The Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE), an economical and scientific institution with its seat in Salzburg (Austria), is part of the private foundation Institut der Regionen Europas (gemeinnützige) Privatstiftung which was established in the autumn of 2004.

With the establishment of the IRE a supra-regional and politically independent organization was created which, in an enlarged Europe and also on the basis of the Lisbon Treaty, addresses the issue of allowing the regions and municipalities an increasing degree of importance, reduces existing information deficits, attends to a variety of issues and aims to make use of the economic potential of regional and supra-regional cooperation between the regions of Europe.

One important aspect will be the creation of networks between regions, municipalities and other areas of public activity as well as the economy for the assertion of their interests. In particular, this will concern the new member states, and also candidate countries or those countries aspiring to this status.

The members and principal supporters of the Institut der Regionen Europas (IRE) comprise - besides the Republic of Austria - regions, cities and municipalities as well as a number of important business enterprises.

Further, the IRE gives young people from all European regions to undergo an internship at the institute in Salzburg. Therefor the IRE runs an extra internship programme.

The focus of scientific research done at the IRE lies in regional and local psephology, regionalisation and decentralisation in Europe as well as in regional and local history.