Friuli Venezia Giulia

About the region

Friuli Venezia Giulia flag Friuli Venezia Giulia is situated in the Northeast corner of Italy, covers an area of approximately 7,856 km² with some 1.2 million inhabitants. It is also one of five regions in Italy that holds a Special Statute of Autonomy which confers legislative powers in important areas for the government of the Region. While abiding by the Italian constitution and national law as a whole, Friuli Venezia Giulia can promulgate its own laws in sectors such as the environment, health, industry, scientific research, culture and housing.

Statistically, the region has 8.8 researchers for every 1,000 inhabitants, compared with 2.8/1,000 nationally, 5.4/1,000 in the European Union, and 8.1/1,000 in the United States. These figures reflect a deep-rooted vocation throughout the entire region for study, research and innovation. Today the research and development system in the region is particularly rich and includes three universities: Trieste and Udine (which have decentralised their teaching activities to Pordenone, Gorizia and Monfalcone, with an overall teaching body of almost 2,000 teachers, 22 faculties, approximately 130 degree courses, about 100 specialist degree courses, 60 specialisation schools and more than 42,000 students enrolled) and SISSA – International School for Advanced Studies (for postgraduate training and leading-edge research in various areas of Physics, Mathematics and Neurosciences).