The Italian Scientists and Scholars of North America Foundation (ISSNAF) is a non profit organization aimed at promoting R&D interaction and exchange of knowledge among Italians active in North American and Italian academic and non-academic institutions in the fields of Biology, the Humanities, Medicine, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Information Technology, and Social Sciences.

Founded in 2007, ISSNAF offers a platform to connect Italian scientists and scholars, facilitate exchanges between American scientific institutions and Italian young scientists and companies and create opportunities with focused fund raising. Its members, now totaling 400, include distinguished Italian-born (now or formerly) US-employed scientists, scholars and high-tech entrepreneurs, including four winners of the Nobel Prize, two winners of the Balzan Prize, and one Field Medal winner. Many are also members of the US National Academies.

At a time when scientific and technological research and development – activities at the basis of human progress- has become progressively more complex requiring multidisciplinary and multi-institutional global collaboration, an efficient interchange among scientists in different countries has become an essential ingredient for technological progress. With this goal of sustaining the historically strong relationship between the science communities in the US and Italy, ISSNAF seeks to capitalize on the large presence of Italian scholars and researchers in the US and facilitate the two-way flow of talent and ideas between the two countries.

Among some of its mains activities are the promotion of contact and exchange of knowledge between Italian scientists, scholars, and entrepreneurs in Italy and North America, facilitating joint R&D projects and collaborative agreements; the administration of research and study grants and fellowships bringing Italians to the United States; and the identification of significant research opportunities for Italian academia and industry, stimulating their development.

Of particular significance is also ISSNAF’s advocacy work aimed at encouraging reform in the organization and administration of research and higher education in Italy. To that end, offering its website as a reference point for information on the Italian scientific Diaspora in the US and their activities, ISSNAF hopes its members will be a catalyst for change in shaping and improving Italian policies affecting scientific, education and entrepreneurial activities in Italy.

For more information about ISSNAF’s mission and objectives, as well as further information about the organization and membership, please visit www.issnaf.org.