Institute for International Research

The Institute for International Research (IIR) was a leading global provider of business information, specializing in high-level conferences, professional training, and market intelligence. Within the life sciences and healthcare sectors, IIR was a dominant force, producing industry-standard events such as BioProcess International (BPI) and TIDES. These platforms served as critical hubs for the exchange of scientific data, regulatory strategies, and manufacturing innovations among pharmaceutical and biotechnology professionals. Founded in 1973 by Irvine Laidlaw, IIR grew to become the world's largest private conference company before being acquired by the UK-based publishing and events group Informa in 2005 for approximately $1.4 billion. Today, its extensive portfolio of life science events and services continues to operate under the Informa Connect brand.