In the magazine *Agenda Digitale*, Mirta Michilli reflects on the future of young researchers
Italy is capable of training high-calibre young researchers, but it does not always succeed in creating the conditions for their talent to be fully channelled into innovation, development and social value. This is the paradox addressed by Mirta Michillii, Director-General of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, in the article Young researchers: Italy trains them but fails to make the most of them, published in Agenda Digitale, the magazine edited by Alessandro Longo.
The data on the career progression of PhD graduates paint a picture that is only superficially reassuring. Four to six years after completing their degrees, 96.1 per cent of PhD holders are in work, but 34.4 per cent of employees are still on fixed-term contracts and for only 39.9 per cent of those in employment is a PhD a necessary requirement for the work they carry out. The problem, therefore, concerns not only access to employment, but also the quality of career paths, job stability and the recognition of the skills acquired.
International mobility also takes on a different meaning when, rather than being an opportunity for growth and exchange, it becomes an almost compulsory choice in order to find a job consistent with one’s qualifications. Among those working abroad, almost six out of ten are in fact in a profession for which a PhD is required; in Italy, this figure drops to less than four out of ten.
Alongside this reflection, the article highlights the practical experience of the Research Award organised by RomeCup, which each year provides a close-up view of the quality of young Italian research. In the 2026 edition, 265 applications and thirteen finalists presented research ranging from rehabilitation robotics to bionic prostheses, from precision surgery to trustworthy artificial intelligence, right through to autonomous systems and environmental monitoring. These are projects capable of combining scientific advancement with solutions to real-world problems.
The award thus also serves as a tool to highlight expertise and career paths that often remain confined to specialist communities, and to foster new connections between research, business, institutions, schools and civil society.
The fifth edition of the Research Award, organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale in partnership with the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, is now open: PhD students, PhD graduates and researchers aged 34 or under, working in Italy in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence, may apply by 28 February 2027. The winner will receive a prize of 20,000 euros, with the winner to be announced on 15 April during the RomeCup 2027.
The issue, however, goes beyond a prize. As Michilli points out, nurturing young researchers requires a shared responsibility amongst universities, institutions, businesses and civil society. It means offering continuity, recognising the skills acquired through a PhD, and creating environments in which ideas can flourish and generate new opportunities. Because when talent finds the right conditions to flourish, it is not just a career that grows: a research group, a business, a region and the country’s ability to tackle complex problems all flourish too.
Read Mirta Michilli’s full article on Agenda Digitale
Young researchers: Italy trains them but fails to make the most of them
Italy trains high-calibre researchers with high employment rates, but precarious contracts, uncertain careers and underutilised skills limit their impact. Universities, businesses and institutions must transform doctoral studies into innovation, professional responsibility and regional development for the countryAgenda Digitale, 24 September 2026
