The studies led to the decision of the Council of the UNU to establish in Macau the United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology (UNU-IIST), which was founded on 12 March 1991 and opened its door in July 1992.

[citation needed] The Macao authorities also supplied the institute with its office premises, located in a heritage building Casa Silva Mendes, and subsidize fellow accommodation.

[3] As part of the United Nations, the institute was to address the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare by international co-operation, research and advanced training in software technology.

[5] The goal of UNU-CS was "to nurture the next generation of computer and social scientists with the ability to participate in, shape and benefit from the rapid development of the global information society.

"[6] A research start-up, UNU-CS aims to do the following:[7] According to its founding director, Professor Michael Best, his goal is "to raise the profile of the Institute as a centre of excellence in the UN system effectively responding to the needs of the developing world in this crucially important area".