The Romanian Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, independent research institute. RIST has been founded as an alternative to public research institutions, for the purpose of providing a better work environment for scientists in Romania.
RIST scientists are funded through grants competitively awarded by the government, European funds or private donors; there are no permanent positions, no base funding nor any endowment.
RIST has been founded in 2009 through the enlargement of the Center for Cognitive and Neural Studies (Coneural).
The institute was established during a period when Romanian law required the government to triple its research funding, raising it to 1% of GDP. In this context, RIST sought to attract a substantial number of Romanian scientists working abroad, who were expected to return to the country. However, the planned budget increase has been repeatedly delayed, and current research funding remains five times lower than initially projected.
RIST (Institutul Român de Ştiinţă şi Tehnologie) is a foundation registered in the National Register of Associations and Foundations under no. 3103/B/2009 and has the fiscal code 25616490. RIST has been authorized to perform publicly funded research and development activities through the decision of the National Authority for Scientific Research no. 9877/02.06.2010.