Overview
CIMA Research Foundation is an Italian non-profit scientific organisation established in 2007, building on earlier interuniversity research initiatives. It was created to advance applied research in environmental monitoring, climate science and disaster risk reduction. The organisation operates with a mission to support public decision-making through scientific evidence and operational tools.The Foundation’s work is grounded in the practical application of science, particularly in areas where environmental risks intersect with societal safety and infrastructure resilience.
Mission and focus areas
CIMA Research Foundation focuses on understanding, modelling and managing natural and climate-related hazards. Core areas include hydro-meteorological risks, climate change impacts, early warning systems, and environmental monitoring technologies. Its research supports risk prevention, preparedness and response at local, national and international levels.While not a finance-focused organisation, CIMA’s work is relevant to sustainable finance and ESG integration through its contributions to climate risk assessment, physical risk modelling and adaptation planning. These areas inform long-term asset resilience, infrastructure planning and climate-related financial risk analysis.
Structure and governance
CIMA Research Foundation operates as an independent research foundation with a formal governance structure. It is led by a president and managing director, supported by scientific and administrative leadership. The organisation is structured into specialised departments covering research, project management, information technology, administration and communication.It collaborates extensively with universities, public authorities, civil protection agencies and international research programmes, particularly within European Union frameworks.
Programs and offerings
The Foundation produces scientific research, technical reports and peer-reviewed publications under its own name. It develops forecasting models, decision-support systems and early warning tools for natural hazards such as floods, landslides, droughts and extreme weather events.CIMA also contributes to international research projects, provides training and capacity-building, and supports public institutions with data-driven risk assessments. These outputs are particularly relevant for practitioners working on climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience and environmental risk management.
Mission
CIMA Research Foundation is a non-profit research organization dedicated to advancing study, scientific research, technological development, and higher education in environmental sciences and engineering. Born from the vision of Professor Franco Siccardi, the foundation’s main goals are to protect public health, advance civil protection, and safeguard ecosystems through innovative and science-based solutions.The scientific research conducted by CIMA Research Foundation focuses on disaster risk reduction. Since its inception, it has played a key role in developing advanced mathematical models for predicting and preventing hydrometeorological phenomena such as floods and wildfires. Over the years, its scope has broadened to include the preservation of forest biodiversity, satellite data analysis, and disaster loss data analysis. It also contributes to the protection of marine ecosystems and species within the Pelagos Sanctuary, with a particular focus on cetaceans. A notably innovative area of research involves developing participatory civil protection plans and legal studies in the context of risk management. Another branch of research focuses on regulatory review (including analyses of complex national and international institutional structures), legal compliance, legal risk analysis within risk management, and forensic investigation.
