General information about PRINEvery year the MIUR co-finances research projects of significant national interest (PRIN) proposed by universities as well as by astronomical, astrophysical and vulcanological observatories. In the technical implementation of these projects, the MIUR is supported by the CINECA consortium.

The calls for PRIN-projects are generally published annually.
 
As for the 2010-2011 call PRIN-projects have a three-year duration. Every project proposal must be presented  by a team of at least 2 or 5  “operative research units” (depending on the research area) which are coordinated by a university professor or a researcher in a permanent position or with a fixed-term contract.  

Each project will be presented by the “scientific project coordinator” who must coincide with one of the operative research units’ scientific coordinators cooperating within the project. Each professor/researcher is allowed to participate in only one project for every call.

The selection of the proposals is based on a two-step procedure (the pre-selection is done by each university and the following evaluation by the MIUR).

The MIUR finances the selected research projects by co-financing 70% of the costs.Thanks to the introduction of the "full cost" model, universities can cover their 30% of co-financing through the cost of their research staff participating in the project.

For further information please visit the following webpage: http://www.prin.miur.it/

There will be no further funding available in 2012.