Minimal Access Surgery was fast becoming a world phenomenon by 1991. An International group of surgeons committed to the spread of M.A.S. got together at the 3rd World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery in Bordeaux in 1992 under the Chairmanship of Professor Jacques Perissat with the determination to set up an International Federation dedicated to the spread. The then purpose of this Federation is to enhance and promote Endoscopic Surgery and minimal access techniques by: serving as an International forum for the disevaluation, and dissemination of information pertaining to Endoscopic Surgery access techniques, selecting the venue for Biennial World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery. This was not to be a Federation of Surgeons but of Surgical Societies whose members were Laparoscopic surgeons from all over the world. The formation of the Federation was the culmination of ground work done by the Founder President Dr. Gerald Marks together with a large number of actively involved surgeons. This was the birth of the International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeons (IFSES) in 1992.

A unique concept of IFSES was that these surgeons from several Endoscopy Societies sought and obtained the partnership of Industry, so that leading manufacturers joined IFSES as Corporate Members making this the only Federation where surgeons integrate with and actively involve Industry to help achieve the mutual goal of the growth and spread of M.A.S.