The mission and research objectives of the Institute are indicated in article 2 of the Statute (GUSerie Generale n. 27 of 02-02-2018).

The institution's institutional mandate includes the pursuit of the objectives of observation of phenomena and the development of scientific knowledge on the Earth System as a whole, in strong interaction with the technological activity, the management and development of research infrastructures and the creation activities with a potential significant impact on the population and on the various components of the Company. All the aforementioned activities require an administrative action that supports and facilitates INGV researchers and technologists.

As a member of the National Civil Protection Service, as well as the Competence Center of the Civil Protection Department, pursuant to law no. 225, and of the DPCM February 27, 2004 and DPCM of February 17, 2017, INGV is entrusted with the surveillance of the seismicity of the entire national territory and of the activity of active Italian volcanoes and tsunamis in the Mediterranean area, through the management of Networks of observation with technologically advanced instrumentation, distributed on the national territory or concentrated around active volcanoes and through the 24h garrison of n. 3 operating rooms in Rome, Naples and Catania.

The primary objective of the INGV is to contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of the Earth System, in its various phenomenologies and solid and fluid components, and to the mitigation of associated natural risks.

In particular, the activities of the Authority can be divided into three main categories:

• Scientific and technological research activities in the field of Geosciences, with particular regard to Seismology, Volcanology and environmental issues.
• Institutional research and service activities for the Company, for Public Administrations and Industry; in particular, the activities carried out in the annual agreement, as part of a ten-year Framework Agreement with the Department of Civil Protection, relating to seismic, volcanic and tsunami risk, and seismic monitoring activities and soil deformations are highlighted. in areas where geo-resources are exploited, on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Development. Institutional research activities also include those relating to the design, development and maintenance of research infrastructures, some of which have international prestige and a European dimension.
• Third Mission Activities, including training, dissemination, technology transfer, spin-offs and patents, museums and public engagement.