ZSI is a Vienna based research organisation with around 50 employees.

The work is carried out in three units which comprise the core competencies of the institute:

• Unit for Research Policy and Development
• Unit for Technology and Knowledge
• Unit for Labour and Equal Opportunities

ZSI works in inter- and transdisciplinary settings. It also fulfils some agency functions for the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research. In this capacity it hosts the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices in Bulgaria and Slovenia. ZSI has a long record in SST studies and investigates also R and innovation systems in Latin America, Southeast Asia, East Europe and Central Asia.