Nomisma S.p.A. Societa di Studi Economici is a well-known Italian economic research institute founded in Bologna in 1981. The choice of the name Nomisma was inspired by an ancient Greek coin, whose etymological meaning suggests "the real value of things". The company engages in research and analysis in various economic fields; technical assistance for institution building and capacity strengthening of public administrations; evaluation and monitoring of international and national projects; organisation of conferences, workshops, training courses, and study visits; and in the preparation of commissioned reports and specialised studies for both public and private sector clients. Public sector clients include international organisations (European Commission, European Parliament, UNIDO, World Bank, InterAmerican Development Bank, Asian Development Bank) and national and regional governments in Italy and abroad: Nomisma has been involved in over 200 projects in more than 30 countries world-wide. Nomisma participates in many European networks and maintains extensive contacts and exchanges with a variety of research centres, universities, foundations and associations all over the world and is an Associate Member of the NISPACee Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe. Nomisma is also part of the ERAWATCH Network of companies involved in providing strategic intelligence service to support evidence-based policy-making in the research field for the European Commission's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS). The company has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for the quality of its management system.
Studying the impact of innovation and technology on the economy and public administration constitutes one of the company's most active research fields. Nomisma has carried out and coordinated a large number of research projects at national, regional and international levels focused on analyses of process and product innovation and management of innovation-induced change and, since the mid-1990s, the socio-economic impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on businesses and public administrations. The company has engaged in studies, surveys and evaluations of digital processes, technologies and innovation within various SPRINT, ESPRIT, IST, TRENDCHART and Enterprise projects and other initiatives such as MINT, MONIREG and numerous RITTS and RIS assessments.
Nomisma's Department of International Programs performs economic and social research, and provides technical assistance and support for economic and social development worldwide in countries that are beneficiaries of external aid assistance and within the European Union, as member of specialised networks or consortia implementing original projects. In recent years the company has also started working in Asia, engaging in evaluation activities and technical assistance as well as targeted research.
Nomisma operates both in the traditional economic research spheres and at the innovative edge of these specialisations. Its strong reputation is based on 25 years of successful experience in providing services to Italian and foreign governments, aid agencies, international institutions, and private entities.
The regular collaboration with European and international partners has allowed the development and consolidation of a trans-national methodology, which includes the active involvement of partners in the beneficiary countries, where the contribution of local experts is considered crucial for the success of activities, the transfer of know-how through the organisation of seminars, workshops and study-tours; training sessions for target groups.
