The RISC-research program (Rare Incidents, Strong Consequences) will focus on the study of societal processes which exhibit a distribution of a large number of very small events and a small number of very big events with, at times, disastrous societal consequences. By analyzing RISC-processes the program will also work on means and methods which can help societies at the regional, national or global levels to reduce the risks of very high social costs due to the adverse impact of these rare events.