The South Tyrolean Institute of Ethnic Groups was founded in 1960 under the name “South Tyrolean Economic and Social Institute” with the purpose of researching the economic and social difficulties faced by the German and Ladin-speaking ethnic groups in South Tyrol and supplying practical solutions.  The Institute fulfilled this founding goal for three decades. 

In the course of this time, the Institute has, of course, also undergone a change in content.  Treating economic and social matters was not possible without simultaneously dealing with the cultural, educational, and ecological conditions in South Tyrol, as well as with the legal preconditions of autonomy.  Because of the fact that while the second autonomy for South Tyrol was being built up, several special institutions for basic economic and social concerns came into existence (such as the Institute for Business Support, the Institute for Economic Research, the Institute for Labor Support, the Ecological Institute, etc.), the Institute has been able to dedicate itself more and more to a comprehensive way of examining South Tyrol's society as a whole and its linguistic groups.  The South Tyrolean Institute of Ethnic Groups thus developed gradually out of the South Tyrolean Economic and Social Institute, no longer focussing only on partial aspects but, rather, on the overall matter of three linguistic groups in South Tyrol living together. 

When the question of nationalities once again became acute with greater vehemence after the changes in Europe in 1990, the continent’s attention suddenly turned to South Tyrol.  Out of a negative conflict which was threatening to degenerate into the use of violence, a positive resolution of the conflict was achieved through political negotiations, making possible the peaceful cohabitation of the three linguistic groups in South Tyrol with the help of the Second Autonomy Statute.  Against this background, the Institute found itself increasingly in demand from outside of South Tyrol as a partner in dialogue, in order to convey the historic experience of South Tyrol in a scholarly, objective manner to those who were interested in solutions to similar problems.  The demand of this sort for the Institute is enormous.

In fact, in Europe there are over 300 national or ethnic minorities with, in total, a population of over 100 million (which corresponds to one seventh of all Europeans!), of which many want to take advantage of the potential of South Tyrol's experience and its head start in the field.  The Institute has taken on this challenge in solidarity with the destiny of many sorely afflicted ethnic groups, but also as a sign of gratitude for the many selfless acts of assistance which South Tyrol was able to receive from outside the province during difficult times.