The paper analyses the transformations of the evaluation of the University, with a focus on research evaluation. Over the last decade, in fact, some very important steps strengthening the structure of the evaluation in Italy, were im- plemented; first the creation of specialized Committees, and afterword an Agency, identifying new functions and assigning tasks and responsibilities. The mentioned changes impacted the existing processes, primarily those of research evaluation, and the consequences that such an assessment could have on the behaviour of universities and individual professors and researchers who operate within them.