The total R&D personnel in Italy is set to grow from 361,890 in 2024 to 390,940 by 2028, which reflects a steady year-on-year increase. From 2024 to 2025, the projected growth is approximately 2.06%, followed by 1.98% from 2025 to 2026, 1.90% from 2026 to 2027, and 1.84% from 2027 to 2028. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over these five years is about 1.95%. In 2023, the actual R&D personnel was lower than in 2024.

Future trends to watch include:

Investment shifts towards sustainable and digital technologies could influence personnel distribution.
Talent acquisition strategies as Italy competes for global R&D skill sets.
Policy changes and governmental incentives might impact R&D growth rates.