G.I.B. was founded in 1986 by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as sole shareholder. The state is represented by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs. As a state-owned company, G.I.B. focuses its work on supporting the state government of North Rhine- Westphalia in achieving its goals of promoting employment, combating unemployment and poverty and social exclusion. The G.I.B. assumes a hinge function between the state and the regions with its technical support of state programs and initiatives. Regional decision- makers and multipliers are supported in the implementation of state programs, companies and executing agencies are assisted in the realization of projects, and projects and programs are subjected to qualitative controlling. Conversely, the G.I.B. bundles the experiences and wishes of the regional actors vis-à-vis the state.