Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) is French government institute dedicated to scientific research for development. It has been operating in than 40 developing countries around the world over these last 50 years. In South-East Asia, its partners are research institution in Lao PDR, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. It employs nearly 2000 persons, including 800 researchers of a various array of disciplines from natural resources to social and health science. Research is mainly focused on the relations between man and his environment in tropical regions to promote sustainable development.