National Academy of Sciences

What National Academy of Sciences does

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a private, nongovernmental institution chartered by an Act of Congress signed by President Abraham Lincoln on March 3, 1863, to provide independent scientific advice to the U.S. government and recognize outstanding contributions to research. Election to NAS membership, capped at 120 U.S. members and 30 international members annually, is one of the highest honors in science; the roster includes approximately 2,700 U.S. members, 500 international members, and roughly 200 Nobel laureates across six Classes spanning physical, biological, engineering, biomedical, behavioral/social, and applied biological and environmental sciences. The organization receives no compensation for advisory services and explicitly is not a grant-making institution.

NAS operates a portfolio of programs rather than a unified product: peer-reviewed publishing through PNAS and the gold open-access PNAS Nexus; the National Academies Press; the NAS Awards Program (honoring more than 1,000 individuals since 1886); the Frontiers of Science symposium series (supported by the Kavli Foundation with 6,900+ alumni); International Forums including the US-UK Scientific Forum and Blavatnik US-Israel Scientific Forum; public engagement initiatives (Cultural Programs of the NAS, Distinctive Voices, LabX, The Science & Entertainment Exchange); and fellowship programs such as the Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship. Operationally, NAS shares the National Research Council as operating arm with two sister academies chartered under its umbrella — the National Academy of Engineering (1964) and the National Academy of Medicine (1970, originally the Institute of Medicine) — collectively known as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, headquartered at the Keck Center in Washington, DC, with a second conference site at the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center in Irvine, California.

The revenue model is donation- and mission-funded rather than commercial: philanthropy includes the Abraham Lincoln Society ($1M+ lifetime giving) and Benjamin Franklin Society ($500,000–$999,999), supplemented by publishing and conference income. Governance is by elected members, with a recent presidential transition to Neil H. Shubin (took office July 1, 2026).

Name

National Academy of Sciences

Legal name

National Academy of Sciences

Website

https://nasonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, Congressionally chartered honorific society, founded in 1863, that elects distinguished scientists and provides independent scientific advice to the U.S. government, supported by publishing (PNAS) and philanthropy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Advisory and Research Publishing

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD), Life Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Agriculture) Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAC)

Keywords

• Scientific advisory services
• Peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Scientific awards program
• Public engagement programs
• Science policy fellowship

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropy: The NAS receives support through donations from members and friends, including annual fund contributions, planned giving, and endowed gifts. Major donor recognition includes the Abraham Lincoln Society ($1M+ lifetime giving) and Benjamin Franklin Society ($500,000-$999,999 lifetime giving).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit institution that recognizes outstanding scientific contributions through peer-elected membership, provides independent scientific advice to the U.S. federal government, and operates a portfolio of programs including peer-reviewed journals (PNAS, PNAS Nexus), the National Academies Press, an awards program, scientific symposia, public engagement programs, and science policy fellowships. Membership is achieved by peer election and is considered one of the highest honors in U.S. science; the organization provides its advisory services to the government at no compensation.

Product overview

The National Academy of Sciences operates as a portfolio of scientific honorific, publishing, and advisory programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include PNAS and PNAS Nexus (peer-reviewed scientific journals), National Academies Press (reports and publications), and the NAS Awards Program honoring scientists across disciplines. Supporting programs include Frontiers of Science symposia for early career scientists, International Forums for global scientific collaboration, and public engagement initiatives including Cultural Programs of the NAS (CPNAS), Distinctive Voices lectures, LabX experimental programs, and The Science & Entertainment Exchange connecting scientists with entertainment industry. The organization also administers fellowship programs like the Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. Together, these programs advance science recognition, collaboration, public engagement, and policy advice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences): The flagship journal of the National Academy of Sciences, an authoritative source of high-impact, original research spanning biological, physical, and social sciences.
• PNAS Nexus
• Frontiers of Science
• Distinctive Voices
• Cultural Programs of the NAS (CPNAS)
• LabX
• The Science & Entertainment Exchange

Products and services

• PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) An authoritative peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes high-impact, original research broadly spanning the biological, physical, and social sciences. Global in scope; submission is open to all researchers worldwide. For the global scientific research community.
• PNAS Nexus A gold open access journal dedicated to publishing high-quality original research across biological, medical, physical, social, and political sciences, and engineering and mathematics. For the global scientific research community.
• National Academies Press Publishing arm that produces and distributes reports from the National Academies on science, engineering, and health matters. For policymakers, researchers, institutions, and the public.
• Issues in Science and Technology Publication covering science and technology policy issues. For policymakers, researchers, and informed public.
• Biographical Memoirs Published since 1877, provides life histories and selected bibliographies of deceased National Academy of Sciences members, written by colleagues, offering a biographical history of science in America. For the scientific community, historians, and the public.
• NAS Awards Program Award program honoring outstanding contributions to science across the physical, biological, and social sciences; more than 1,000 individuals have been honored since 1886. For distinguished scientists worldwide.
• Frontiers of Science Symposium series created as the first program targeted specifically for early career scientists, bridging boundaries between scientific fields by exposing exceptional young researchers to ideas outside their chosen fields. The alumni network includes over 6,900 past participants including 22 Nobel Prize winners and 374 elected NAS members. For early-career scientists.
• International Forums Scientific collaboration forums including the US-UK Scientific Forum (established 2008) and the Blavatnik US-Israel Scientific Forum (established 2019), promoting international scientific cooperation on topics of worldwide concern. For scientists and scientific institutions.
• Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) Explores the intersections among the arts, science, medicine, engineering, and popular culture through rotating art exhibitions, a permanent art collection, theatrical readings, film screenings, and lectures. For the general public and the scientific community.
• Distinctive Voices Public science lecture series highlighting innovations, discoveries, and emerging issues in an engaging forum, held at the Beckman Center in Irvine, CA with videos available on YouTube. For the general public.
• LabX Public engagement testbed that creates immersive, sometimes unorthodox programming to engage diverse audiences with scientific topics, including the role-playing Extreme Event game and WRONG ANSWERS ONLY interactive show. For the general public.
• The Science & Entertainment Exchange Connects entertainment industry professionals with top scientists and engineers to create accurate science in film and TV programming. For entertainment industry professionals.
• Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program 12-week graduate fellowship program in Washington, DC engaging students in science and technology policy analysis, part of a diverse portfolio of fellowship programs administered by the National Academies. For graduate students.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and flagship.

• German National Academy of Sciences LeopoldinamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In October 2023, the three academies held a trilateral symposium on 'Energy Solutions: Research and Industry-Related Developments in Energy Production, Storage, Conversion, Transmission and Distribution' at Leopoldina headquarters in Halle, Germany.
• Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In April 2019, the presidents of the NAS and IASH signed a Memorandum of Understanding to benefit outstanding scientists in both countries. A generous grant by the Blavatnik Family Foundation supports an annual scientific forum and visits by senior researchers to promote collaboration.
• Royal Society (UK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008The US-UK Scientific Forum was established in 2008 to help scientific leadership of the US and UK forge enduring partnerships on pressing topics of worldwide scientific concern. Forums take place annually, alternating between venues in the US and UK, attended by 50-60 researchers from each country.
• Kavli FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kavli Foundation supports the Frontiers of Science symposia (branded as Kavli Frontiers of Science), bringing together outstanding young scientists for interdisciplinary discussions. The Frontiers program has produced 22 Nobel Prize winners among its 6,900+ alumni.
• National Academy of Engineering (NAE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1964 under the NAS charter to bring engineering practices to advising the nation. Members elected by peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. NAE President: Tsu-Jae King Liu.
• National Academy of Medicine (NAM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1970 (originally as Institute of Medicine, renamed NAM in 2015) under NAS charter to advise on medical and health issues. NAM President: Monica Bertagnolli.
• National Research Council (NRC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished by presidential Executive Order in 1916 to expand expertise available to NAS. Today operates as the operating arm of all three academies, known collectively as National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
• Smithsonian InstitutionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvene scientific leaders, innovators, and emerging researchers for joint events like the 'Revolutions in Science' symposium held as part of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• National Academy of Engineering: Sister academy established in 1964 under the NAS charter to bring engineering practices to national advising. Shares staff, facilities (Keck Center), and parent organization structure with NAS, making it the most direct comparable entity.
• National Academy of Medicine: Sister academy established in 1970 (originally as Institute of Medicine, renamed in 2015) under the NAS charter to advise on medical and health issues. Operates under the same National Academies umbrella and shares the Keck Center facilities.
• Royal Society: The UK's national academy of sciences, founded in 1660. The most analogous international peer with a parallel fellowship model, government advisory role, scientific publishing (Philosophical Transactions, the world's first scientific journal), and longstanding partnership via the US-UK Scientific Forum.
• German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina: Germany's national academy of sciences, founded in 1652, with similar advisory mandate to its government. Active partner via trilateral symposia (October 2023 energy solutions symposium) and operates with a comparable fellowship model.
• Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Israel's national academy, partnered with NAS via the Blavatnik US-Israel Scientific Forum (2019). Comparable as a small, prestigious honorific body that provides government scientific advice and operates international scientific exchange programs.

Broad incumbents

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): The largest general scientific society in the United States, publisher of Science magazine. While not a government advisory body, AAAS overlaps with NAS in scientific publishing, awards, and public engagement, and addresses a broader and more inclusive membership base.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences: China's national academy with a much larger operating scale, combining honorific membership with operating research institutes. Less directly comparable given the institutional research arm, but the closest peer in terms of national-level scientific prestige and advisory role.

Others

• National Research Council (operating arm): The operating arm of the National Academies established in 1916. While structurally part of the same organization as NAS, it is the entity that actually delivers most of the advisory work to government, making it functionally the most comparable 'service delivery' peer.
• National Science Foundation: U.S. federal agency that funds basic research and is a key counterpart to NAS in the scientific ecosystem. Not a peer in the traditional sense, but a closely related ecosystem participant that the NAS advises and that funds many of the scientists NAS honors.

Emerging players

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Major biomedical research organization supporting ~300 HHMI Investigators. While not an academy, it overlaps with NAS in funding and elevating elite scientists (multiple HHMI Investigators are NAS members) and competes for talent and visibility in the scientific community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theNASciences
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/theNASciences
• Facebookfacebook.com/theNASciences
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenasciences
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-academy-of-sciences

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Academy of Sciences