The IRETI is sanctioned by the governments of the Kingdom of Sweden and the United States of America.  Its organization committee, made up of business, government and academic leaders from the Kingdom of Sweden and the United States, invited academic institutions in 16 U.S. states to apply for participation in IRETI.  The committee selected three states for membership in IRETI, namely, New York (through CNSE), Georgia (through the University of Georgia and the Georgia Institute of Technology), and Minnesota (through the State University System of Minnesota).

CNSE's strength and depth of its renewable energy research and education programs, as well as its location in a region having unique alternative energy resources, economies, and climates was the basis for its selecton. CNSE's E2TAC leads participation in IRETI, in partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), and Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture and Engineering (EYP).  CNSE also leverages the involvement of more than 50 industrial, university and government partners through its leadership in New Energy New York (NENY).

Funding for the CNSE-led New York IRETI programs is projected to exceed $10 million over the next three years.  Through IRETI, scientists and researchers from across the globe work jointly to advance renewable energy technologies that will provide opportunities for U.S.-based companies to supply clean energy products and services to the European market, while also testing and qualifying technologies developed in Sweden for introduction into the U.S. market.

Established in recognition of the urgent worldwide need to integrate sustainable energy technologies for homes, businesses and industries, the IRETI Organization Committee recognized the United States as the optimum location for the institute due to its educational infrastructure and international leadership.