IIASA develops partnerships with organizations in member countries and a global network of researchers and policymakers. These collaborations aim to deliver high-quality research and enhance the impact of its research on shaping evidence-based policy and building bridges between countries.

In 2023, IIASA partnered with:

  • 22 Member Organizations (including one observer and one prospective member) that govern IIASA and provide core funding
  • 159 institutions from 91 country on 431 peer-reviewed journal articles
  • Over 20 UN bodies, international NGOs, and other structures as a member or observer
  • Different organizations worldwide through 18 new formal collaborative agreements, in addition to multiple consortium and grants agreements

Member Organizations

IIASA is funded and governed by its National and Regional Member Organizations (MOs) – often highly prestigious scientific organizations such as a country's national academy or premier research funding agency.

Research funders

Top ten research funders in 2020 by funds invested in IIASA research:

  1. European Commission
  2. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
  3. Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE)
  4. Joint Stock Company SUEK
  5. Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG)
  6. Austrian Climate Research Program (ACRP)
  7. Higher School of Economics (HSE)
  8. Bank of England
  9. Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
  10. DBFZ German Biomass Research Center

Research collaborators

Top ten research collaborators in 2023 (Source: SCOPUS):

  1. University of Vienna, Austria
  2. Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital, Austria
  3. University of Leeds, United Kingdom
  4. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany
  5. University of Oxford, United Kingdom
  6. Ultrecht University, The Netherlands
  7. University College London, United Kingdom
  8. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  9. Imperial College London, United Kingdom
  10. University of Exeter, United Kingdom

IIASA formal memberships and accreditations

Intergovernmental organizations: IIASA is formally a member or observer of a number of intergovernmental organizations in order to enhance the impact of its research. These organizations include:

International non-governmental organizations

IIASA is a formal member of a number of international non-governmental organizations to join expertise and research efforts:

Other structures where IIASA is a member

Strategic partners

The focus of IIASA research on finding solutions to challenges that cross international boundaries results in strategic collaboration with a range of international and regional organizations.

IIASA recent new collaborations include:

  • A partnership with the International Science Council (ISC) to bring a transdisciplinary systems perspective to the COVID-19 crisis and to identify how best to build forward a world that is more resilient, sustainable, and just.
  • The start of a strategic partnership with SAS Institute Inc., the multinational developer of analytics software, to implement the next generation of crowd-driven artificial intelligence (AI) to help power AI algorithms to better track deforestation.
  • Membership of Africa-UniNet, a research network to create a long-term, stable basis for international scientific cooperation between African universities and research institutions, and those based in Austria.

Established strategic partnerships are also progressing. Among these were:

  • Publication of a joint report by IIASA and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report demonstrated that putting systemic thinking at the centre of policymaking is essential to addressing global issues in an era of rapid and disruptive change.
  • The Integrated Solutions for Water, Energy, and Land (ISWEL) four-year project jointly led by IIASA, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) successfully achieved its objectives in 2020.
  • The World in 2050 (TWI2050) initiative by IIASA, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Vienna Energy Forum organized a side-event at the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development where TWI2050 third report was released.

In 2023 IIASA signed Memoranda of Understanding with 18 organizations to facilitate research collaborations and the use of IIASA research. Among them are the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Water and Environment of Uganda, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, as well as partners from Austria, Germany, Kenya, UK, USA, and other non-MO countries, including the Czech Republic, Singapore, and Switzerland.

Vienna Diplomatic Hub

IIASA works closely with the diplomatic corps in Vienna and worldwide to integrate science in international diplomacy, to support informed decision-making, and to facilitate negotiations. In 2024 a first Ambassadors Reception was organized at IIASA. This engagement supports national policies and increases visibility of IIASA research and activities.