The current organization of the Italian research system reflects the long history of the scientific communities, from the Unification of Italy to the various reforms and reorganizations in the post-World War II period. There are twenty public research institutions represented in the Council, listed in Article 1 of the most recent reform (Legislative Decree No. 218 of November 25, 2016), covering all fields of knowledge: from the humanities to STEM disciplines, from environment and energy to health, from active labor policies to education and training.
Alongside the CNR (National Research Council), the largest institution in terms of size and the breadth of covered sectors, there are more specialized institutions, with a strong thematic focus in fundamental research, generally overseen and funded by the Ministry of Universities and Research. In addition, some other institutions focus on applied research, often also providing services and consultancy to other sectors of the State and society; they are under the supervision of other ministries, such as the Ministry of Education and Merit, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, or directly under the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Together with large and medium-sized institutions, smaller centers with highly specific missions are present.
