Who we are
CIRAS – Council for Interdisciplinary Research and Applied Science (IIGO-Initiative) is an emerging international platform for research, applied science and systemic infrastructure development.
We operate as an interdisciplinary institute in formation, dedicated not only to analysing global challenges but to designing and building the societal and technological systems needed for a regenerative, resilient and just future.
The label “IIGO-Initiative” marks the current preparatory phase: CIRAS is in an international build-up stage, without intergovernmental status, yet with a clear scientific and societal mandate.
Our purpose
CIRAS was created in response to a simple observation: today’s crises – ecological breakdown, public-health vulnerabilities, digital insecurity, geopolitical tensions and governance fragmentation – are deeply interconnected and cannot be solved within disciplinary silos.
Our core purposes are:
- Interdisciplinary research
Bridging natural sciences, social sciences, technology, law, arts and culture to understand complex systems. - Applied science and system design
Developing concepts, models and prototypes for real-world infrastructures – from sustainable cities and resilient health systems to regenerative economies, digital sovereignty and new governance models. - Knowledge translation and advisory work
Turning scientific insights into operational strategies, policy frameworks and implementation roadmaps for states, cities, institutions and civil-society actors. - Global cooperation
Building networks across universities, labs, research institutes, cities, companies and civil society to jointly create and scale solutions.
Our 12 Centers
At the heart of CIRAS lies a network of twelve specialized Centers, working as an interconnected ecosystem rather than isolated departments:
- Environment – ecological regeneration, climate resilience, planetary stewardship
- Health – integrative health models, prevention, resilient care systems
- Infrastructure – sustainable, smart and robust infrastructure for cities, regions and critical systems
- Economics – future-ready economic models, circular and just economies
- Governance – new governance architectures, decentralisation, participation and legal frameworks
- Education – learning systems for a complex, digital and ecological age
- Media – information integrity, media ecosystems, access to knowledge and countering disinformation
- Justice – fair, accessible, non-discriminatory justice systems
- Relations – international cooperation, diplomacy and conflict transformation
- Science – infrastructure for open, responsible and interdisciplinary research
- Arts – culture and creativity as drivers of societal change and imagination
- Holistic Cognitive Science – values, meaning, responsibility and awareness of interdependence
Taken together, these Centers form a holistic research and development infrastructure for humanity’s regenerative future.
How we work
- Systemic analysis
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, system modelling, foresight and field research. - Co-design with partners
Solutions are co-created with local, national and international partners rather than imposed from outside. - From insight to prototype
CIRAS focuses on projects, pilots and prototype infrastructures that can be tested, evaluated and eventually scaled. - Ethics, transparency, common good
All initiatives are guided by ethical principles, transparency and a commitment to planetary and societal well-being.
International assessments such as the UNESCO Science Report 2021 underline that countries need integrated, interdisciplinary and infrastructure-oriented science ecosystems to navigate the dual green and digital transition.
CIRAS positions itself precisely in this space.
Our governance
In its target architecture, CIRAS is supported by several complementary governance bodies:
- Core Council – guardian of the foundational vision, ethics and long-term orientation.
- Executive Council – strategic leadership, global partnerships and alignment of the 12 Centers.
- Centers & Infrastructure Teams – responsible for projects, programmes and platforms.
- Ethics & Advisory Structures – ensuring that research and implementation follow clear ethical standards.
During the current Phase 0 (IIGO-Initiative) these structures are being phased in and tested.
Why CIRAS now?
- Global developments are faster and more entangled than existing institutions can comfortably process.
- The UNESCO Science Report series and related OECD analyses highlight the need for interdisciplinary, applied and mission-oriented science as a backbone of resilience and competitiveness.
- CIRAS responds by offering a scientific, systemic and implementation-oriented partner for transforming our societal and technological systems.
Who we work with
CIRAS is open to collaboration with:
- Universities, research institutes and laboratories
- Cities, regions, states and international organisations
- Companies, particularly in infrastructure, technology, health, energy and media
- Foundations, NGOs and civil-society organisations
- Global networks of researchers, practitioners and citizen scientists
Our aim is to build a globally distributed research and implementation ecosystem that empowers regions to design their own solutions while remaining globally connected.
Our self-understanding in Phase 0 (IIGO-Initiative)
CIRAS:
- does not claim intergovernmental status,
- is in a formative and experimental phase,
- operates in a scientific, independent and transparent manner,
- and develops structures that can later be embedded in a more formal international framework.
We see CIRAS as a laboratory for tomorrow’s systems – open, collaborative and committed to the common good.