The aim of the ITS is to establish a base of knowledge and techniques that will upgrade the status of the thatched roof from its historical image as a roof almost entirely used on old and listed buildings, to a modern and competitive roof, comparable to many other kinds of roofing, irrespective of the function of the buildings upon which it is used.
In practice, this means that the sharing of all knowledge concerning both fire protection and durability of thatching materials (water reed, straw and miscanthus) are presently the most important working fields of the ITS.