The National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) is an Indian multidisciplinary research institute located in Bengaluru, in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It was established to foster scholarship and research that bridges the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and engineering.
NIAS commenced functioning on 20 June 1988, with Dr. Raja Ramanna serving as its founder director. Since its inception, the institute has pursued an interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex problems of contemporary relevance.
As a multidisciplinary centre, NIAS brings together researchers from varied academic backgrounds to engage in collaborative work that draws upon multiple fields of inquiry. The institute is situated in Bengaluru, a city known for its concentration of scientific and academic institutions.