On 1^st January 2006, the Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale "Galileo Ferraris" (IEN) and the Istituto di Metrologia "Gustavo Colonnetti" (IMGC) merged to establish the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (I.N.RI.M.). INRIM is the national public body with the task of carrying out and promoting scientific research in metrology.

With the handover of the tasks of primary metrology institute previously assigned to IMGC and the IEN, INRIM has become the focus of most scientific metrology activities in Italy (except for the field of ionising radiation, where ENEA-INMRI maintains its role). Its research activities in measurement science, materials science and innovative technologies are recognised at world-wide level.

INRIM carries out studies and researches on the realization of primary standards for the basic and derived units of the International System of units (SI), assures the maintenance of such standards, their international comparison and in general provides measurements traceability to the SI. In addition to physical and engineering metrology, its main R&D areas are in fundamental physical constants, materials, metrology for chemistry, nanotechnology, innovation, quantum information and artificial vision.

Furthermore, INRIM:

• undertakes, promotes and coordinates scientific and technological research projects, often in cooperation with the European Union and international bodies, both through resources of its own and through programs of collaboration with universities and other national or international public and private organisations;
• promotes and coordinates the participation of Italian representatives to international bodies, projects and initiatives, and supplies scientific expertise and advisory services; carries out communication and promotion activities concerning research, and circulates its economic and social results on a national scale;
• promotes the technical and professional education and growth of its staff and personnel , also by awarding scholarships and supporting PhD thesis;
• provides technical and consultancy services to other scientific bodies, public administrations, companies or other private organisations, and provides high level calibration services to third parties under private law.
• operates independently the national accreditation body for calibration laboratories (SIT).

INRIM has its main premises in Torino, Strada delle Cacce 91, and operational centres in Politecnico of Torino and University of Pavia.