The mission of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Cultural Heritage (DSU) embraces fundamental research, education and knowledge transfer for the cultural and creative industry and for all kinds of societal challenges. In fact, CNR has been the first research agency in Italy that has posed the question of how to transform technological innovation into social innovation and eventually into cultural innovation.

As regards the Expo 2015 issues “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, the institutes of DSU prepare feasibility studies for territorial development with reference to the environment, the agro-alimentary sector, arts and culture; they develop enabling technologies for a smart use of cultural heritage; and they evaluate competitiveness for the production, use and spread of new products knowledge society economics. www.dsu.cnr.it