Current poor prospects for young Italian life scientists are highlighted by a survey by the Association of Italian Biotechnologists (ANBI), released in July 2003. Although Italy has invested in growing its scientific and technical community, jobs have not followed. Young biotechnologists' salaries are low and they are eager to leave Italy.

A sample of 120 young biotechnologists, most of whom have the laurea degree — in between a master's degree and a PhD degree elsewhere — reported average wages of less than €1,500 a month. This is well below what a postdoc in the United States or United Kingdom would expect to earn. It is no surprise that 86% of the respondents want to go outside Italy to acquire new expertise, and that 50% of them think they will have to move abroad to realize their career expectations.

But the young biotechnology community in Italy is getting organized. The ANBI was set up in 2001 to represent young biotech professionals, and has since joined forces with the Young European Biotech Network, which is looking at similar concerns across Europe.