The “Paving the way to research excellence” call for proposals has been launched

Published under the "Enhancing Research" mission of the Planet Goal, the "Paving the way to research excellence, talent attraction and results valorization" call is a strategic tool through which Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo is helping to boost the competitiveness of the research ecosystem in Piedmont and Liguria, in line with its 2025-2028 Multiannual Planning Document.

The initiative addresses the need to align Northwest Italy with Horizon Europe's standards of excellence, transforming high-quality scientific research into a driver for economic and social development in a rapidly evolving global context.

The call for proposals published today, with a budget of €5 million for the three-year period 2026-2028, builds on the earlier TRAPEZIO initiative, expanding its scope. The component supporting scientific excellence and talent attraction is now complemented by positions dedicated to the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence for Industry (AI4I) and a programme focused on enhancing the value of research results.

"Paving the way to research excellence, talent attraction and results valorization" is divided into two intervention targets.

"Target 1 - Supporting competitive research" supports research projects like ERC or RIA that received positive evaluations in competitive international and European calls for proposals but were not funded due to budget constraints. Target 1 focuses on strengthening scientific staff and enhancing the international reputation of host institutions, boosting the regional system's capacity to build stable networks and independently attract competitive long-term investments.

Target 2 - MSCA Seal of Excellence - European Postdoctoral Fellowships Horizon Europe, targets holders of the prestigious MSCA Seal of Excellence. Compared to the TRAPEZIO initiative, Target 2 introduces a key methodological innovation: a structured capacity-building process in technology transfer and open innovation.

Aligned with European Union priorities, the call also integrates Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry & Space trajectories, directing investments toward advanced digital technologies and industrial transformation.

The framework includes collaboration with the Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence for Industry (AI4I), which serves as an enabling hub by providing dedicated infrastructure and international networks. For each deadline, two positions in Target 2 are specifically reserved for Artificial Intelligence projects hosted at this centre of excellence, strengthening the region's competitiveness in cutting-edge technologies.

The call establishes two time windows for the submission of applications. The first closing date is set for 31 May 2026, the second for 30 May 2027.

To read the full text of the call for proposals and details of how to apply, please see this link.