In the science fiction of Iain M. Banks, Contact is an organisation that exists within the anarcho-socialist civilisation known as the Culture (which forms the basis of several of his novels and shorter works).

Its role within the Culture is to coordinate interactions with other civilisations. In the case of less-developed civilisations, Contact normally acts to minimise the potential culture shock resulting from contact with the technologically-advanced Culture (The Player of Games, The State of the Art). Sometimes, where the Culture believes it can help (in some capacity), Contact directly intervenes in other civilisations (Inversions, Look to Windward).

Where these interventions require actions that exceed the (moral) capacity of Contact, a branch of it, known as Special Circumstances, is involved. This organisation comprises some of the very best Contact members, and frequently makes use of third party agents to accomplish its aims (Use of Weapons). These agents operate "in the field" to support or suppress elements of other civilisations that the Culture deems important (normally to the citizens of the civilisation concerned, but potentially to the Culture itself).

While the Culture novels often take place against the backdrop of dramatically interesting interventions (usually those in which something has not gone to plan), Contact usually operates successfully, and the Culture prides itself in being able to demonstrate this statistically.

In the context of interactions with comparably-advanced civilisations, Contact has more of a diplomatic function. However, during the Idiran-Culture War (Consider Phlebas), it played the role of the Culture's military arm, and Special Circumstances took the position of military intelligence.