Once again, Friuli Venezia Giulia proves to be a highly attractive region for foreign researchers and students. This is evidenced by the 7th "The Mobility of Knowledge" report, a survey carried out by the Coordinating Committee of Regional Research Institutes (Coordinamento degli Enti di Ricerca regionali - CER). The survey's findings were presented this morning during a press conference by the regional councillor for education, research, and universities Roberto Molinaro and the director general of AREA Science Park, Enzo Moi. According to the study, in 2011 a total of 3,729 students and 10,925 researchers worked or studied in one of the region's scientific institutions for any length of time.

In particular the survey, which involved 24 scientific institutions, showed that the number of foreign researchers working full time in the region's research institutes and universities increased from  4,123 to 4,485 (out of a total of 8,635) between 2010 and 2011. Looking in more detail at the countries of origin of post docs, researchers, and docents, the European Union (over 1,300), Asia (over 800 excluding India and China) and Africa (over 760) are particularly well represented. The presence of researchers from Central and South America has remained constant (over 480). Turning to scientific fields, for researchers (including Italian ones), trends are much like in 2010: the main sector is Science, Mathematics and Computing, followed by Health and Welfare and Humanities and Arts. For students (including Italian ones), the main sector is Social Sciences, Business and Law, followed by Humanities and Arts, Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction and Health and Welfare.

In addition, the study specifically mapped mobility data for the university sector during the 2010/2011 academic year, with foreign students accounting for 7% of total enrolment, well above the national average of 3.3%. Gender distribution was also measured for all Italian and foreign students and researchers. Data on male and female students enrolled in university classes show a predominance of women - particularly for three-year and five-year degree courses - who account for 55% of the total. Gender distribution changes significantly when one looks at researchers, with the percentage of women dropping to 31.57% (a slight increase compared to last year). This data mirrors the European situation and confirms that women have more difficulty accessing professional research careers.

As part of its survey, CER analyzed two issues in detail: one was internationalization strategies, and the other the project-making capacity of regional network institutions within the broader European context, highlighting strong suits and margins for improvement.   

The scientific and academic institutions that took part in the "Mobility of Knowledge" survey include: ICTP, CBM, Plast-Optica S.p.A. Research Centre, CISM, CNR - IOM, CNR - ISMAR, "Giuseppe Tartini" State Music Conservatory, "Jacopo Tomadini" State Music Conservatory, Consotrium for the AREA science and technology park, CRO, Italian Liver Foundation (Fondazione Italiana Fegato - F.I.F), Friuli Innovazione Resarch and Technology Transfer Centre, ICGEB, INAF, INFN, ICS-UNIDO,IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, ISIG, OGS, Science Centre Immaginario Scientifico, Sincrotrone Trieste, SISSA, University of Trieste, University of Udine.