The Romanian Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) is a non-governmental, non-profit, research institute, founded in 2009.
RIST aims to provide an appropriate institutional and administrative support for scientists that would like to work in Romania and are not satisfied by the conditions offered by existing Romanian research institutions.
RIST is a grassroots initiative, resulting from the enlargement of the Center for Cognitive and Neural Studies (Coneural), founded in 2002, which proved to be a successful experiment. Coneural hosted the only Romanian Partner Group of the prestigious Max Planck Institute (Germany).
RIST hosts scientists funded through Romanian governmental research funding programmes, the European Research Council programmes, other European Union programmes or other funding sources. RIST does not offer funding nor permanent positions.
Key focus areas
RIST is open to scientists from all scientific domains, however we expect an enhanced development within the following areas:
- Artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning;
- Computer science and information technology;
- Bioinformatics;
- Theoretical and computational physics;
- Theoretical and computational neuroscience;
- Cognitive sciences, education science;
- Robotics;
- Theoretical and computational modelling in various areas of science and technology;
- Complex systems;
- Social sciences;
- Mathematics, especially applied mathematics.
How to join us
Scientists who are not currently affiliated to RIST and who would like to apply for funding for projects that will be hosted by RIST must obtain the institute’s approval by sending to office@rist.ro a CV including a publication list or links to web pages that include this information. Following the approval, scientists may apply for funding indicating RIST as a host institution. Once the funding secured, the scientists can hire the members of their teams and set up and run their own research groups within RIST.
RIST rents the office space and thus it cannot host projects or labs that require special installations or conditions that cannot be met by office buildings or other types of buildings normally available for rent (houses, industrial buildings, etc.). RIST currently operates in Cluj-Napoca and previously had a branch in Bucharest. Reopening the Bucharest branch is possible if this will be asked by the affiliated scientists.
What we provide
RIST provides office space, office furniture, utilities (electricity, internet, heating, cleaning, etc. – corresponding to normal office activities), and administrative support (accounting, financial reports, procurement formalities, legal and tax advice). RIST’s standard overhead or indirect cost rate is 25% of direct costs. The overhead rate may be different for projects with special requirements (high energy consumption – e.g., for intensive computations, special conditions for lab space, etc.)