The National Research Council (CNR) is the greatest research public body of Italy. It was founded on November 18 of 1923 and in 1945, it became a public body. It has mainly carried out training, promotion and research coordination activities in every scientific and technological sector. Its mission is to perform research in its own labs both promoting innovation and competitiveness of the industrial system and providing technologies and solutions to emerging public and private needs; to promote the internationalization of the research system; to advise the Government and other public bodies on strategic themes for the Country and the collectivity; to contribute to the qualification of human resources. Its research centres/institutes are divided according to the following strategic macro-areas: Energy & Transportation, Earth & Environment, Agriculture & Food, Medicine, Life Sciences, Molecular Design, Materials & Devices, Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Information and Communication Technologies, Cultural Identity, Cultural heritage.
The Division for Activities and International Relations with European Institutions (ARIE) – of CNR Directorate General has been created to respond to the rising demand of participation in EU Scientific Programs. It has an head-quarter in Rome and Offices in Brussels, Genoa, Naples. In particular, the staff of Naples Office has a long experience in Mediterranean Cooperation: policy, main issues, relations with NCP in Med Countries, development of networks. Among the participation in projects co-financed by EC: the MEDA FORUM of Agriculture and Agro-industry (MEDA); ANTA2001–“The Forum of High representatives of RTD Public Institutions as a tool for regional integration and for the development of Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation” (FP5); MED7 - “Thematic workshops for the definition of the Science and Technology Euro-Mediterranean policy within FP7” (FP6); STREN – “Scientific and Technological Results Exchange Network” (FP6); MIRA - “Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action project” (FP7).
