# Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Skandinavistik

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101263717](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101263717)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/goethe-universitat-frankfurt-am-main-institut-fur-skandinavistik

## Summary
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Skandinavistik is a research institute located in Frankfurt, Germany. As a component of Goethe University Frankfurt, its primary purpose is to conduct research, distinguishing it from organizations that combine research with other functions like teaching.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: An instance of a research institute.
- **Parent Organization**: Part of Goethe University Frankfurt.
- **Location**: Headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.
- **Identifier**: Assigned the Ringgold ID 236212.
- **Primary Purpose**: As a research institute, its main function is to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation.

## FAQs
**Q: What is the main function of the Institut für Skandinavistik?**
A: As a research institute, its sole and primary purpose is to conduct research. This focus on systematic investigation distinguishes it from typical university departments, which must balance research activities with teaching responsibilities.

**Q: How is the institute different from a think tank?**
A: The institute is structured as a research institute, which focuses on fundamental scientific inquiry within its discipline. This differs from think tanks, which primarily conduct policy-oriented research intended to influence government and public policy.

**Q: Where is the institute located and what is its affiliation?**
A: The institute is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. It is an integral part of Goethe University Frankfurt.

## Why It Matters
The Institut für Skandinavistik's role as a dedicated research institute is significant because it serves as a focused engine of discovery within its field. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, it can accelerate breakthroughs and pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within the timelines of a standard university department or corporate entity. This organizational model, free from teaching obligations, provides a space to tackle complex problems without distraction, representing a critical piece of infrastructure for advancing human knowledge.

## Notable For
- **Exclusive Research Focus**: Dedicated exclusively to research activities, unlike hybrid university departments that must also manage teaching.
- **Disciplinary Scope**: Pursues fundamental inquiry within its academic field, distinguishing it from policy-focused think tanks.
- **Organizational Distinction**: Differentiated from related concepts like scientific societies, which are membership-based organizations rather than operational research bodies.
- **Recognized Classification**: Classified as a research institute, an organizational type with global relevance and recognition in knowledge systems.

## Body
The Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Institut für Skandinavistik is defined by its classification as a research institute and its integration within Goethe University Frankfurt.

### Organizational Identity and Location
The institute is a constituent part of Goethe University Frankfurt. Its headquarters are located in Frankfurt, Germany, and it is identified in organizational databases by the Ringgold ID 236212.

### Classification as a Research Institute
The institute's identity as a research institute is its defining characteristic. This classification signifies an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research, existing purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. This model stands in contrast to universities, which balance teaching and research, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends.

This type of organization is formally classified under multiple knowledge systems. The general concept of a "research institute" has the Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and the German National Library GND ID 4017909-6. Geographically, it is recognized by the Geonames feature code S.ITTR.

As a research institute, it is distinct from several other types of organizations:
*   **Scientific and Learned Societies**: These are membership-based organizations, whereas the institute is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation.
*   **Think Tanks**: Think tanks focus narrowly on policy research to influence public debate. The institute, in line with the research institute model, is structured for broader, fundamental inquiry within its discipline.
*   **Research Centers**: Research centers may be smaller sub-units within a larger organization, whereas a research institute is often a more standalone entity dedicated entirely to its mission.

The organizational concept is globally understood, as evidenced by its coverage in 41 different language editions of Wikipedia, indicating its universal applicability as an institutional form.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions