Research Facts and Figures

The University of Florence promotes scientific research as a key driver for building a knowledge-based society, cultural growth, innovation, and sustainable development.

In line with the Strategic Plan, Unifi focuses on advancing knowledge to tackle major local and global challenges by integrating basic and applied research, cross-disciplinary approaches, and Open Science. This strategic direction rests on three key pillars: promoting interdisciplinary collaboration across academic fields, fostering a dynamic and open research environment, and continuously strengthening international engagement.

Questo patrimonio diffuso di competenze opera all'interno di 21 Dipartimenti, distribuiti nelle cinque macro-aree scientifico-disciplinari di Ateneo, affiancati da 37 Infrastrutture di Ricerca dotate di strumentazioni tecnologiche all'avanguardia e da una solida rete di 16 Centri di Ricerca.

Unifi research community comprises 2,589 active researchers, including 1,466 professors and permanent researchers, 362 fixed-term researchers, and 761 early-career researchers, including postdoctoral fellows, contract staff, and research grant holders.

This rich pool of expertise operates across 21 Departments spanning the University’s five main academic areas, supported by 37 cutting-edge Research Infrastructures and a strong network of 16 Research Centres.

Unifi’s scientific reputation is built on a strong track record in the most selective European and national funding calls.

The University boasts 25 European Research Council (ERC) projects awarded to Principal Investigators who selected Florence as their Host Institution, securing nearly 39 million euro in total funding—a result that places Unifi 13th among Italian universities.

Unifi’s ability to attract and nurture top talent is also highlighted by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), with 42 projects funded between 2021 and 2026 worth approximately 11 million euro. These include 18 individual Fellowships and 14 international Doctoral Networks (4 of which are coordinated by Unifi).

Complementing this European momentum are the achievements under the Italian Science Fund (Fondo Italiano per la Scienza – FIS): with 21 funded projects across the FIS 1, FIS 2, and FIS 3 calls totalling 26.52 million euro, the University reaffirms its central role in driving pioneering, high-impact scientific ideas.

The quality of Unifi’s scientific output and its strong capacity to attract research funding are demonstrated by its achievements in competitive grant programmes.

At the beginning of 2026, the University ranks 13th in Italy for the number of awarded projects under Horizon Europe (2021–2027), with a portfolio of 128 projects worth a total of 53 million euro. This milestone builds directly on the success of the previous framework programme, Horizon 2020 (2014–2024), in which Unifi was actively involved in 151 funded projects totalling 56 million euro.

On the national stage, the University’s leadership is strongly highlighted in the PRIN funding calls (2022 and PRIN 2022 PNRR), securing 451 awarded projects—166 of which as national coordinator—bringing total funding for Florence to 34.58 million euro.