Division 72: Scientific research and development

Section N, Professional, scientific and technical activities. 6 subcategories with ISTAT's explanatory notes and the ATECO 2022 codes they come from.

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ISTAT publishes ATECO 2022 titles in Italian only.

  1. 72Scientific research and development

    This division includes the activities of three types of research and development:

    (1) basic research: experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without particular application or use in view;

    (2) applied research: original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge, directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective;

    (3) experimental development: systematic work, drawing on existing knowledge gained from research and/or practical experience, directed to producing new materials, products and devices, to installing new processes, systems and services, and to improving substantially those already produced or installed.

    Research and experimental development activities in this division are not to be regarded as ancillary activities. They are subdivided into the two following categories: natural sciences and engineering; social sciences and the humanities.

    This division also includes the activities of developing and producing prototypes with the primary objective to make further improvements, whether or not associated with its production.

    Excludes

    • market research and public opinion polling, see 73.2073.20
  2. 72.1Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
  3. 72.10Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • research and development on archaeology, see 72.2072.20
    • DNA sequencing for ruling out or curing a specific disease, see 86.9186.91
    • conservation, restoration and other support activities for cultural heritage, see 91.3091.30
  4. 72.10.1Research and experimental development on biotechnology
  5. 72.10.10Research and experimental development on biotechnology
    From ATECO 2022: 72.11.00 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle biotecnologie (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and experimental development on biotechnology
  6. 72.10.2Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
  7. 72.10.21Research and experimental development on geology
    From ATECO 2022: 72.19.01 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo della geologia (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and experimental development on geology
  8. 72.10.22Research and experimental development on conservation science
    From ATECO 2022: 72.19.09 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle altre scienze naturali e dell'ingegneria (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and experimental development activities in the field of cultural heritage conservation science

    Excludes

    • research and development on archaeology, see 72.20.0172.20.01
    • conservation, restoration and other support activities for cultural heritage, see 91.3091.30
  9. 72.10.29Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering n.e.c.
    From ATECO 2022: 72.19.09 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle altre scienze naturali e dell'ingegneria (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and experimental development on natural sciences
    • research and experimental development on engineering and technology
    • research and experimental development on medical, health and life, and veterinary sciences
    • research and experimental development on agricultural, forestry and fisheries sciences
    • interdisciplinary research and development, predominantly on natural sciences and engineering

    Also includes

    • DNA sequencing for general research on biological processes
  10. 72.2Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
  11. 72.20Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Excludes

    • research and experimental development activities in the field of cultural heritage conservation science, see 72.1072.10
    • market research and public opinion polling, see 73.2073.20
  12. 72.20.0Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Implementation rule

    • The activities included in this category are subdivided in research and development on archaeology, and other activities of research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities.
  13. 72.20.01Research and development on archaeology
    From ATECO 2022: 72.20.00 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle scienze sociali e umanistiche (in part) · 74.90.99 Altre attività professionali n.c.a. (in part)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and development on archaeology
    • archaeological excavations
    • activities of archaeologists, including:
      • on-site archaeological assistance during archaeological excavation operations
      • post-excavation activities of studying the archeological finds found during archaeological excavation operations

    Excludes

    • research and experimental development activities in the field of cultural heritage conservation science, see 72.10.2272.10.22
  14. 72.20.09Other activities of research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
    From ATECO 2022: 72.20.00 Ricerca e sviluppo sperimentale nel campo delle scienze sociali e umanistiche (all from here)
    ISTAT explanatory notes ›

    Includes

    • research and development on social sciences (e.g., economics and business administration; psychology and cognitive sciences; education; sociology; law; political science; media and communication)
    • research and development on humanities and arts, e.g. history, literature and languages, philosophy
    • interdisciplinary research and development, predominantly on social sciences and humanities

    Also includes

    • research and development on socio-economic relations

Source and disclaimer

The code you find here has no legal value, like the one from ISTAT's own navigator. You can use it as a reference when you register or change a VAT number with the Business Register or the Italian Revenue Agency. If in doubt, ask your accountant. ISTAT's official ATECO navigator.

Data: ISTAT, ATECO 2025 classification, CC BY 4.0 licence. We reorganised the files for search without changing the text of codes and notes, except for the capitalisation of section titles. CC BY 4.0

ISTAT files used

ATECO documentation on istat.it