The minister announces: meritocratic criteria and 300,000 euros over three years for the under 40s
ROME – At least part of the salary of researchers will be linked to the results obtained, for young people open doors and additional funds to be assigned to the under 40s. The idea is to eliminate pockets of waste or unproductive expenses. Mariastella Gelmini starts here to relaunch Italian research. But how to evaluate the results? «Starting from the evaluation of the projects, making use of non-partisan international commissions – said the Minister of Education, University and Research – we must make sure to link a part of the salaries of the researchers to the results of the project itself. This should also apply to public research institutions. This would trigger a virtuous circuit, favoring the criterion of meritocracy". Merit and competition become the levers with which to revive research, which has enormous strategic value for the future of the country. Minister Gelmini also announced that he expects "to quickly get to the commissioner of those entities that do not produce results, because resources would be freed up to be concentrated on other entities that do work". In Italy, the percentage of investment in research is equal to 1.09% of GDP, against an OECD average of 2.26%. With such a gap it is difficult to compete, so it is necessary to use results-based distribution criteria. On this basis the additional funds to be assigned to the under 40s are born. It is 300 thousand euros in three years, intended for those who will present projects in particular strategic areas. This is foreseen by a notice to the study of the ministry. «For this purpose, an additional 60 million euros are available for the research sector – said the minister speaking at the conference on research organized by the FLC-CGIL. A measure to favor the careers of young people is also being studied: the objective is to finance research projects in strategic areas of the under-40s validated by international commissions. In this way we will encourage the best young people and promote the autonomy of research». But the private sector in Italy finances research very little. "For this reason, to increase the sensitivity of companies towards the sector, there will be incentives for the formation of consortia between small and medium-sized enterprises and coordination between companies and research institutes". Another novelty: research doctorates also within companies. The other lever will be that of "rejuvenation" which favors young people. «I will open doors and windows to young people, to give them opportunities – Gelmini underlined again – starting with the ministry. While on the one hand it is essential to treasure the experience accumulated by the managers, on the other hand we need to let in fresh air to give opportunities to young researchers who practice and live research. For example, we plan to intervene on the issue of technology-transfer, or rather the patenting of scientific discoveries: on this point, we want to organize working groups with the researchers themselves. Ours is a gerontocratic society if we consider that only 16% of company executives are under 40 years old. It is necessary to oppose the lobby of the 60 year olds to that of the 35 year olds". Il Messaggero of 01/07/2008, article by ANNA MARIA SERSALE ed. national p. 13
