What IRISS does

IRISS (Istituto di Ricerca su Innovazione e Servizi per lo Sviluppo) is a public research institute operating under Italy's Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), headquartered in Naples at Via Guglielmo Sanfelice 8. Established in 2014 through the merger of IRAT (Istituto di Ricerca sulle Attività Terziarie) and the Naples unit of ISGI (Istituto di Studi Giuridici Internazionali), the institute employs more than 40 researchers, technologists, and administrative staff across social sciences, law, economics, innovation studies, and sustainable development. Acting Director is Paolo Landri. Its mission centers on interdisciplinary research on territorial governance, innovation systems, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, and participatory democracy, with active "third mission" (terza missione) activities aimed at transferring research outputs to society.

The institute's technology footprint is methodological rather than commercial: it develops and applies frameworks such as Urban Living Labs (ULL) for quadruple-helix stakeholder engagement, collaborative governance models for cultural heritage and urban regeneration, and the NoiGIS collaborative WebGIS platform for territorial data sharing. AI/ML use is limited to specific research applications, including machine-learning prediction of groundwater contamination (fluoride in southern India) and web-content mining for sustainability communication analysis. Internal digital services include IRISS Cloud, Roundcube/Horde webmail, Maia Mailguard email security, and Biblioproxycnr library access.

IRISS has no commercial products or pricing model; revenue is exclusively public research funding drawn from CNR core allocations, the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), EU programs (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, ESF), national research instruments (PRIN, PNNR), and contracted research with regional and municipal authorities (Regione Campania, Comune di Napoli, ARPA Campania). It is a partner or coordinator in major consortia including SERICS (cybersecurity, total funding exceeding €6.9 million), NBFC (marine biodiversity, €34.6 million total), PS-U-GO (Urban Living Labs, Erasmus+), and TREND (H2020-MSCA-RISE, with US university partners). Customer segments are entirely public-sector: Italian ministries, regional authorities, EU institutions, and academic partners.

Name

IRISS

Legal name

Istituto di Ricerca su Innovazione e Servizi per lo Sviluppo

Website

https://iriss.cnr.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IRISS is a public research institute under Italy's CNR, conducting interdisciplinary social-science and legal research on innovation, sustainability, governance, and urban commons for Italian ministries, regional authorities, and EU institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Survey, Panel & Fieldwork Services (BPAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Social science research
• Sustainable development research
• Innovation studies
• Public policy research
• Territorial governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Naples

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Core funding from CNR (National Research Council) and Italian Ministry of University and Research. Additional funding from EU research programs (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, ESF), regional government contracts, and national research projects (PRIN, PNRR).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IRISS is a public research institute under Italy's National Research Council (CNR) conducting interdisciplinary research in social sciences, law, economics, innovation studies, and sustainable development. It produces scientific publications, delivers contracted research services to government bodies and international institutions, and operates internal infrastructure (cloud, email, library) to support its research mission.

Product overview

IRISS (Istituto di Ricerca su Innovazione e Servizi per lo Sviluppo) is a research institute under the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), established in 2014 through the merger of IRAT and the Naples branch of ISGI. The institute operates as a research-focused organization rather than a commercial product company, offering research services, scientific publications, and institutional infrastructure. Its portfolio includes research projects in sustainable development, marine biodiversity, cultural heritage, urban commons, and institutional analysis. The institute provides internal digital services including Cloud IRISS for storage, Webmail (Roundcube and Horde), Maia Mailguard for email security, and Library services with digital resource access through Biblioproxycnr. Research outputs include publications in international and European law, environmental governance, and urban development studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Projects Contracted, project-based research services for public institutions and international partners covering sustainable development, governance, marine biodiversity, cultural heritage, urban commons, and migration studies.
• Scientific Publications Peer-reviewed scientific publications, monographs, research reports, and multimedia outputs covering international and European law, sustainable development, marine governance, cultural heritage, and urban commons research.
• Library Services Comprehensive library services including bibliographic collections, periodicals, and digital resource access through the Biblioproxycnr platform, serving CNR researchers and affiliated academic users.

Quantifiable outcome

• Total project funding exceeding €6.9 million from SERICS alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Regione CampaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Prima-Vera Campana project for labor integration of foreign citizens. IRISS contributes research expertise while Regione Campania provides policy framework and institutional support for integration initiatives.
• CNR-IGSGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in SERICS (Cybersecurity) extended partnership. CNR-IGSG leads Work Package 1 activities with IRISS contributing research on human rights and technology governance.
• CNR-ISTCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution within SERICS project consortium, contributing to cybersecurity and rights research activities.
• FRA (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in SERICS consortium, contributing expertise on fundamental rights in the context of cybersecurity and new technologies.
• HRIC (Human Rights Information and Communication)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner in SERICS project providing specialized knowledge on human rights frameworks applicable to technology governance.
• NECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject consortium partner contributing to cybersecurity and digital rights research activities within SERICS.
• Università Mediterranea di Reggio CalabriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of TREND project (EU H2020-MSCA-RISE). IRISS serves as linked institution contributing territorial analysis and community engagement methodologies. Partnership involves 16 months of secondment to US partner universities.
• Louisiana Tech UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university partner in TREND project for comparative analysis of territorial development between US and Italian contexts, with focus on internal areas.
• Northeastern UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university partner in TREND project contributing to resilience-building and transition management research.
• CNR-IRBIMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for NBFC Spoke 2 on marine biodiversity. IRISS contributes to Activity 4 on Maritime Spatial Planning policy coherence.
• CNR/ISMARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for Activity 4 in NBFC Spoke 2, coordinating maritime spatial planning research with IRISS participation.
• CNR-ISGIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNR institute partner contributing to NBFC marine biodiversity research activities.
• CNR-ISAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNR institute partner in NBFC consortium supporting agricultural and environmental research integration.
• CNR-ISMEDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNR Mediterranean studies institute partner in NBFC marine research activities.
• CORILAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in NBFC Spoke 2 contributing to Mediterranean marine research coordination.
• Università di BolognaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner in NBFC consortium contributing to marine biodiversity and sustainable resource management research.
• Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica SperimentaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institution partner contributing oceanographic expertise to NBFC marine biodiversity research.
• University of CypruscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university partner in PS-U-GO Erasmus+ project, hosting Urban Living Labs activities.
• Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-SenftenbergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university partner in PS-U-GO project contributing to urban governance and living labs methodologies.
• Social FringeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society organization partner in PS-U-GO project for urban living labs implementation in Palermo.
• Palermo Urban Solution HubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal innovation hub partner in PS-U-GO project hosting urban living labs in Palermo.
• Urban FoxesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization contributing to PS-U-GO urban living labs activities.
• Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II - Dipartimento di GiurisprudenzacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in urban commons research, contributing legal and institutional analysis frameworks.
• Université Sorbonne Paris NordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner contributing comparative perspectives on commons economy and governance.
• University of AntwerpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean university partner in commons research, contributing Belgian case studies and institutional analysis.
• Cooperativa Il QuadrifogliominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial cooperative partner contributing practical experience in community-based commons management.
• Associazione CaracolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivic association partner engaged in commons governance and participatory urban initiatives.
• ICOMOS - Consiglio Internazionale dei Monumenti e dei SiticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational council partner contributing heritage conservation expertise to PIC cultural tourism project.
• ENVIROCONSULT SrlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental consulting firm partner in PIC project for sustainable tourism development.
• Auris ScarlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in PIC project contributing to innovation and cultural heritage initiatives.
• Green Blue Days APSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partner in PIC project promoting sustainable blue economy initiatives.
• Azione COST MarSafeNetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation network on maritime safety and security contributing legal frameworks and expert networks.
• Azione COST MarConscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean marine conservation action contributing to biodiversity and protected area governance research.
• Università degli Studi di Napoli L'OrientalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing Mediterranean studies and cultural analysis to coastal governance research.
• Università degli studi della Campania Luigi VanvitelliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional university partner contributing to coastal zone management and marine governance research.
• ARPA CampaniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional environmental protection agency providing monitoring data and technical expertise.
• Università degli Studi di Napoli ParthenopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner contributing business and quantitative methods expertise to catastrophic risk insurance research.
• ANIA - Associazione Nazionale fra le Imprese AssicuratricicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational insurance association contributing industry perspectives and data for risk management research.
• GARRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian research and education network providing eduroam wireless roaming service for the academic community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Fondazione Censis: Italian socio-economic research foundation producing studies on Italian society, public services, and territorial development. Comparable as a research organization delivering policy analysis to Italian government and civil-society clients.
• Svimez (Associazione per lo sviluppo dell'industria nel Mezzogiorno): Italian research association studying economic development of Southern Italy. Comparable as a public-interest research body addressing territorial development themes overlapping with IRISS's Campania/Southern Italy focus.
• CNR-ISTI (Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologie dell'Informazione): CNR institute focused on information science and technologies. Comparable as a CNR peer institute with overlapping consortium participation (e.g., potential SERICS collaborators) but a different technical focus.

Direct peers

• INAPP (Istituto Nazionale per l'Analisi delle Politiche Pubbliche): Italian public research institute under ministerial supervision conducting policy and labor-market research. Comparable as a publicly funded Italian research body delivering evidence-based policy analysis to government clients.
• CNR-ISS (Istituto di Studi Sulle Società del Mediterraneo): CNR institute studying Mediterranean societies. Comparable as a CNR social-science research institute with overlapping themes of territorial development, sustainability, and Mediterranean governance.
• EURAC Research: Bolzano-based public research center conducting interdisciplinary research on autonomy, minorities, sustainable development, and alpine regions. Comparable as an Italian publicly funded research institute with similar interdisciplinary social-science mandate and EU project participation.
• CNR-IRCRES (Istituto di Ricerca sulla Crescita Economica Sostenibile): CNR institute focused on sustainable economic growth research. Directly comparable as a peer CNR institute delivering social science research outputs, competing for similar EU/national funding and serving overlapping government clients.
• CNR-ISGI (Istituto di Studi Giuridici Internazionali): CNR institute specializing in international law — the direct predecessor of part of IRISS (the Naples unit merged into IRISS in 2014). Most directly comparable peer given shared legal-research DNA and shared CNR governance structure.

Broad incumbents

• ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale): Italy's national environmental protection and research agency. Overlaps with IRISS on environmental governance, marine spatial planning, and sustainability research — but with a much broader environmental science mandate.
• CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change): Italian research foundation conducting climate change and sustainability research. Comparable as a publicly co-funded research organization working on sustainability and territorial development with significant EU project activity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/IrissCnr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cnririss
• Facebookfacebook.com/iriss.cnr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cnr-iriss-istituto-di-ricerca-su-innovazione-e-servizi-per-lo-sviluppo
• Instagraminstagram.com/cnr_iriss

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IRISS