The International Research and Consulting Centre (IRCC), founded in 1997 is an interdisciplinary academic expertise and research centre. The IRCC engages in research, teaching and consulting activities. The aim is to promote academic and applied research and debate as well as policies directed at the establishment of more just and equitable institutions of good governance. The services provided are based on research in the Institues's fields of competence.

The teaching activities of the IRCC include an annual Summer University Course on «Federalism, Decentralisation and Conflict Resolution» and an annual Practitioners Course on "Decentralisation and Local Governance". The first addresses primarily graduate students in law, political sciences, economics, sociology or related disciplines while the latter is specifically designed for qualified professionals. Furthermore, the IRCC organises conferences and workshops with outstanding researchers and experts and conduct in-house seminars, in which scholars from within and from outside the Institute present their research results on a regular basis.

Consulting activities are carried out on issues related to state organisation, decentralisation and local governance, comparative federalism, democracy and good governance, human rights, multiculturalism and minority protection and conflict resolution. Furthermore, the IRCC frequently hosts foreign delegations for study tours on Swiss federalism. The IRCC works with several partners, including Swiss and international institutions. Main partners include the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the Forum of Federations (FoF).