Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE)

The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) is a European, supra-regional and politically independent organization for all European regions within and outside the European Union. It serves as a communication platform for regions, towns, companies, investors, science and administration and works on the creation of networks in order to be able to push through regional and local interests. Further, it is a scientific institute with its own specialised library.
The IRE is a non-profit private foundation with a board of directors consisting of three people: Its president, Univ. Doz. Dr. Franz Schausberger, is also the organizational and scientific director of the institute. Mr Schausberger used to be Governor of the Land Salzburg (1996 - 2004) and is now member of the Committee of the Regions (EU) in Brussels, vice-president of EPP in CoR as well as member of the working group Western Balkans. Vice-chairman of the IRE-board is Dr. Stefan Eder, Managing Partner of DLA Piper Weiss Tessbach, an international commercial law firm specialising in business law. The third member of the board of directors is Mr Karl Popp, who positions like product group manager and marketing manager of international companies.
Day-to-day business is done by the IRE office, which consists of Secretary General Dr. Fritz and his colleagues, MMag. Johanna Jakob and Lisa Nussmüller. An important part of their work is the organisation of networking and expert meetings and conferences for and in the regions.
Discussions on the institute’s thematic priorities take place in the advisory board and the working groups. The institute is financed by founders, membership fees and sponsoring. It has its seat in Salzburg/Austria and disposes of an administrative infrastructure in Vienna as well.
One of the focus areas is the scientific activity in the field of regionalisation and decentralisation in Europe. With regard to these topics we organise special seminars and symposia and edit scientific publications (occasional papers, short studies). For students from European regions the IRE offers the opportunity to undergo a 4-weeks internship at the institute in Salzburg. The IRE is in cooperation with various universities and institutes all over Europe.
Contact Details:
Institut der Regionen Europas
Franz-Josef-Kai 1
5020 Salzburg
Phone: +43 662 84 32 88 5010
Fax: +43 662 84 32 88 5050
office@institut-ire.eu
www.institut-ire.eu
Chairman:
Univ. Doz. Dr. Franz Schausberger
Franz.schausberger@institut-ire.eu
+43 662 84 32 88 5010
Secretary General:
Dr. Joachim Fritz
Joachim.frith@institut-ire.eu
+43 662 84 32 88 5015

MMag. Johanna Jakob
Johanna.jakob@institut-ire.eu
+43 662 84 32 88 5017