The Institute of Information Science and Technologies (ISTI, http://www.isti.cnr.it/) is an institute of the Italian National Research Council (CNR). ISTI’s domain of competence covers Information Science, related technologies and a wide range of applications. The activity of the Institute aims at increasing knowledge, developing and testing new ideas and widening the application areas.

A distinctive feature of Information Technology is the rapid pace of developments and the easy flow of information between diverse research communities and between academia and wide sectors of industry, business and society at large.  If it is to be vital and effective, research in this domain requires constant attention and prompt reaction to stimuli and to new opportunities. A further requirement is the close integration of all components of the research community.

ISTI is actively involved in collaborations with the academic world and in cooperative research and development programs, both national and international. In recognition of the importance of training in today’s Information Society, ISTI pays great attention to involving doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in research activities and participates actively in the doctoral programs of the University of Pisa and other partner universities.

The “Networked multimedia information systems” laboratory is one of the research labs of ISTI, equipped with a staff of about 30 persons. Networked multimedia information systems indicate a specific area of research in information technology concerned with processing, management, distribution and realisation of composite information available through different media. Networked multimedia information systems play a major role in a number of applications, including:

• educational applications
• entertainment technology
• ecommerce
• databases
• medical information systems
• electronic libraries.

The NMIS Lab has participated, often with a leading role, to a number of European projects in the area of Cultural Heritage and Digital Libraries. In the context of the Sixth Framework Programme, it is involved in the BRICKS Integrated Project and it is coordinating the Diligent Integrated Project as well as the DELOS Network of Excellence.

In CASPAR, CNR is Leader of WP2400 “Next Generation OAIS Components” and of task 2305 “Information Access”.