The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) was established with Legislative Decree 29 September 1999, n. 381, from the merger of five institutes already operating in the field of geophysical and volcanological disciplines: the National Institute of Geophysics (ING), the Vesuvius Observatory (OV), the International Institute of Volcanology of Catania (IIV), the Institute of Geochemistry of Fluids of Palermo (IGF) and the Institute of Research on Seismic Risk of Milan (IRRS).
The mission and research objectives of the Institute are indicated in Article 2 of the Statute (GUSeries Generale n. 27 of 02-02-2018).
The institution's institutional mandate includes the pursuit of objectives of observation of phenomena and development of scientific knowledge on the Earth System as a whole, in close interaction with technological activity, the management and development of research infrastructures and the creation of activities with potentially significant impact on the population and on the various components of the Company. All the above activities require an administrative action which is of support and facilitation to INGV researchers and technologists.
As a member of the National Civil Protection Service, as well as Competence Center of the Civil Protection Department, pursuant to the law of 24 February 1992, n. 225, and of the Prime Ministerial Decree of February 27, 2004 and Prime Ministerial Decree of February 17, 2017, INGV is entrusted with the surveillance of the seismicity of the entire national territory and of the activity of Italian active volcanoes and tsunamis in the Mediterranean area, through the management of Networks of observation with technologically advanced instrumentation, distributed throughout the country or concentrated around active volcanoes and through the 24-hour presence of n. 3 operating rooms in Rome, Naples and Catania.
The primary objective of INGV is to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of the Earth System, in its various phenomenologies and solid and fluid components, and to mitigate the associated natural risks.
In particular, the activities of the Organization can be divided into three main categories:
• Scientific and technological research activities in the Geosciences, with particular regard to Seismology, Volcanology and environmental issues.
• Institutional research and service activities for society, public administrations and industry; in particular, we highlight the activities carried out in the annual Convention, in the context of a ten-year Framework Agreement with the Department of Civil Protection, relating to seismic, volcanic and tsunami risk, and the seismic and soil deformation monitoring activities in areas where georesources are exploited, on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development. Institutional research activities also include those relating to the design, development and maintenance of research infrastructures, some of which have international prestige and a European dimension.
• Third Mission activities, including training, dissemination, technology transfer, spin-offs and patents, museum centers and public engagement.