New PNRR Expression of Interest: Funding Opportunity for ITS Academies to Set Up Additional 4.0 Labs

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The Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), through its Mission Unit for the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan), has published a new Public Notice inviting expressions of interest. The initiative is aimed at “ITS Academy” foundations that have already been allocated PNRR resources and seeks to fund the creation of additional 4.0 labs.

This action falls under Mission 4 – Component 1 – Investment 1.5 “Development of the professional tertiary education system (ITS)” of the PNRR, funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU.

Purpose of the Notice

The main aim is to identify any further need for 4.0 labs among ITS Academies. These additional labs, which will add to those already built or nearing completion, will serve to:

• Strengthen the existing training offer.
• Align labs with the changing world of work (Transition 4.0, Energy 4.0, Environment 4.0, etc.).
• Create new labs to broaden the offer and support the launch of new programmes.
• Increase enrolment in ITS programmes.

The remaining resources will be allocated by a subsequent ministerial decree, following the distribution criteria already set out in previous decrees (Ministerial Decrees no. 96/2023, no. 84/2023 and no. 187/2024), which include a reserve of at least 40% for ITS Academies in Southern Italy.

Eligible Applicants

The following may submit an expression of interest:

1. ITS Academy foundations that have already received funding under the ministerial decrees of 26 May 2023, no. 96, 10 May 2023, no. 84, and 18 September 2024, no. 187.
2. Each foundation may submit only one expression of interest.
3. Foundations must undertake to build and complete the new labs by the date on which PNRR target M4C1-20 is achieved.
4. They must meet the minimum requirements for sound financial management and the absence of conflicts of interest, fraud and corruption, as set out in Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) no. 2018/1046 and Article 22 of Regulation (EU) no. 2021/241.

Admissibility Criteria for the Expression of Interest

Expressions of interest will be admitted if they:

• Come from ITS Academy foundations meeting the requirements of Art. 2.
• Submit the online form, fully completed within the deadline, on the “Futura PNRR-Gestione Progetti” platform.
• Plan activities consistent with the purposes of the Notice.
• Comply with the principle of Do No Significant Harm to environmental objectives (DNSH), pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and with all PNRR conditions.

Important: Failure to meet even one requirement makes the application inadmissible. Failure to complete the form, or incomplete submission, within the deadline is treated as a withdrawal.

Deadlines and Submission Procedure

Expressions of interest must be submitted online only:

• Deadline: No later than 15:00 on 10 June 2025.
• Platform: “Futura PNRR-Gestione Progetti”, “Progettazione” section, accessible from the reserved area of the Ministry’s portal (https://pnrr.istruzione.it/).
• Access: Using the SPID credentials or Electronic Identity Card (CIE) of the foundation’s President/Legal Representative and administrative contact.
• Procedure:

1. Enter the required details.
2. Enter the details and information relating to the expression of interest, and the declarations.
3. Submit the expression of interest digitally signed by the President and Legal Representative (failing which it will be inadmissible).

Resource Allocation Phase

ITS Academies that express a further need may be allocated additional resources by a specific ministerial decree, using the same criteria as the previous decrees. Detailed project plans must then be submitted. Foundations must ensure compliance with EU legislation, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) circulars and communication and publicity obligations (stating “Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU”), as well as with DNSH, the ban on double funding and the absence of conflicts of interest.

Support and Information

• For clarification: use the “Assistenza” (Help) function in the reserved area of the “Futura PNRR – Gestione Progetti” platform.
• Information webinars will be held.

References

• Person responsible for the procedure: Dr Andrea Bollini.

Don’t miss this important opportunity to strengthen your training offer and help develop the ITS system!

For full details, please consult the complete text of the Public Notice on the website of the Ministry of Education and Merit.