This Special Issue is dedicated to the memory of Klaus Muller.

This Special Issue focuses on Sol–Gel R&D in Italy, with the purpose of giving a short overview of current research trends in this field and presenting the main laboratories working on sol–gel. The Italian community, though it has a small number of researchers, has been one of the most active in sol–gel research from the very beginning.

The first International Sol–Gel Workshop of the series was held in Padova, with several laboratories playing a pivotal role in basic sol–gel research, which has been widely recognized worldwide. This Issue also has the purpose of increasing international collaborations along with information on those who work in this field, and hopefully should be the first of a series of Special Issues dedicated to different countries. We would like to thank all the contributors to this special Issue and in particular to the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Sol–Gel Science and Technology, Michel Aegerter, for his precious support.

We have dedicated this Special Issue to Prof. Klaus Muller from the University of Trento who suddenly passed away during the preparation of the Issue; it is an enormous loss for our community and his family.

The Special Issue Editors

Plinio Innocenzi, Giovanna Brusatin, Antonio Aronne, Sandra Dirè, Franca Morazzoni