The Institut de la Montagne was founded in Chambéry by the French Minister of Research in 1999. It is to become a pole of European scientific interdisciplinary excellence specialising on sustainable development in the mountains of our world. The Institut de la Montagne is an important platform for uniting natural sciences with social and human sciences. It closely links scientists and stakeholders (decision makers, local executives, economic leaders, NGOs, etc).

The main missions of the Institut de la Montagne are:

• research
• the development of a Centre for Resources and Expertise
• the development of an Information Centre for decision makers, specialists, media and general public.