Abstract
Activities performed to develop an information system for the diffusion of Italian polar research (SIRIA project) are here described. The system collects and shares information related to research projects carried out in both the Antarctic (since 1985) and Arctic (since 1997) regions. It is addressed primarily to dedicated users in order to foster interdisciplinary research but non-specialists may also be interested in the major results. SIRIA is in charge of managing the National Antarctic Data Center of Italy and confers its metadata to the Antarctic Master Directory. Since 2003, the National Antarctic Research Program has funded this project, which, by restyling its tasks, databases, and web site, is becoming the portal of Italian polar research. Issues concerning data management and policy in Italy are also covered.