Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

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The Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) (National Institute for Nuclear Physics) is the coordinating institution for nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics in Italy. It was founded on the 8th of August 1951, to further the nuclear physics research tradition initiated by Enrico Fermi in Rome, in the 1930s. The INFN collaborates with CERN, Fermilab and various other laboratories in the world. In recent years it has provided important contributions to Grid computing.

During the latter half of the 1950’s, the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare designed and constructed the first Italian accelerator—the electron synchrotron developed in Frascati. During the same period, the INFN began to participate in research into the construction and use of ever-more powerful accelerators being conducted at CERN.

The INFN has Sezioni (Sections) in most major Italian Universities, and 4 National Laboratories. It has personnel of its own, but also contributes in various ways towards University researchers and students.