Researcher mobility in Trentino
Trentino is an autonomous province in the north of Italy. The provincial government has invested significant funds in innovative research, and the region hosts numerous research centres. The EU-funded project 'The research, training and mobility programme in Trentino' (TRENTINO) was a researcher mobility programme that ran from June 2009 to June 2014. The project was granted a one-year extension beyond its initially proposed schedule. Its seven aims concerned fostering incoming and outgoing mobility of young and senior researchers, and otherwise developing researchers' career skills and working conditions. Project members introduced a reintegration scheme whereby young researchers, either native to Trentino or having ever lived or studied there, could easily return. The group also set dissemination goals. TRENTINO issued two calls each for various types of incoming and outgoing researchers. In total, 58 fellowships were funded, 11 of which continued beyond the project's closure. Incoming foreign researchers represented about 27 % of applicants, but 43 % of the funded fellowships. Approximately one third of successful applicants were women. Working conditions for visiting researchers were equivalent to permanent employees. The number of external experts involved in the evaluation process of the research projects was 146.TRENTINO was a success in terms of number of applications and awarded fellowships. Successful scientific dissemination activities included three short television items about research projects, and several meetings that fostered dialogue among researchers and other stakeholders. The project is considered to have successfully fulfilled its aims of fostering scientific mobility, and hence improved the Trentino research system. By bringing in many visitors, the project helped the region's economy as well.
Keywords
Researcher mobility, research fellowships, mobility programme, career skills, reintegration
