The National Research Council – CNR, founded in 1923, is the largest public research institution (EPR) in Italy with more than 5500 researchers and technologists and some 2000 PhD students and PostDoc (Euraxess Contact Point and Gender Plan). The CNR network consists of 88 Research Institutes (RI) distributed throughout the national territory and organized in 7 Departments. The CNR mission is to promote innovation and competitiveness of the national industrial system and internationalization of the national research system, to provide technologies and solutions to emerging public and private needs, to advise Government and other public bodies, and to contribute to the qualification of human resources. The CNR is the only multidisciplinary EPR in Italy, with activities that cover the entire spectrum of scientific interests from humanities to hard sciences. The CNR has a leading role in several ESFRI Research Infrastructures (IR) including ELIXIR.

ELIXIR-IT is leaded by CNR and participated by other 28 (29 in total) Institution through a Joint Research Unit agreement. CNR contributes to the operations of different ELIXIR-IT platforms and communities and leads activities related to communications, industry, international industry engagement efforts impact and sustainability.