CIS seeks to foster a wide range of approaches to research, much of it interdisciplinary. It has become one of the largest centres in Europe for advanced research in international relations on topics within the broader themes of global governance and international peace and security. A wide range of research programmes and projects of varying size are associated with CIS, often in conjunction with a College or another Department. These programmes and projects seek their own funding independently from CIS, which can sometimes provide small seed funding and helps coordinate and maximise synergies between initiatives.