Founded as legal entity on 18 November 1923, the mission of CNR (the National Research Council) is to perform research in its own institutes, to promote innovation and competitiveness in the national industrial system, to promote the internationalization of the national research system, to provide technologies and solutions to meet emerging public and private needs, to advise government and other public bodies, and to contribute to the qualification of human resources.

In CNR’s research world, the main resource is the available knowledge, which means people, with their skills, commitment and ideas. This resource comprises more than 8.000 employees, of whom more than half are researchers and technologists. Some 4.000 young researchers at CNR are engaged in postgraduate studies and research training in the organization’s top-priority areas of interest. A significant contribution also comes from research associates: researchers from universities or private firms who take part in CNR’s research activities.