It was founded in 1998 as a non-profit organisation located in Athens, Greece. The ICBSS is governed by an international Board of Directors, consisting of representatives (National Directors) of all the BSEC Member States appointed for a three-year term. The Secretary General of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat (BSEC PERMIS) is also a member of the Board. In addition, three personalities of international renown are invited to participate. Through its mandate the ICBSS performs a dual function: - As an independent research and training centre it pursues applied, policy-oriented research, builds capacity and promotes knowledge on the Black Sea region both within and outside its boundaries. - As a related body of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) it strives to fulfil in the best possible way its institutional role and the assignments received by carrying out studies, offering policy advice and coordinating activities. The ICBSS’ overarching aim is to foster multilateral cooperation among the BSEC member states as well as with their international partners. It does so by coordinating and carrying out policy-oriented research in fields such as BSEC-EU relations, Science and Technology, Economic Development, International Relations, Good Governance and Institutional Renewal, and Energy. In the field of S&T the ICBSS has been involved in a number of activities with the aim to foster and promote international cooperation.