From the MUR, four million euros for the modernization of the ‘Laura Bassi’
A modernization and extraordinary maintenance plan for the icebreaker vessel Laura Bassi is set to begin, thanks to a four-million-euro allocation to the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS). The funds were allocated by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) as part of the new annual round of the Fund for Research Facilities and Infrastructure. Minister Anna Maria Bernini signed the decree distributing the funding among the Research Institutions. The total budget for 2025 amounts to 94 million euros.
The modernization and extraordinary maintenance plan will allow for the renewal of technical systems supporting scientific activities, the improvement of onboard working and living conditions, and the enhancement of navigational safety. More specifically, this first round of funding will launch the renovation of living quarters and certain aft structures to improve the vessel’s operational capabilities.
"Our Research Institutions are jewels, a source of pride for Italy, and internationally recognized scientific references," said Minister Anna Maria Bernini. "We have the responsibility to ensure that these centers of excellence continue to grow and progress. It is essential to provide funding for new projects, to support increasingly complex infrastructure, and to invest in the most advanced technologies," the Minister added. "The new 94-million-euro financing from the Fund for Research Facilities and Infrastructure Modernization moves in this direction. It enables scientific institutions to strengthen their research activities and open new lines of inquiry capable of producing concrete and positive outcomes for improving quality of life. We want to give continuity to work that is already excellent — a true flagship of our country. We believe in it. And results come when you believe in what you do."
"With this important funding, the Ministry is investing in the future of marine research and strengthening Italy's scientific presence on the international stage, particularly in polar regions," stated Nicola Casagli, President of the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics. "The intervention will guarantee at least another twenty years of operational life for the vessel, increasing efficiency, safety, and sustainability," Casagli added. "This investment strengthens our position in polar science and highlights the excellence of Italian shipbuilding. The Laura Bassi, which has just completed its latest mission within the framework of the National Antarctic Research Program, will continue to be a fundamental tool for addressing the major environmental challenges of our time, in line with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science."
The 94 million euros from the Fund for Research Facilities and Infrastructure were allocated based on the requests and projects submitted by each Research Institution for building and infrastructure modernization initiatives. For each Institution, the use of allocated funds will be monitored in accordance with the project schedule submitted with the funding request.