INRiM carries out fundamental research and services in the field of time and frequency, developing atomic clocks, from microwave to optical standards, and delivering traceable references for science, industry and infrastructures. INRiM also realizes the national time scale UTC(IT), the Italian official time, kept in agreement with Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and contributes to International Atomic Time (TAI) realized by the BIPM. 

The SI second is currently realized at INRiM through the cesium fountain, a primary frequency standard, while optical lattice clocks (ytterbium and strontium) provide ultra-low uncertainties in view of the future definition of the second and support international comparisons. INRiM also develops compact references, from cell-based clocks to chip-scale optical clocks integrating micro-fabricated atomic cells and photonic micro-resonators. 

Through the Italian Quantum Backbone ( an optical fiber infrastructure of about 1800 km), INRiM disseminates stable time/frequency reference signals to research institutes and industrial users, enabling long-haul clock comparisons, and testing interferometric techniques for environmental sensing and quantum-enabled services. Quantum technologies also include hybrid atom-ion platforms and ultracold molecular systems for precision measurements.

For more than 20 years, INRiM has also supported the timing activities of Galileo, the European satellite navigation system.

(picture by Fabio Bucciarelli)