Centre for European Policy Studies

What Centre for European Policy Studies does

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) is an independent, Brussels-based think tank founded in 1983 and organised as a non-profit international association under Belgian law (AISBL). It functions as a forum for debate and rigorous policy research across the full breadth of EU affairs — including economic and monetary affairs, finance and banking, energy and climate, foreign and security policy, migration, trade, justice and home affairs, AI and digitalisation, and agricultural policy. CEPS is structured around nine research units (Economic Policy; Energy, Resources and Climate Change; Financial Markets and Institutions; Foreign Policy; GRID; Institutions; Jobs and Skills; Justice and Home Affairs; Agricultural Policy and Food Security) and two wholly-owned specialised institutes — the European Credit Research Institute (ECRI) and the European Capital Markets Institute (ECMI) — together with thematic programmes such as AI World, Cybersecurity@CEPS, CEPS Academy, CEPS Young Thinkers, CEPS Ideas Lab, Helix, and Thinking the Transition.

Its core "products" are not software but rather research publications (over 3,817 in the institutional database), expert commentaries, organised events (over 1,603 to date), task forces producing policy recommendations, and commissioned studies. Underlying capability rests on more than 60 in-house staff from over 20 nationalities with domain expertise, supported by a Chief Data Scientist function and the GRID unit's data-science and digital-economy research. The organisation is governed by an independent Board and maintains institutional independence through diversified funding.

CEPS's business model combines four revenue streams: corporate and institutional membership subscriptions (renewable annually, targeting multinational corporations, diplomatic missions, embassies, trade associations, NGOs, universities, and regional offices); commissioned research projects for EU institutions, governments, and private organisations; foundation grants supporting policy research; and conference and event fees. Membership pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set by quote on an annual basis. The organisation also offers grant programmes as an alternative entry-point to traditional membership. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, anchored by Brussels-based direct engagement with EU institutions and a global partner-institute network.

Name

Centre for European Policy Studies

Legal name

Centre for European Policy Studies

Website

https://ceps.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CEPS is an independent, Brussels-based non-profit think tank founded in 1983 that produces policy research, expert commentary, events, and task forces on EU affairs, serving EU institutions, multinational corporations, diplomats, universities, and NGOs via membership, commissioned research, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CEPS generates revenue through corporate and institutional memberships. Corporate membership is designed for multinational corporations and medium/large companies, providing access to research and networking. Institutional membership targets diplomatic missions, embassies, trade associations, NGOs, universities, and regional offices.
2. Research Projects: Commissioned reports and research projects funded by various institutions and organizations. CEPS conducts contract research for EU institutions, governments, and private organizations.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding received from foundations supporting policy research and European affairs studies.
4. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue generated from organizing events, conferences, and discussion forums. Some events are free while others charge participation fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CEPS is an independent think tank that produces policy research, reports, expert commentaries, and analytical publications on EU affairs. It organizes conferences, roundtables, webinars, and task forces, and runs specialized research institutes (ECRI, ECMI) covering finance, migration, energy, AI, trade, and foreign policy. Revenue is generated primarily through corporate and institutional memberships, commissioned research projects, foundation grants, and event fees.

Product overview

CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) is a leading independent think tank founded in Brussels in 1983. Rather than a software product company, CEPS offers a portfolio of research and policy services including: research publications and reports across EU policy areas (finance, AI, energy, trade, migration, etc.); organized events including conferences, roundtables, and webinars; expert commentaries providing timely policy analysis; and collaborative task forces producing policy recommendations. The organization operates specialized research institutes (ECRI for credit research, ECMI for capital markets) and runs thematic programmes including CEPS Ideas Lab, AI World, Cybersecurity@CEPS, CEPS Academy, and CEPS Young Thinkers. CEPS also offers corporate and institutional membership services. The organization maintains extensive research units covering Economic Policy, Energy Resources and Climate Change, Financial Markets and Institutions, Foreign Policy, GRID (Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation, Digital Economy), Institutions, Jobs and Skills, Justice and Home Affairs, and Agricultural Policy and Food Security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEPS Research Publications
• CEPS Expert Commentaries
• CEPS Events and Conferences
• CEPS Task Forces
• European Credit Research Institute (ECRI)
• European Capital Markets Institute (ECMI)
• CEPS Ideas Lab
• AI World
• Cybersecurity@CEPS
• CEPS Membership Services
• CEPS Academy
• Commissioned Research Projects

Quantifiable outcome

• 3817 published publications in research database
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• European Credit Research Institute (ECRI)coreOthersECRI is one of the research institutes run by CEPS, focusing on credit research and financial markets analysis.
• European Capital Markets Institute (ECMI)coreOthersECMI is a research institute operated by CEPS, dedicated to capital markets research and policy analysis.
• Partner Institutes WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPS maintains an extensive network of partner institutes throughout the world, enabling global collaboration on EU policy research.
• Horizon Europe Programme ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPS joined the Horizon Europe programme to consolidate science diplomacy across Europe. The CUSP (Consolidating European Science Diplomacy) project brings together 11 expert organisations.
• EU InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEPS conducts research projects for European Commission, European Parliament, and other EU institutions, serving as a trusted policy research partner.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bruegel: Brussels-based think tank focused on European economics, similarly drawing on corporate and institutional memberships and producing high-citation policy research for EU audiences. Most directly comparable peer to CEPS given shared geography, funding model, and EU policy mandate.
• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based think tank covering EU economic, social, foreign, and digital policy with a similar corporate-institutional membership model and event-driven engagement model. Direct competitor for both corporate members and EU framework contracts.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with a pan-EU footprint and membership-style supporter network, producing policy briefs and convening stakeholders across member states. Comparable to CEPS on multi-country research, events, and convening model.
• Carnegie Europe: Brussels-based arm of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace producing analysis on EU integration, foreign policy, and security. Comparable to CEPS on EU-policy research output, event programming, and grant-funded operating model.
• RAND Europe: European policy research subsidiary of RAND providing evidence-based analysis on EU policy domains including AI, defence, and health. Directly comparable to CEPS on commissioned research, multi-domain policy coverage, and EU institutional client base.
• French Institute of International Relations (IFRI): Paris-based policy research institute producing analysis on EU policy, geopolitics, and economics with a similar membership-supported non-profit model. Comparable to CEPS on cross-domain policy research and corporate member engagement.
• Jacques Delors Centre (Hertie School): Berlin-based European policy think tank focused on EU economic and institutional reform, embedded within the Hertie School. Comparable to CEPS on EU policy research, expert commentary output, and engagement with Brussels institutions.
• Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI): Rome-based think tank producing research on EU policy, foreign affairs, and security with a multi-disciplinary unit structure akin to CEPS. Comparable on multi-domain European policy research, project-based funding, and convening of policy stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House: UK-based international affairs think tank covering geopolitics, economics, and energy with a global research footprint and convening power. Comparable to CEPS as a large, established European policy research institution with corporate membership and event-driven revenue.

Regional players

• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Berlin-based policy research institute advising the German government on foreign, security, and EU policy. Comparable to CEPS on policy research depth and government advisory work, with a primarily German funder base rather than pan-EU membership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ceps_thinktank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBX-oXE3mC8LGnrRIhCRI7A
• Facebookfacebook.com/174179289289966
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Centre for European Policy Studies