The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) was set up in 1964 to provide scientists from developing countries with opportunities to conduct research and to study new developments in physics and mathematics. The scope of activities has since been widened to include applied and related fields of science.

Thanks to generous funding from the Italian Government, the ICTP has been able to initiate and implement various schemes of support and assistance to scientific activities taking place in developing countries. The Office of External Activities was established in 1986.

The OEA seeks to promote scientific cooperation in the South through its support of scientific meetings, networks, affiliated centres and visiting scholars. OEA activities are initiated by scientists and scientific institutions in the developing world and carried out at sites located within the region. The purpose of OEA Programmes are

• To initiate, stimulate or make applicable research and training in the fields of physics and/or mathematics related to locally available resources or local problems of specific relevance to the development of the region.
• To form and strengthen national/regional communities and research groups by supporting institutions or national societies for physicists and mathematicians at all levels.
• To enhance physics and mathematics teaching.

The OEA Office has been headed by: 1985-1988: Prof.Jan S. Nilsson

Jan S. Nilsson, professor of theoretical physics, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Attended the first workshop at Miramare, Trieste, preceeding the founding of ICTP in 1960, as well as the first summer schools at the new Centre.

1988-1997: Prof.Denardo

Gallieno Denardo, born in Italy, professor of theoretical physics at the University of Trieste. He worked on general relativity and is currently working on optics and lasers physics. Denardo, has been associated with ICTP since the Centre's inception. He has served as long-time head of the Office of External Activities and is still a Consultant of the Office. From July 2002 to October 2003 he was appointed temporary Administrative Director of ICTP. He is the co-ordinator of the optics and laser programmes at ICTP.

1998-2004: Prof. Hussain

Faheem Hussain, born in Pakistan, former staff scientist from ICTP's High Energy and Astroparticle Physics Section. He also acted as co-ordinator of the ICTP High Energy Diploma Course.

2004-2013: Dr. Thompson

George Thompson, born in Australia, staff scientist from ICTP's High Energy, Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics Section.

2013-2016: Prof. Niemela

Joe Niemela, born in USA, staff scientist and head of Applied Physics Section.

2016: Dr. Kucharski

Fred Kucharski, born in Germany, staff scientist in the ESP Group.