International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis stands in Laxenburg, a small town south of Vienna in Lower Austria. The institute was founded in 1972 as a scientific bridge between East and West during the Cold War. Nearly six hundred researchers from sixty countries now work there, studying global challenges like climate change and sustainable development. The building itself is set in a park-like landscape beside an old imperial palace. Inside, teams of chemists, biologists, economists and policy experts collaborate across disciplines. The institute’s work matters because its findings guide governments worldwide. Past directors include Howard Raiffa from Harvard and Roger Levien from Xerox. Today Hans Joachim Schellnhuber leads the institute, supported by Deputy Director General Karen Lips. IIASA’s research is funded by member countries from Austria to Vietnam and by grants from organisations such as the United Nations. One of its models, GAINS, was adopted by the Chinese government to improve air quality across the country. Visitors find a quiet campus with modern offices and seminar rooms arranged around courtyards. The Vienna Statement on Science Diplomacy, drafted at IIASA, has been endorsed by nearly two hundred leaders including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Exhibits in the entrance hall show how systems analysis helps tackle issues from Arctic governance to food security. The park outside offers benches and shaded paths for quiet reading or discussion.