The Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile is an Italian Government-sponsored research and development agency. The agency undertakes research in areas which will help to develop and enhance Italian competitiveness and employment, while protecting the environment.
History
Initially, ENEA was an acronym that stood for Energia Nucleare ed Energie Alternative, according to its mission statement. After a referendum against the production of atomic energy in Italy passed in 1987, in 1991 ENEA's mission statement was changed and, consequently, its complete name, which became Ente per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e l’ambiente. In January 1999 a new charter readdressed the goals for the agency as follows:
To support the implementation of high-tech production processes, especially by promoting demand for research and technology oriented towards enhancing sustainable development.
To promote the transfer of technology and developments in the fields of energy efficiency and environmental protection to public administrations and businesses, in keeping with national and EU guidelines.
To provide, upon request, specialist technical and organisational support to administrations promoting public initiatives at the international, national, regional and local levels, in all the sectors falling within ENEA's purview.
In July 2009 the Italian parliament passed a law readdressing ENEA's mission statement, including to back atomic energy, and contextually changing its complete name to the current one. After Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 a second referendum against atomic energy production was held, and passed again. As the role of ENEA became contradictory to the referendum outcome, it was restructured once again in July 2015 and its mission statement was readdressed in order to be more coherent with the Italian energy policy. In the nuclear sector ENEA participates in the development of the ITERfusion reactor to produce clean energy.
Research centers
Besides the headquarters in Rome, ENEA has the following research centers and laboratories in Italy:
