Some data on Italian Research Funding “Key Figures 2005”, European Commission, Eurostat serviceshttp:// GDP: 1258,6 Milliards € (G€) [2002 ] Expenditure for R&D (public + prived) : 14,6 G€ (1.16% of GDP [2002]) (1,14% of GDP [2003]) ( France 2003: 34 G€, i.e. 2,18% of GDP; EU : 1,92% ) Italian State finances 50,8% of R&D budget [1996] (France 1996: 41%; France 2003 : 34,6%) Business enterprises finance 43% of R&D budget [1996] (France 1996: 48,5%; France 2003 : 50,8%)..Public financement for civil Research amounts to ≈0,51% of GDP [1996] Business enterprise financement amounts to ≈0,55% of GDP [2004] both public and private expenditure are among of the lowest in Europe!! see “Key Figures 2005”, page 24 and 32

Italian Research Human Resources: research staff with permanent position N. researchers / 1000 inhabitants : 2,8 (France : 6,8 ; Europe-25 : 5,4) N. researchers: 8,8% of total workers (France :15,6%; EU :13,8%) Total N. Researchers (with permanent position) (France: ), of which: (28,4%) in business enterprises (France : ) (16,2%) in public research Institutions (EPRs) (e.g. CNR; University not included) (France : 26376) (52,6%) in University (France: ). Total in the public R&D sector: ~74000 [2003]; from “Key Figures 2005”, European Commission, and from Eurostathttp://

Italian Public Research Human Resources: research staff with temporary position Post-doc researchers with temporary contracts > in Universities[official data, MIUR and CNR] > 2200 at the CNR. These figures are under-estimated probably by more than 100%!! * Estimated n. of post-docs with temporary positions: PhD students [2005]: PhD students + post-docs with temporary contracts: ~ people *official figures only include contracts directly financed by Universities or EPRs. Many other sources exist! No official data available on the subject!!

New PhDs versus new permanent positions in Italy: estimated figures Number of new PhDs[Source : MIUR-URST and AFAM] [ ] : =21987 Number of New Researcher position available in Universities: [Source: MIUR- CNVSU] [ (july)] : 7000 (accessible to new PhDs) in the CNR (the principal EPR) : [ (july)] : ???? (a few hundreds at most) what do the PhDs do, given that only ~1/3 finds a permanent position in the public research sector?

Private research (basic or applied) is not very developed, and offers little oppurtunities. Many people stay at University or other public institutions, waiting for a permanent position. Meanwhile, they generally can not conduct independent research; see a description of typical working conditions in the next page. And have a look at the age profile of post-docs with temporary positions.... in the second-next page

Temporary positions in the italian public research system Limitations to research freedom and creativity. Temporary post-doc researchers have no right to apply for grants. Insufficient salary and social security Salary of an “assegnista di ricerca” (University post-doc): Euro/year (tax-free; 10% subtracted for mandatory social insurance). Limited Sickness and parental benefits: (contracts are suspended in the occurrence of serious illnesses or pregnancy) Unemployment benefits: No right at all to unemployement benefits. Excessive (underpayed) teaching duties “proposed” to post-docs "temporary professors" [ ] are 37% of all University professors (32871, versus total permanent staff) Euros gross salary for a hrs Course + all related duties (exams, teaching assistance, etc..; travel expenses not paid). Meanwhile, the European Charter of Researchers recommends that “ …teaching responsibilities should not be excessive and should not prevent researchers, particularly at the beginning of their careers, from carrying out their research activities”.

Age profile of University post-docs with temporary position from: Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca, Comitato nazionale per la valutazione del sistema universitario (MIUR-CNVSU): Quarto Rapporto sullo stato del Sistema Universitario, Sezione 7: Il personale docente di ruolo - Analisi delle procedure concorsuali dal 1999 al 2003 Assegnisti di Ricerca:temporary post-doc positions payed by University Most post-docs in italian universities are more than 33 years old !!!

Age profile of individuals that have obtained a University permanent position in the years from: MIUR-CNVSU, Quarto Rapporto sullo stato del Sistema Universitario, Sezione 7: Il personale docente di ruolo - Analisi delle procedure concorsuali dal 1999 al 2003 A: associated professors O: ordinary (full) professors R: Researchers (lowest level of permanent research position) N. of new Researcher positions granted is only ~ 1/2 of the N. of new professors!!!! -> available positions have been used for internal career progression of old employees

Age profile of individuals having a permanent position at University on Dec from: MIUR-CNVSU, 2003 N. of lowest-level researchers (“Ricercatore”) is only ~ 1/3 of the total N. of established researchers (all levels) !!!!

R&D business enterprises : 19% (France : 20,9% ; EU-25 : 17,5%) R&D public (University excluded) : 38,4% (France : 31,9% ; EU-25 : 34,8%) R&D University : 29,8% (France : 33% ; EU-25 : 34,9%) Parity : % women [2001]