OnFebruary 1, 2026, Human Technopole launched a new call for applications for access toNational Platforms, offering researchers in Italy the opportunity to access cutting-edge technologies and specialist expertise on the Institute's advanced research platforms.
The new callfor proposals is based on the strong interest shown in previous rounds. From the pilot calls, which closed onDecember 31, 2024, and throughout2025, Human Technopole received430 applications, with239 projectsaccepted after scientific evaluation. The number of applications increased from124 in 2024to306 in 2025, representing an annual growth ofalmost 147%.
The applications covered a wide range of research areas and utilized all available National Platforms, confirming the growing demand for integrated, high-level technological support in the life sciences.
Success rates per call for proposals
- 2024 pilot calls (24-PILOT): 124 proposals, 102 approved (success rate 82%)
- First call for proposals 2025 (25-ROUND-1): 169 proposals, 82 approved (49%)
- Second call for proposals 2025 (25-ROUND-2): 137 proposals, 55 approved (40%)
Breakdown of approved projects by platform
The 2024 pilot calls reveal continued interest in all technology platforms, with theNational Genomics Platformleading the way in terms of demand:
- Genomics: 108 approved (45.2%)
- Structural Biology: 67 (28.0%)
- Optical Microscopy: 23 (9.6%)
- Genomic Editing and Disease Models: 24 (10.0%)
- Data Management and Analysis: 17 (7.1%)
Regional distribution
Since the launch of the National Platforms in mid-June 2024, the calls for proposals have attracted applications from all over Italy, with balanced participation across the regions.Lombardywas the most represented region in all rounds, followed byEmilia-Romagna, Veneto, Lazio, and Tuscany.
- North: 351 applications (81.6%)
- Center: 44 (10.2%)
- South: 35 (8.1%)
Gender balance and researcher profiles
The cumulative data confirm a substantial gender balance, with women accounting for51.8%of single candidates:
- Women: 173 (51.8%)
- PI men: 161 (48.2%)
The program also continues to attract both established and emerging researchers:35.3%of proposals are led byjunior PIs, confirming its support for the next generation of scientific leaders.
Distribution by scientific area
The overall distribution of proposals highlights the diversity of research supported by the National Platforms:
- Oncology: 152 (35.3%)
- Other (human biology, cell biology): 60 (14.0%)
- Neurodegenerative diseases: 39 (9.1%)
- Human diseases: 32 (7.4%)
- Genetic diseases: 24 (5.6%)
- Neuromuscular diseases: 23 (5.3%)
- Developmental disorders: 22 (5.1%)
- Infectious diseases and pathogen regulation: 20 (4.7%)
- Cardiovascular diseases: 14 (3.3%)
- Studies on plants: 14 (3.3%)
- Developmental studies on animals: 10 (2.3%)
- Inflammation and inflammatory diseases: 9 (2.1%)
- Population and medical genomics: 8 (1.9%)
- Ancient DNA: 3 (0.7%)
Distribution by type of institution
The program involved the Italian research ecosystem in a heterogeneous manner.Universitiesrepresent the main source of applications, with strong participation also fromIRCCS(Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization, and Healthcare).
- Universities: 289 (67.2%)
- IRCCS (research hospitals): 116 (27.0%)
- Public research institutions: 25 (5.8%)
National Platforms do not only offer access to advanced instrumentation: they integrate state-of-the-art technologies with dedicated scientific support and a transparent, merit-based evaluation process supervised by the Independent Permanent Evaluation Committee. This model allows established and early-career researchers to tackle complex questions that would be difficult to develop without shared infrastructure.
With the opening of the new call for applications, researchers are invited to submit new proposals and explore collaborations, leveraging an infrastructure ready to support the next generation of scientific discoveries.
Find out how we support the growth of life sciences in Italy and submit your applicationhere.
