The Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, through Regional Law No. 34/2015, promotes the enhancement of human capital operating within the regional academic and research system, with particular focus on the humanities and social sciences disciplinary sectors. Financial resources are allocated annually through the Regional Budget Law and are equally distributed between the University of Trieste and the University of Udine.

The initiative supports research projects with tangible impacts on the regional territory and is addressed to young researchers up to the age of 40 who reside in the region or are present there for study or work purposes.

Until 2024, the programme provided for the activation of research fellowships pursuant to Article 22 of Law No. 240 of 30 December 2010.

For the year 2025, the provisions of Regional Law 3 June 2025, No. 7 (multisectoral provisions), Article 119 – “Transitional provision for 2025 on research contracts” apply.

Following Law No. 79 of 29 June 2022 (converting Decree-Law No. 36/2022 into law), the institution of research fellowships (former Article 22 of Law No. 240/2010) was replaced by new contractual arrangements, namely: research contracts (Article 22), post-doctoral appointments (Article 22-bis), and research appointments (Article 22-ter) under Law No. 240 of 30 December 2010.

The Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia has published, with Regional Council Resolution No. 1032 of 4 July 2024, a Call for applications for grants to support the creation or modernisation of research infrastructure in the renewable hydrogen sector.

The Call aimed at selecting and financing project proposals relating to the creation or modernisation of research infrastructure in the renewable hydrogen sector, financed by regional resources referred to in Article 7 of Regional Law 13/2023 and consistent with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition”, Component 2 “Renewable Energy, Hydrogen, Network and Sustainable Mobility”, Investment “Production of Renewable Hydrogen in Brownfield Industrial Areas”.

The purpose of the Call is to simultaneously increase and integrate the competitiveness of the entire regional system in the renewable hydrogen sector by sharing the research infrastructure created or modernised, with the aim of promoting interoperability, opening up new markets and acquiring new results of technological relevance and interest for the entire hydrogen value chain. Thanks to the widespread expertise of the regional scientific system, the aim is to encourage the creation of research infrastructure capable of activating collaborative research of interest to the scientific community and businesses along the entire hydrogen value chain.

The Call funded projects aimed at encouraging the construction or modernisation of research infrastructure in the following areas: a) the production of green and clean hydrogen; b) innovative technologies for the storage and transport of hydrogen and its conversion into derivatives and electrofuels; c) fuel cells for stationary and mobility applications; d) intelligent integrated management systems to improve the resilience and reliability of hydrogen-based smart infrastructure.

The University of Trieste participates in four projects funded under the Call in the role of coordinator and partner:

1. Efficiency For Hydrogen - E4H2
2. Research Infrastructure for Renewable Hydrogen and Smart, Resilient Technologies - H2SmartLab
3. Open infrastructure on future Underground Hydrogen Storage - FUSE
4. Infrastructure for the Development of Advanced Materials and Processes to Contribute to the Energy Transition in the Hydrogen Supply Chain - IMPACT-H2.

Moreover, to supplement the 2024 Call, in 2025 the FVG Region published, by decree of the Central Director of the Specialised Operational Unit for Research, Innovation, European Social Fund Plus and other EU funds no. 42037/GRFVG of 12/08/2025, the Public Call for the selection of research projects in the renewable hydrogen sector in order to finance research projects in the renewable hydrogen supply chain, with the aim of consolidating the investments made with the Infrastructure Call and enhancing the skills and knowledge available in the region within the network of entities contributing to the development of these new technologies.

In accordance with this latest Call, the University of Trieste is coordinating the RISE-H2 project - Research and Innovation to Develop the H2 Ecosystem.

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the main financial instrument for implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, supporting investments in people, improving employment opportunities, social cohesion, social protection, and competitiveness.

The Regional ESF+ Program aims to increase employment levels by promoting a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the transition to a green and digital economy.

The FVG Region, through the Specific Program n. 22/23, finances advanced training initiatives promoted by the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, and SISSA. By its own decree, the Region has published the Notice for the submission of projects, with two calls planned for 2023 and 2024, aimed at supporting advanced training within the regional university system.

This initiative is part of the Regional ESF+ Program 2021/2027, as outlined in the document "Periodic Planning of Operations – PPO 2023," approved by Regional Government Resolution No. 298 on February 17, 2023.

The main objective of the Notice is to finance advanced training initiatives promoted by the University, each with a specific focus:

• LINE A: Doctoral programs;
• LINE B: Professionalizing training actions additional to the undergraduate curriculum and transversal training to doctoral programs;
• LINE C: Research grants;
• LINE D: Recruitment of fixed-term researchers of type A (RTDA).

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, through the European Social Fund PO PLUS 2021/2027, is funding PhD scholarships to develop higher education. The projects contribute to improving skills, encouraging professional reorientation, and promoting mobility, with a particular focus on digital and entrepreneurial skills. They also strengthen integration with the regional production system and research institutions through collaborations with businesses and technology transfer.

The projects are published on the websites of the individual courses and are part of Specific Programs no. 22/23 (CUP J93C23001490008) and no. 20/24 (CUP J93C25000640008).

For more details, please visit the dedicated page

The FSE+ Regional Program aims to increase employment levels by promoting a skilled and resilient workforce geared towards the transition to a green and digital economy.

The University has published calls for applications for research grants funded by the FVG Region under the Regional Program (PR) FSE+ 2021/2027, as part of the Periodic Planning of Operations - PPO Annuality 2023.

The initiative is part of Specific Program 22/23, dedicated to supporting higher education in the regional university system, with a particular focus on LINE C - Research Grants (CUP J93C23001490008).

The notice provided for two windows for the submission of applications, for the years 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region has launched a new funding window for “Line D”, specifically dedicated to the recruitment of fixed-term researchers (RTDA) and technologists.

This recently updated measure aims to strengthen higher education and innovation within the regional territory.

Funding is allocated exclusively to the three main regional scientific hubs: the University of Trieste, the University of Udine, and SISSA.

The main objective of Line D is to support the employment of highly specialised professionals through three-year contracts:

• RTDA Researchers: employed pursuant to Law No. 240/2010 for research and teaching activities.
• Technologists: technical professionals envisaged under Article 24-bis of the same law, essential for supporting research and innovation.

The funded activities must be consistent with the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S4), thereby ensuring concrete integration with the local productive system.

The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region with its own Decree (n. 41355/GRFVG of 07/08/2025) issued a Public Notice, funded by the Complementary Operational Programme (POC) 2014–2020 and included in the scope of Axis 2 – Education and Training. 

The Notice was in continuity with the interventions carried out through the POR FSE 2014–2020 in favour of the regional university system.

Through this Notice, the Region has financed, on an extraordinary basis, the extension or renewal of the Type A Research Grants and Time-Determined Researcher (RTDA) contracts activated by the University of Trieste, the University of Udine and SISSA – International School of Advanced Studies.
The aim of the initiative was to ensure the continuity of ongoing research projects at local universities, avoiding the dispersion of the wealth of knowledge and skills developed through previous investments, pending the introduction of forms of stabilization of research professions within universities.

Overall, the Region approved 59 projects, of which 52 were eligible for funding, for a total amount of €1,826,000.00.

Subsequently, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region ordered an update to the project; with Regional Council Resolution No. 119 of January 30, 2026, the overall funding for the initiative, to be distributed between the University of Udine, the University of Trieste, and SISSA, was increased by €293,518.64, with the opening of a new help desk.

As a result of this integration, the overall budget allocated to the University amounts to €1,947,810.24; therefore, the positions reported in the previous window were funded and, under the second window, additional positions were identified for renewal or extension.