ISAK's operations started in 1995 as a part of the Social Technology development project hosted by the North-Karelia Coynty Administrative Board. After having functioned for nine years by Outokumpu Region Industrial Village Ltd., ISAK moved to Joensuu and became part of the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences in 2005.

ISAK was able to compile its partnership network and to organise and implement its activities with the support of the Regional Centre Programme for the Joensuu Region, which was carried out by the Joensuu Regional Development Company, JOSEK Ltd. Since the beginning of the year 2010, ISAK's activities have been hosted by the Centre for Design and International Business at the North Karelia University of Applied Sciences.