SFI's objectives are to describe the social, working, economic, family, and other national and international social conditions and development trends that are significant to the population. SFI's task is to create new society-related knowledge within its field of work and to ensure that legislation and reporting are able to build on the latest research-based knowledge from both Danish and international social research.

DIIS is one of two institutes under the Danish Centre for International Studies and Human Rights (DCISM). DCISM was established to strengthen research, analysis, and information activities in Denmark concerning international affairs, covering the fields of foreign, security, and development policies; conflict; holocaust, genocide, and political mass murders; and human rights in Denmark and abroad. DIIS undertakes research, analyses, and related activities and comprises five research departments-the Department of European Studies; the Department of Development Research; the Department of Globalization and Governance Research; the Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studies; and the Department of Conflict and Security Studies-and an analysis unit on Cold War Studies. In addition, DIIS has a Publications & Information Unit and jointly operates the DCISM Library.