FONDATION INSTITUT DE RECHERCHE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE ET LES RELATIONS INTERNATIONALES

Their core work

IDDRI is a Paris-based policy research institute that bridges climate science, sustainable development, and international governance. They specialize in translating complex climate and food systems research into actionable policy pathways — analyzing how sectors like energy, transport, agriculture, and buildings can decarbonize. Their work spans low-carbon transition modeling, sustainable food value chain analysis, and post-Paris Agreement policy assessment, making them a go-to partner for projects that need rigorous policy framing alongside technical research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2019), IDDRI focused on broad climate-development linkages and integrated assessment — connecting sustainable development goals with climate action at a macro level (CD-LINKS, COP21 RIPPLES). From 2021 onward, their work shifted toward granular, sector-specific decarbonization (energy-intensive industry, transport, buildings, AFOLU) and deep-dive food system sustainability including biodiversity and nutrition metrics. The trajectory shows a clear move from high-level policy framing toward concrete sectoral transformation research.

IDDRI is moving toward increasingly applied, sector-specific transition research — future partners should expect a focus on actionable decarbonization pathways and sustainable food system transformation rather than abstract policy analysis.

How they like to work

IDDRI primarily operates as a participant (5 of 6 projects), contributing policy expertise to large research consortia rather than leading them — though they have coordinated one project (COP21 RIPPLES). With 101 unique partners across 32 countries, they maintain an exceptionally broad international network for an institute of their size, suggesting they are a sought-after partner for policy dimensions of climate and sustainability projects. Their hub-like network pattern makes them valuable connectors between technical researchers and the policy world.

IDDRI has collaborated with 101 unique partners across 32 countries — a remarkably wide network for just 6 projects, reflecting their role in large European and international consortia. Their geographic reach spans well beyond the EU, consistent with their focus on global climate governance and international development.

What sets them apart

IDDRI occupies a rare niche at the intersection of climate science, food systems research, and international policy — most research institutes specialize in only one of these. Their strength is translating technical findings into policy-relevant frameworks, which makes them the partner you bring in when your project needs to connect research results to real-world governance decisions. Based in Paris with deep ties to COP processes and global sustainability networks, they bring credibility and policy access that purely technical institutes cannot offer.

Highlights from their portfolio

• COP21 RIPPLES
  IDDRI's only coordinated project — assessed the real-world policy implications of the Paris Agreement across European low-emission pathways.
• NDC ASPECTS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 632K) covering sectoral decarbonization across energy, transport, buildings, and AFOLU — represents their most recent strategic direction.
• PATHWAYS
  Running until 2026, this project combines food systems, biodiversity, circular economy, and nutrition — signaling IDDRI's expanding scope into integrated sustainability.