CISC is an inter-disciplinary, inter-institutional research centre located at NUI Galway which was formally launched by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D on 1st March 2002. CISC is advancing an internationally recognised programme of research and research training on the innovation processes and policies that are fundamental to the development of a knowledge-based economy. CISC is an umbrella research institute, offering a common ground where people from different disciplines and backgrounds can meet and debate, where they can consider processes and issues from different perspectives. Innovation happens at cross-over points, where management meets marketing, where economics meets law, where geography meets information systems. CISC provides a forum for the formal and informal interactions necessary to enable an interdisciplinary community of researchers to flourish.