The Institute
The Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (CNR-IFN) carries out innovative research in the fields of photonics and of nanotechnologies considering both the fundamental aspects and those applied involving the development of novel photonic devices and systems, optoelectronic equipment, and electronics devices.
CNR-IFN is tightly integrated with the national scientific community and collaborates with the major international Universities and research centres through targeted projects funded by main national and international agencies and foundations.
CNR-IFN belongs to the National Research Council (CNR), a public organization who is in charge to carry out, promote, spread, transfer and improve research activities in the main sectors of knowledge growth and of its applications for the scientific, technological, economic and social development of the Country.
A Brief History of IFN-CNR
- 1963 – Early 1970s: The Laser Group of the Politecnico di Milano, affiliated with Maser Laser Enterprise of CNR, is established.
- Early 1970s: The CNR undergoes its first restructuring, leading to the establishment of various institutes, study centers, and national coordination groups. Notable institutions include CEQSE in Milan, IESS in Rome, and CEFSA in Trento.
- Early 1970s – Early 2000s: CEQSE, IESS, and CEFSA operate independently and actively.
- Early 2000s: The CNR undergoes its second restructuring, resulting in the consolidation of 190 institutes and 124 centers into 109 new institutes. The establishment of IFN takes place as a merger of CEQSE, IESS, and CEFSA.
- Early 2010s: The CNR undergoes its third restructuring for the Physical Sciences sector, which includes the absorption of the National Institute for the Physics of Matter (INFM) and the National Institute of Applied Optics (INOA). The new IFN is formed by merging the previously established IFN, the ULTRAS Research and Development Center (Milan) from INFM, and the Regional Laboratories LUXOR (Padua) and LIT3 (Bari), also from INFM.
