Research activities are concentrated mainly in digital signal processing, audio engineering, and psycho acoustics, e.g. projects in analysis and syntheses of sound and loudness perception.
As part of the 'Doctor Artium' program of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, several art-based doctorates have been supervised at the IEM.
Also, since 2011 IEM staff members have won seven PEEK grands for various artistic research projects, each with a run-time of three years.
The main focuses of this three-year program – the first of its kind in Austria – are: Some of the offered courses are taking place in collaboration with the Institute of Composition, Music Theory and Conducting (Institute 1) of the Graz University of Music and Dramatic Arts Bachelor/Master study in cooperation with the Graz University of Technology Bachelor/Master study in cooperation with the University of Graz IEM provides technology and know-how to composers and musicians in the creation and realization of their works.
Since 1990, IEM has collaborated with guest artists (including Olga Neuwirth, Peter Ablinger, Bernhard Lang) in the production and performance of more than 80 new compositions.