Even more than the IETF, the work of the IRSG is expected to be marked by informality. The goal is to encourage and foster valuable research, not to add burdensome bureaucracy to the endeavor.
Conducts research into the future Internet.
The IRTF is guided by the Internet Research Steering Group, and is composed of a number of small research groups that work on the development of the Internet protocols, applications, architecture, and technology. Befitting its long term focus, it is composed of members that serve for extended periods, but as individuals, and not as representatives of organizations. The role of the IRTF is not to set Internet standards, but to take the long view of the future of the Internet, to research this future within its various research groups, and document the results in journals, white papers, and at conferences. Any technologies developed as a result are brought to the Internet Engineering Task Force working groups. The chair of the IRTF is appointed by the Internet Architecture Board.