Ministero della Difesa

The Italian Military Centre for Strategic Studies (Ce.Mi.SS) is headed by a Major General (Director), or an official of equivalent rank, under the authority of the President of the Center for High Defense Studies (CASD). It’s structured on three departments (International Relations, Military Sociology and Science, technology, Economics and industrial policy) and a Public Relations Office.

The tasks of Ce.Mi.S.S. are:

• to conduct studies and research on strategic and political matters and on military activities, to satisfy defense needs;
• to develop partnerships between the Armed Forces and Universities, national and foreign research centers, as well as other government departments and agencies that carry out studies on the security and defense matters;
• to train the military scientific researchers;
• carry out internships for young students of the universities which have agreements with the Centre;
• to publish the most interesting studies.

The activities of Ce.Mi.S.S. are regulated by the Decree of the Minister of Defence published on 21 December 2012. The Minister of Defense establishes the guidelines for the activity of analysis and cooperation with other homologous institutions and annually approves the themes to be studied.

The studies focus on the analysis of political, economic, social, cultural, military phenomena and the effect of new technologies which may affect the security scenario.

For the development of its activities, the Centre makes use of administration staff and defense contractors, (selected for the proven training and specialization). These latter personnel usually sign an annual contract.

The researchers are left completely free to express their thoughts. The content of the published studies only reflects the thinking of the individual authors, and not that of the Ministry of Defense nor any military institutions and / or any other institutions to which the researchers themselves belong.