FIA Institute
The FIA Institute is an international not-for-profit organisation that develops and improves motor sport safety and sustainability. It leads projects that encourage the rapid development of new and improved safety technologies, that facilitate higher standards of education and training, and that raise awareness of safety and sustainability issues.
It also promotes excellence and achievement in all areas of motor sport. It has become an authoritative voice on safety, sustainability, innovation and excellence in motor sport, with regular news and features on these subjects published both on its website and in its quarterly printed journal IQ.
The Institute was established in October 2004 by the FIA and the FIA Foundation and receives an annual grant from the FIA Foundation to fund its activities. With this support, the Institute is committed to improving safety and sustainability in motor sport at all levels in every region across the world.
In 2007, the FIA launched the Motor Sport Safety Development Fund, which will distribute $60 million over five years for the benefit of motor sport across the globe. This Fund is controlled by a Committee under the administration of the FIA Foundation.
The FIA Institute is responsible for enhancing the work of the FIA Motor Sport Safety Development Fund.
Objectives
The objective of the FIA Institute is to promote improvements motor sport safety and sustainability by:
- Promoting research, disseminating the results of research and providing information on the best safety and environmental procedures, practices and technologies that can be applied to motor sport in the following areas:
- Driver equipment
- Vehicle designand technology
- Emissions monitoring and control
- Circuit design, spectator protection, and infrastructure management
- Rescue and medical facilities
- Race control
- Offsetting procedures
- Energy optimisation and storage
- Preservation of the natural environment
- Supporting training of officials, circuit and race personnel in safety and environmental procedures, practices and the use of equipment.
- Supporting the environmental education, awareness, and protection of participants, officials and members of the public at international motor sport events.
- Monitoring motor sport trends in order to identify research and regulation priorities.
The Institute manages non-regulatory safety activities such as research, training and medical control. In this role it has responsibility for the existing FIA Research Groups related to safety and sustainability. It makes reports to the Safety and Environmentally Sustainable Motor Sport Commissions of the FIA and is able (subject to its available budget) to respond to requests for research and other activities of concern to the FIA World Council.
The information and research generated by the FIA Institute will directly assist the FIA’s safety and sustainability related activities. However, the Institute will not be involved in any decision making concerning regulations, licensing or homologations. These will remain the exclusive responsibility of the FIA World Council and its specialised Commissions.