The National Research Council (CNR) is the largest public research institution in Italy, with multidisciplinary competences, acting under the Ministry of University and Research and having legal public-law status as well as scientific, financial, organizational, patrimonial and accounting autonomy. CNR mission is to carry out, promote, transfer, encourage and enhance research in order to apply the results for the scientific, cultural, technological, economic and social development of Italy. It is the first research institution for number of researchers: the staff counts more than 8.000 researchers, technologists, technicians and administrators. CNR structure includes a central administration, 7 scientific Departments and 88 Institutes with specific leading expertise in science/technology sectors, with more than 220 secondary sites and laboratories in Italy and abroad. The Departments are structured in macro-thematic areas, whose task is to be the interface between the CNR’ offer and the research demand within the whole Italian economic system and to coordinate the Institutes in the process of expanding their research activities. In some cities Institutes are aggregated within research areas, offering support services and representing a scientific and cultural attraction pole. CNR operates on the basis of its own 3-year activity plan, that sets general guidelines and establishes objectives, priorities, and resources for the entire period, consistent with the National Research Program and with EU research programs. Over the last years and under the coordination of one or more Departments, CNR has consolidated its position, as the main public research organization participating, at national level, in the largest number of Research Infrastructures of national and European interest, included in the ESFRI Roadmap or in the National Research Infrastructure Program, both as lead organization and as participant.