ISED is a knowledge institution that considers enterprise and entrepreneurship as the trigger of socio-economic development. With the motto of “sustainable development through enterprise”, its activity spectrum includes, research, knowledge base development and knowledge sharing, business development services, advisory services and development communication.

The origin of the Institute, in 1988, owes to the initiatives of a group of professionals and concerned citizens from various parts of India, who were influenced by the global Sustainable Development Agenda, put forward by the World Commission on Environment and Development. The active helping hand of the Planning Commission, New Delhi, offered the early strength and vitality to the nascent Institute.

ISED considers development of private enterprise as the fulcrum of sustainable economic development. It believes that, even when the global resources get depleted day by day, sky is the limit for human capabilities. And it is these capabilities or creativity(or 'entrepreneurship' in a wider sense), from which enterprises germinate and grow.

Action for development of sustainable enterprises and entrepreneurship need to be based on a holistic understanding of the process of development, on the one hand, and feedback on intelligent interventions, on the other. The whole process leads to knowledge creation. ISED programme and action are anchored on maintaining such knowledge base, and taking it to the people consistently.

While the 'right to livelihood' is a basic right of all human beings. For this, people choose either wage employment or self employment. The United Nations, under its 'sustainable development agenda', has emphasised that the rights and protection required to support self-employment, start businesses, and become a micro-entrepreneur (as derived from existing rights, including political, civil, economic and social ones) as essential for ensuring livelihoods for the poor. For this, an effective legal system, local government institutions, and services that are more open, accessible, accountable and have legitimacy, need to be ensured. The mission of ISED is to advance the theory and practice of sustainable development, among enterprises and their various stakeholders: policy makers,financial institutions , promotional agencies,international partners, media, civil society and the community at large.