The component of a business that includes all of the activities and functions that take place during the transfer of goods from the producers to the consumers is called commerce. This also takes place on a larger scale between nations.

Officially known as the Italian Republic, the country is found in southern Europe. The official language is Italian and the cultural rich capital is Rome. Many of the world's oldest universities are located in Italy, in particular the University of Bologna (founded in 1088). There are three Superior Graduate Schools with "university status", three institutes with the status of Doctoral Colleges, which function at graduate and post-graduate level.