National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

What National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine does

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) is a private, nonprofit institution established by an Act of Congress signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to provide independent, evidence-based advice to the U.S. federal government on science, engineering, and medicine. It operates as a federation of three separately chartered academies—the National Academy of Sciences (1863), the National Academy of Engineering (1964), and the National Academy of Medicine (1970)—with the National Research Council functioning as its operating arm. Its core "products" are consensus study reports (over 200 published annually), peer-reviewed through an independent Office of Peer Review, alongside the PNAS scientific journal, the Transportation Research Board's research and convening activities, and an extensive portfolio of fellowship programs (including the new Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship, Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellowships, and NRC Research Associateships). The organization also operates program centers such as the Gulf Research Program, the Center for Advancing Science and Technology, and the Center for Health, People, and Places.

NASEM's go-to-market is overwhelmingly direct-to-government: it responds to congressional mandates, federal agency sponsorships (FAA, NIH, DOE, NSF, CDC, EPA, NOAA, DoD), and state/local government requests, coordinated through the Office of Congressional and Government Affairs. Funding comes from a mix of government appropriations, congressionally mandated study sponsorships, foundation grants (e.g., Schmidt Sciences), settlement funds (e.g., Deepwater Horizon criminal settlement funding the Gulf Research Program), publication revenue from PNAS and National Academies Press, and program fees for administered fellowships. Consensus study reports are distributed free to the public, while paid products include books and journal subscriptions.

The organization fulfills its mission through over 20,000 volunteers, Academy members, and staff annually, with approximately 6,000 top experts volunteering on projects each year. Its competitive advantage rests on its congressionally chartered status, 160+ years of brand authority, rigorous committee balance and conflict-of-interest policies, and an unmatched pipeline of elected Academy members. Recent strategic activity includes new fellowship and awards programs, philanthropic partnerships, and a notable leadership transition with Tsu-Jae King Liu becoming President of the National Academy of Engineering in July 2025.

Name

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Legal name

National Academy of Sciences

Website

https://nationalacademies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is a private, congressionally chartered nonprofit that provides independent, evidence-based scientific and policy advice to the U.S. federal government, state and local governments, and the public through consensus study reports, peer-reviewed journals, fellowship programs, and convening activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Policy Advisory Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Science policy advisory
• Consensus study reports
• Research fellowships
• Peer-reviewed publications
• Transportation research board

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Sponsorships: Primary funding comes from government sponsors including Congress, federal agencies (such as the FAA, NIH, DOE, NSF), and state/local governments. Many studies are congressionally mandated, providing a steady stream of advisory work.
2. Foundation and Philanthropic Support: Private foundations provide funding for specific research initiatives and programs, such as the Schmidt Sciences partnership for science communications awards.
3. Publications Revenue: Revenue from scientific journals including PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), PNAS Nexus, and book sales through National Academies Press.
4. Fellowship and Program Fees: Administer fellowship programs on behalf of government agencies, private foundations, and sponsoring organizations, with program fees supporting operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provides independent, evidence-based advice to the U.S. government and the public on complex issues in science, engineering, and medicine. Core offerings include peer-reviewed consensus study reports, scientific journals (notably PNAS), the Transportation Research Board's research and convening activities, administered fellowship programs, public engagement resources, and books and reports published through the National Academies Press.

Product overview

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is a private, nonprofit organization established by an Act of Congress in 1863 that provides independent, objective advice to advance science, engineering, and medicine. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single unified product. Its core offerings include: (1) Consensus Study Reports — peer-reviewed expert reports on scientific and policy topics; (2) PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) — a premier scientific journal; (3) Transportation Research Board (TRB) — transportation research and convening activities; (4) Fellowship Programs administered through the Office of Fellowships, including the Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellowships, NRC Research Associateship Programs, and the new Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Program; (5) Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications; (6) Convening Activities including forums, roundtables, workshops, and conferences; and (7) the Based on Science public information resource. The organization also operates specialized centers including the Center for Advancing Science and Technology, Center for Health, People, and Places, and the Gulf Research Program. Together, these products and programs support the organization's mission to provide evidence-based guidance to policymakers and the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• National Research Council (NRC): The operating arm of the National Academies that carries out studies, workshops, and advisory activities.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)
• National Academies Press (NAP)
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)

Products and services

• Consensus Study Reports
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
• Transportation Research Board (TRB)
• Office of Fellowships Programs
• Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellowships
• Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
• National Academies Press (NAP)
• Gulf Research Program
• Center for Advancing Science and Technology
• Center for Health, People, and Places
• Biotechnology Regulatory Fellowship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 publications and products published annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and core.

• Smithsonian InstitutionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Co-hosting 'Revolutions in Science: Discovery, Imagination, and the Future' symposium to explore ideas, technologies, and people that have shaped the American scientific enterprise during the U.S. 250th anniversary celebration.
• Louisiana Public Health InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Gulf Futures Challenge winner awarded $20 million to transform eight Gulf Coast Community Health Centers into energy-independent Learning Resilience Hubs, expandable to 135 centers.
• Gulf Offshore Research InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Gulf Futures Challenge winner awarded $20 million to repurpose aging offshore oil and gas platforms into multi-use hubs for habitat conservation, aquaculture, ocean monitoring, renewable energy, and critical mineral research.
• Schmidt SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Schmidt Sciences to present the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, awarding $640,000 across 24 recipients in 2026.
• Manufacturing USA NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Public-private partnership network of 17 advanced manufacturing institutes. The National Academies study and provide recommendations on strengthening this network as part of industrial strategy reports.
• National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Federal coordination office for nanotechnology R&D. National Academies conduct quadrennial reviews of the National Nanotechnology Initiative as mandated by Congress.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Science Foundation (NSF): The U.S. federal agency that funds non-medical basic research and serves as a key partner/sponsor for NASEM studies. Comparable as a major actor in U.S. science policy, though NSF is a government funder rather than an independent advisory body.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): The largest general scientific society in the world, publisher of Science magazine and a broader advocacy organization. Comparable to NASEM in publishing scientific content and engaging policymakers, but with a much wider membership-based mandate rather than consensus-study focus.

Direct peers

• European Academies' Science Advisory Council: A pan-European network that provides independent science policy advice to EU institutions, drawing on national academies across Europe. Comparable in function as a science advisory body serving government policymakers.
• Royal Society: The UK national scientific academy, founded in 1660, serves as the British government's independent advisor on science. Directly comparable to NASEM in mission, prestige, and consensus-based advisory function, though smaller in scale.
• Council of Canadian Academies: A Canadian nonprofit that produces independent expert assessments on science, technology, and policy topics for the Canadian government. Operates with a nearly identical consensus-study model and federal advisory mandate as NASEM.
• National Research Council of Canada: Canada's primary federal research and advisory organization, operating under a similar mandate to provide science and technology advice to the Canadian government. Comparable in scale, structure, and federal advisory role.

Regional players

• Max Planck Society: Germany's largest nonprofit scientific research organization, operating 86+ Max Planck Institutes conducting basic research. Comparable in scale and prestige as a non-governmental research institution, but primarily a research performer rather than a consensus advisor.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences: China's premier national scientific institution, conducting large-scale research and advising the Chinese government on science policy. Comparable in scale and national advisory role, but state-operated rather than independently chartered.
• Indian National Science Academy: India's national scientific academy, established in 1935, representing Indian scientists and advising the government on science policy. Comparable as a national honorific academy with an advisory mandate.
• Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres: Germany's largest scientific research organization, operating 18 research centers across energy, health, and earth systems. Comparable in scale and breadth but primarily a research performer with a different governance model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheNASEM
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalAcademies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

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Frequently asked questions about National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine