It is an Italian public-private joint venture formed in 2010, between the Italian National Research Council (CNR), the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) and IRBM Science Park, which operates in the field of translational medical research.

CNR, ISS and IRBM Science Park are ideal associates in this project, each contributing unique and synergistic capabilities and experiences. The CNR and ISS are two of the principal centres of excellence in biomedical research in Italy.

The CNR is a public organization whose duty is to carry out, promote, spread, transfer and improve research activities in the main sectors of knowledge growth and of its applications for the scientific, technological, economic and social development of the Country.

The ISS is the leading technical and scientific public body of the Italian National Health Service. Its activities include research, control, training and consultation in the interest of public health protection.

IRBM Science Park is a research institute originating from a spin-off of the Italian Basic Research site of the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. IRBM Science Park carries out proprietary and contract research in the areas of drug discovery and biotechnology.

IRBM Science Park has decades of drug discovery experience, including competencies in creating and managing sample repository and chemical libraries containing hundreds of thousands of compounds, and designing and performing high throughput screening assays. This unique state of the art technology and knowhow was nationally and internationally acknowledged as having the potential to become the hub for a repository of organic compounds and their screening. A project to establish the consortium of CNCCS with this purpose was presented to and approved by both Italian and European institutions.

The objective of the CNCCS Consortium is to create a central repository of organic compounds and to serve as a national and European high throughput screening hub for the identification of novel lead compounds acting on biological targets of interest. Compounds originating from public and private sources are collected and screened with the purpose of enabling and accelerating the translation of new basic research discoveries into the development of molecules to study gene function and biological mechanisms, and of novel medicines, in particular for Rare, Neglected and Poverty Related diseases.

The CNCCS Consortium addresses an important need in biomedical research, namely the translation of basic research discoveries into the development new potential drugs. The creation of a large collection of these molecules in a single location offers the possibility to archive study and distribute thousands of compounds, and constitutes an important strategic resource. High Throughput Screening of the compound collection against biological targets of interest will increase the probability of discovering new molecules to be used as biological tools or leads for the development of new medicines, leading to the discovery of new applications for molecules present in the compound collection, in areas that are distinct from their originally intended use.

Following the startup of CNCCS, the need for a new model of integrated research dedicated to Rare, Neglected and Poverty related Diseases clearly emerged, and the original CNCCS project was expanded to incorporate a centre based in Italy addressing these needs. The CNCCS collection provides an ideal basis for research in this field, bringing together the public and private sectors, investors and stakeholders, utilizing this unique international collection of compounds and the Consortium’s screening capabilities.

In order to provide an incentive for research in the area of translational research for Rare, Neglected and Poverty Related diseases, CNCCS organizes annually the Bioeconomy Scientific Conference and Award