Sicilian universities: 3.4 million from the ministry to hire 118 researchers

The Sicilian universities are preparing to welcome up to 118 new researchers, of which 71 are linked to the projects of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). This important opportunity comes thanks to funding from the Ministry of University and Research, as part of the extraordinary recruitment plan provided by the 2026 Budget Law. The implementation decree, recently signed by Minister Anna Maria Bernini, has the primary goal of consolidating and making structural over time the scientific skills developed during the PNRR projects.

From an economic point of view, the universities of the Island will receive an initial allocation of 787 thousand euros for 2026, an amount destined to grow steadily until reaching 3.4 million euros annually starting from 2027. Looking into the details of the individual institutions, the University of Palermo will receive the largest share with funding exceeding 1.4 million euros, useful for hiring 50 researchers (of which 32 coming from the PNRR pool). Following closely is the University of Catania, which will receive over 1.3 million euros for the inclusion of 46 scholars (of which 30 PNRR). Finally, the University of Messina will be able to count on 649 thousand euros to recruit 22 researchers, 9 of whom exclusively from the PNRR quota.

The Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, described the allocation of 3.4 million for Sicily as a concrete recognition of the value and capabilities of the professionals trained in recent years thanks to the PNRR. According to the Minister, the plan sends an unequivocal message: the excellences will not be dispersed, but will constitute the solid foundations on which to generate new knowledge and ensure lasting growth for the Country.

Looking at the national picture, the Sicilian initiative is part of a much broader government investment. For hiring at Italian universities and research institutions, the MUR has allocated a total of 18.5 million euros in 2026, set to rise to 60.7 million per year starting in 2027. On a national scale, total hires will reach 2,000 units. Of these, 1,051 will be PNRR researchers, mostly distributed (847) within universities and, for the remaining 204 units, in research institutions under the supervision of the Ministry.