International Federation for Systems Research

International Federation for Systems Research
Name	International Federation for Systems Research
Founded	0 1980
Location	Vienna, Austria
Key people	Jennifer Wilby, Matjaž Mulej
Focus	Systems science, interdisciplinarity
Website	https://ifsr.org/

International Federation for Systems Research. The International Federation for Systems Research is a global non-governmental organization dedicated to the advancement of systems science and systems thinking. It serves as an umbrella body for national and regional systems organizations, fostering international cooperation and interdisciplinary research. The federation promotes the application of systemic methodologies to address complex problems across diverse fields such as management, engineering, and social sciences.

History

The federation was established in 1980 following initiatives stemming from earlier gatherings like the International Society for the Systems Sciences annual meetings. Key founding figures included prominent systems thinkers from Europe and North America who recognized the need for a coordinating body. Its formation was closely associated with the intellectual legacy of pioneers such as Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Kenneth Boulding, and Anatol Rapoport. Early secretariats were hosted by institutions including the University of Vienna and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis located near Vienna.

Objectives and mission

The primary mission is to stimulate and coordinate research and development in all areas of systems science. It aims to bridge the gap between different systems-oriented disciplines and promote the use of systems methodologies in solving real-world problems. A core objective is to support the activities of its member societies and to organize international forums for the exchange of ideas. The federation also seeks to encourage the education and development of future systems scientists through its global network.

Organizational structure

The federation is governed by an Executive Committee elected by its member societies, with leadership roles including a President and Secretary. The administrative functions are managed by a permanent Secretariat, historically based in Austria. Key operational bodies include the Steering Committee and various Task Forces established for specific initiatives or conferences. The organizational model emphasizes collaboration with allied institutions like the International Society for the Systems Sciences and the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences.

Activities and conferences

A flagship activity is the organization of the biennial European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research, a major conference held in Vienna. The federation also sponsors the International Systems Science Symposium and collaborates on events with member organizations worldwide. It actively participates in joint initiatives with bodies such as the International Council for Science and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. These conferences often feature keynote addresses by leading scholars like Peter Checkland or Niklas Luhmann, covering topics from soft systems methodology to complex adaptive systems.

Publications

The federation does not publish a regular journal itself but strongly endorses and promotes key systems research periodicals. These include the journal Systems Research and Behavioral Science, published in association with the International Society for the Systems Sciences. It also highlights important book series such as the Contemporary Systems Thinking series from Springer Science+Business Media. Conference proceedings from its major events are frequently published in collaboration with academic presses, disseminating research presented by figures such as Raul Espejo and Michael C. Jackson.

Member societies

Membership consists of national and regional systems societies from across the globe. Notable member societies include the American Society for Cybernetics, the United Kingdom Systems Society, and the Japan Society for Systemics. Other key members are the Spanish Society of General Systems, the Italian Association for Systems Research, and the Systems Society of China. This diverse coalition facilitates a worldwide exchange of systems ideas, connecting communities from Australia to Latin America through a shared commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry.

Category:International scientific organizations Category:Systems science organizations Category:Organizations based in Vienna Category:Organizations established in 1980