Founding members included Avraham Harman, Haim Kobersky, Joshua Prawer and Baruch Yekutieli.

Its mission is to contribute to decision-making, policy and planning processes and to influence their outcomes in Jerusalem and in Israel.

To this end, it produces accurate, thorough and data-based information, conducts interdisciplinary policy-oriented research and provides innovative policy recommendations and planning proposals for the benefit of decision makers, the third sector and, ultimately, the public.

[citation needed] Since its founding, JIPR has issued over 400 publications, which contribute to the professional and public discourse pertaining to Jerusalem in particular and Israeli society in general.

The "Peace Process in Jerusalem" (JIIS, 2000) served as a working paper at the 2000 Camp David Summit in July 2000 for the Israeli delegation.