The Society was incorporated in 1994 in the Netherlands (Utrecht); Dr Hildrun Kretschmer was elected its first President.
The Society aims to encourage communication and exchange of professional information in the field of scientometrics and informetrics, to improve standards, theory and practice in all areas of the discipline, to stimulate research, education and training, and to enhance the public perception of the discipline.
Members of the society perform theoretical and practical studies related, but not restricted, to research evaluation, diffusion of information, quantitative web studies and mathematical and statistical modeling of information processes.
Since 1987, (Diepenbeek, Belgium) the society (and its informal precursor) has organised a biennial international conference, which has visited all continents.
ISSI publishes Quantitative Science Studies, the official open access journal of the organization.