Statement by President Meloni to mark National STEM Week (4-11 February 2025)

The second edition of Italy’s National STEM Week (‘Settimana nazionale delle discipline STEM’), which was established by Law no. 187 of 24 November 2023, gets underway today. We strongly believe in this initiative, as we consider fostering interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among young generations to be of strategic importance for our nation’s future. These subjects are increasingly central to the changes that our economic, social and production systems are undergoing.

According to the World Bank, 80% of the most advanced nations’ wealth is represented by knowledge. In this context, STEM subjects are taking on an increasingly crucial role, offering great opportunities and prospects. Unfortunately, in Italy, the indicators show a misalignment between supply and demand. According to ISTAT, only a quarter of Italian graduates aged between 25 and 34 studied STEM subjects, and Italian companies say they have difficulty in finding professionals with training in these disciplines.

The Government is determined to reverse this trend, and has already taken the first steps in this direction. I am referring, for example, to the technical-vocational education and training reform to create a stable and structural link between technical and vocational education pathways, higher technical institutes (‘ITS’) and production chains; the establishment of the ‘Made in Italy’ high school, which encompasses both humanities and STEM subjects; the incentives for companies to hire researchers and research contract holders; the funding allocated for career guidance and the ‘scientific degree plan’. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we are convinced that the path we have taken is the right one.

Overcoming the skills challenge is essential to building an increasingly competitive nation that is at the forefront of the great transformations of our time. We can only achieve this goal if we are able to work together as a team, involving families, schools, universities, companies, professional associations, cultural institutions and the media in this mission. Believing in Italy’s future also means working to shape the professions and the professionals of tomorrow, thus helping to reawaken that courage and daring that are innate in our people and that have allowed our nation to become what it is today.