 2022: Key Changes in Italian Research Funding for Universities

PRIN 2022: Expansion of Italian research funding under PNRR

PRIN 2022 was shaped by the exceptional availability of NextGenerationEU (PNRR) resources, enabling a large-scale expansion of research funding in Italy. With a total budget exceeding €700 million and a maximum project size of €250,000, the programme funded a wide range of small, investigator-driven research projects across Italian universities and public research institutions.

Projects typically lasted two years and required at least two research units, making PRIN 2022 highly accessible and inclusive. This structure allowed a broad segment of the academic community in Italy to participate, including early-career researchers and smaller institutions. The evaluation process followed a single-stage peer review model, focused on scientific excellence, feasibility, and the track record of the principal investigator.

PRIN 2026 changes: Larger projects and higher competition

PRIN 2026 represents a strategic shift in Italian research funding policy. Integrated into the Piano Triennale per la Ricerca (PTR), the programme operates with a budget of approximately €260 million, with a net ingrease compared to non-PNRR levels but a major downsizing from 2022.

This reduction is further accompanied by a significant increase in project size, now ranging between €1 million and €1.2 million. Projects last three years and require larger consortia of 4–6 research units, spanning multiple Italian universities and research institutions.

This change reflects a clear policy direction: moving from funding many small projects to supporting fewer, larger, and more competitive research initiatives capable of achieving critical mass and stronger international visibility.

PRIN 2026 participation rules and young researchers funding

A key change in PRIN 2026 concerns both participation rules and the allocation of funding for young researchers in Italy. The share of funding reserved for principal investigators under 40 is reduced from 30% in PRIN 2022 to 15%, signaling a partial shift away from broad generational support.

At the same time, participation is now limited to one project per researcher, regardless of role (principal investigator, unit leader, or participant). If a researcher appears in multiple proposals, only the first submitted application is considered valid.

These changes encourage stronger coordination within Italian universities and reduce fragmentation across projects. However, they also increase entry barriers, particularly for early-career researchers, as leading large consortia requires established networks, strong track records, and project management capacity.

PRIN Hybrid: Multidisciplinary research in PRIN 2026

One of the most important innovations in PRIN 2026 is the introduction of the PRIN Hybrid programme, designed to promote multidisciplinary research in Italy.

PRIN Hybrid encourages collaboration between humanities and STEM disciplines, supporting projects that integrate diverse methodologies and advanced technologies. This reflects a broader shift in European research policy, aligning PRIN with programmes such as Horizon Europe, where interdisciplinarity plays a central role.

PRIN 2026 evaluation system: From peer review to multi-stage selection

The evaluation process in PRIN 2026 has evolved significantly compared to PRIN 2022. While the previous call relied on a single-stage peer review, PRIN 2026 introduces a multi-stage evaluation system inspired by the European Research Council model.

• Phase 1: preliminary assessment of CVs and project idea

• Phase 2: full proposal evaluation

• Phase 3: financial congruity check

Strict thresholds determine progression between phases, increasing selectivity and reinforcing merit-based competition.

From scientific excellence to impact-driven research funding in Italy

Another major change in PRIN 2026 is the stronger emphasis on research impact. While PRIN 2022 primarily rewarded scientific excellence, PRIN 2026 evaluates projects based on their scientific, social, and economic impact.

The programme also introduces elements of ex post evaluation and stronger monitoring mechanisms, aligning Italian research funding with international standards of accountability and performance. This shift brings PRIN closer to European frameworks, where impact and societal relevance are increasingly central.

A strategic transformation of PRIN and Italian universities

Overall, the transition from PRIN 2022 to PRIN 2026 reflects a broader transformation in Italian research funding. The system is moving from an expansionary, PNRR-driven model to a more selective, strategic, and impact-oriented approach.

For Italian universities and research institutions, this means adapting to:

• larger and more complex project structures

• stronger institutional coordination

• increased emphasis on impact and international competitiveness

While participation rates may decrease, funded projects are expected to achieve greater visibility and stronger alignment with European research priorities.

PRIN 2022 vs PRIN 2026: Key differences

Key takeaways

• PRIN 2026 funds fewer but significantly larger research projects

• Participation is limited to one project per researcher

• Reduced quota for young principal investigators (15%)

• Stronger focus on research impact and accountability

• Introduction of PRIN Hybrid for multidisciplinary research in Italy

  
  

FAQ: PRIN 2026 and PRIN 2022

What is PRIN 2026? PRIN 2026 is the latest Italian national funding programme supporting fundamental research projects across universities and research institutions, with a focus on larger, high-impact consortia coordinated under the Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca.

How is PRIN 2026 different from PRIN 2022? PRIN 2026 funds fewer but larger projects, introduces stricter participation rules, and adopts a multi-stage evaluation system with a stronger focus on impact.

Can researchers participate in multiple PRIN 2026 projects? No. In PRIN 2026, each researcher can participate in only one project, regardless of their role.

How to maximise success in PRIN 2026 applications? AI-powered platforms can significantly enhance participation in PRIN 2026 calls by addressing key bottlenecks in proposal development:

• Consortium building optimization: AI can map complementary expertise across Italian universities and suggest optimal 4–6 unit configurations aligned with ERC sectors and PRIN evaluation criteria

• Proposal structuring aligned with evaluation phases: AI tools can generate and refine both the short proposal (Phase 1) and full proposal (Phase 2), ensuring coherence with scoring thresholds and reviewer expectations

• Impact section generation: Automated drafting of scientific, societal, and economic impact narratives, tailored to PRIN 2026 requirements and Horizon Europe standards

• Knowledge integration: Retrieval and synthesis of prior funded PRIN, ERC, and Horizon projects to strengthen state-of-the-art sections and positioning

• Iterative evaluation simulation: AI-based scoring and feedback loops that mimic PRIN evaluation criteria, improving proposal quality before submission

These capabilities are particularly valuable in the context of PRIN 2026, where competition is higher, projects are larger, and evaluation is multi-stage, requiring a more strategic and data-driven approach to proposal development.

PRIN 2026 represents a strategic evolution of the PRIN programme, redefining how Italian universities compete for research funding in Italy and Europe.