The Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) is an independent non-profit research and development centre that aims at assisting the development of public policy in the Baltic Sea region by providing high-quality socio-economic analysis. With its activities, IBS aims at contributing to the increase of knowledge and understanding of the development challenges and opportunities facing Estonia in particular and Baltic Sea region in general. IBS main areas of expertise fall into three broad domains: - science, technology and innovation policy, industrial economics and regional development; - social cohesion policies in the areas of labour, migration and development, immigrant integration and gender aspects; - policy analysis, policy and Programme evaluation and impact assessment studies related to the above.