Education and Research (Istruzione e ricerca)

Italian expenditure on education and research in 2025 amounts to approximately €72.3 billion, corresponding to about 7.9% of total public expenditure. These resources finance the activities of the Ministry of Education and Merit and the Ministry of University and Research, including staff salaries, the digital transition of schools and related training programmes, and various forms of support for families and students to ensure the right to education.

Specifically, the 2025 Budget Law allocates approximately €56.7 billion to the Ministry of Education and Merit under Mission 1, covering the main expenditure related to school maintenance, staff remuneration, and the digital transition of the education system.

Expenditure related to the Ministry of University and Research is mainly concentrated under Mission 2, amounting to approximately €11.5 billion.

Education expenditure includes several components, such as:

• Personnel: salaries and remuneration for staff working in the school system and in educational activities.
• Research and innovation: salaries, as well as public and private funds allocated to research activities.
• Student and family support: funds allocated to families and students to guarantee the right to education, including scholarships and incentives.

Overall, based on the 2025–2027 budgets of the relevant Ministries, expenditure in this sector is expected to remain stable, with no significant changes.