CNR – Italian National Research Council

The Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) is Italy’s largest public research organization and one of Europe’s most multidisciplinary scientific institutions. With more than one hundred institutes and more than 9,000 employees distributed across the country, the CNR conducts cutting-edge research spanning physical sciences, engineering, life sciences, environment and digital technologies.

CNR is a public research body under the oversight of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR). Its structure consists of seven thematic departments and a nation-wide network of institutes that foster synergy between fundamental science, technology development and strategic innovation.

In the field of materials modelling, CNR hosts a broad and well-integrated community active along the entire modelling spectrum, from multi-scale simulations up to data-driven and AI-empowered methodologies. This multiscale and multimodal expertise enables the development of predictive modelling pipelines that connect fundamental materials science with industrial and technological applications.

Activities

Digital materials modelling platforms
CNR develops open and interoperable platforms for multiscale modelling, workflow automation and hybrid physics/AI simulation pipelines, enabling accelerated materials discovery and process optimization.

HPC-enabled materials design projects
Several initiatives focus on the integration of exascale computing with advanced modelling tools to simulate complex materials and interfaces, optimise manufacturing routes, and create digital twins for industrial processes.

AI-enhanced multiscale materials modelling
CNR contributes to European projects that exploit ML/AI for surrogate modelling, automated model calibration, structure-property mapping and data-driven uncertainty quantification.

Advanced tools for digitalisation of materials R&D
Efforts include the development of FAIR data repositories, materials ontologies, workflow standards, and solutions supporting the EMMC vision of a fully integrated materials and manufacturing digital ecosystem.

Industrial applications and technology transfer
CNR actively collaborates with industrial partners, ranging from SMEs to large companies, across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, energy technologies, hydrogen and electrochemistry, additive manufacturing, sustainable materials, and micro-/nano-electronics. Through joint research projects, digital testbeds, pilot lines and co-designed computational workflows, CNR supports technology transfer, accelerates industrial innovation, and enables the adoption of modelling, simulation and data-driven tools in real manufacturing environments.