Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

What Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies does

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw), founded in 1974 and headquartered in Vienna, is an independent non-profit association (Verein) under Austrian law that serves as one of the principal research centres for Central, East and Southeast Europe (CESEE). The institute maintains a team of 51-100 multilingual professionals, many native to the region, who produce macroeconomic analysis, forecasts, FDI studies, labour-market research, and policy advice covering 23 CESEE economies and select adjacent markets including Turkey and Kazakhstan. Its product portfolio rests on proprietary statistical databases — the wiiw Monthly Database, Annual Database, FDI Database, and historical COMECON Database — cross-checked against international sources and updated through human-expert processes to handle breaks in time series and cross-country comparability issues that automated systems struggle with.

The underlying technology stack combines these long-running curated databases with a newer interactive layer, the CESEE Visual Data Explorer, while the publishing output spans semi-annual Forecast Reports, eleven Monthly Reports per year, FDI Reports, Research Reports, Working Papers, Policy Notes, and the Handbook of Statistics. The go-to-market operates through a hybrid sales-led and event-driven motion: tiered membership subscriptions (Academic EUR 950/year, Standard EUR 2,700/year, Executive Network EUR 5,000/year) provide recurring access to databases, reports, and country experts, while regular spring seminars, press conferences, webinars, and the Executive Network's in-region presentation events deepen engagement with corporate and policy buyers.

Revenue is diversified across four streams: core Austrian public funding (Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance, Austrian National Bank, City of Vienna, and Federal Chamber of Labour) accounting for less than half of the budget, competitive international research grants (European Commission Horizon 2020, CEDEFOP, ETUI, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Interreg), membership subscriptions, and publication/data sales. Customer segments span academic and research institutions, government and public administration, business and financial sector clients (including the premium Executive Network), and journalists receiving free publication access. The institute is currently navigating a 50th-anniversary strategic renewal process launched in 2025.

Name

Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

Legal name

Verein Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche

Website

https://wiiw.ac.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) is a Vienna-based, non-profit economic research institute covering 23 Central, East and Southeast European countries. It sells proprietary macroeconomic databases, semi-annual forecasts, monthly reports, and policy analysis via tiered membership subscriptions, competitive research grants, and publication sales to academia, government, and financial-sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Core Funding (Austrian Public Institutions): Core funding from Austrian public institutions including Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance, Austrian National Bank, City of Vienna, and Federal Chamber of Labour. Public subsidies account for less than half of the overall budget.
2. Research Projects: Income from competitive research projects funded by European Commission, Bloomberg Philanthropies, European Trade Union Institute, CEDEFOP, Interreg, and other national and international research institutions.
3. Membership Services: Subscription-based membership services (Academic EUR 950/year, Standard EUR 2,700/year, Executive Network EUR 5,000/year) providing access to databases, forecast reports, monthly reports, and expert access.
4. Data and Publication Sales: Sale of publications including research reports, working papers, statistical reports, and data products. Journalists may register for free access to most publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) is an independent, non-profit economic research institute that conducts macroeconomic analysis, produces statistical databases, publishes economic forecasts and reports, and delivers policy advice focused on Central, East and Southeast Europe (CESEE). It sells subscription-based memberships providing database access, forecast reports, monthly reports, and expert consultations, supplemented by commissioned research projects for European institutions, governments, and philanthropic organizations.

Product overview

The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) operates as an independent economic research institute offering a comprehensive portfolio of research products, databases, and membership services focused on Central, East and Southeast Europe (CESEE). The core offering consists of wiiw Databases (Annual, Monthly, and FDI databases) providing economic statistics and indicators, complemented by regular publications including Forecast Reports, Monthly Reports, FDI Reports, Research Reports, Working Papers, Policy Notes, and the Handbook of Statistics. The CESEE Visual Data Explorer provides interactive visualization of economic data. wiiw offers three membership tiers: Academic Membership (EUR 950/year) for basic access, Standard Membership (EUR 2,700/year) for full database and report access with expert services, and Executive Network Membership (EUR 5,000/year) for premium institutional clients requiring quarterly presentations and benchmarking surveys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• wiiw Health Economics and Policy Analysis (HEPA): A specialized unit focused on health economics and policy analysis
• CESEE Visual Data Explorer
• wiiw Executive Network

Products and services

• wiiw Databases Comprehensive economic databases covering Central, East and Southeast Europe (CESEE) countries, including the Annual Database, Monthly Database, and FDI Database with economic indicators, statistics, and forecasts.
• wiiw Forecast Reports Semi-annual economic forecasts for 23 CESEE countries providing analysis of macroeconomic developments, growth projections, and policy assessments.
• wiiw Monthly Reports Monthly analysis publications providing up-to-date economic intelligence, forecast updates, and FDI analysis for the CESEE region.
• wiiw FDI Reports Specialized reports on foreign direct investment trends, patterns, and analysis in Central, East and Southeast Europe.
• wiiw Handbook of Statistics Comprehensive statistical reference publication covering key economic indicators and data for the CESEE region.
• wiiw Research Reports In-depth research publications covering macroeconomic analysis, labour markets, international trade, competitiveness, and regional development.
• wiiw Working Papers Academic research papers on economic topics related to Central, East and Southeast Europe.
• wiiw Policy Notes and Reports Concise policy-oriented analysis and recommendations on current economic issues affecting the CESEE region.
• CESEE Visual Data Explorer Interactive data visualization tool enabling exploration of economic data and trends across Central, East and Southeast Europe.
• COMECON Database Historical economic database covering the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance period with historical trade and economic data.
• Academic Membership Annual membership (EUR 950) providing full database access and main forecast reports for academic institutions and researchers.
• Standard Membership Annual membership (EUR 2,700) including full database access, forecast reports, monthly reports, CESEE Visual Data Explorer access, spring seminar invitations, and country expert access.
• Executive Network Membership Premium annual membership (EUR 5,000) offering full access plus quarterly country slide decks, benchmarking surveys, and executive board level network presentation events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regular forecasts for 23 CESEE countries with detailed economic indicators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• Interreg Rhin SupérieurminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024European territorial cooperation program - commissioned evaluation of the 2021-2027 Interreg Rhin Supérieur / Oberrhein Programme implementation.
• CEDEFOPmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training - commissioned for production and analysis of European Skills Forecast 2024-2028.
• European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned employment and labour market scenarios research. Collaboration on labor market analysis and policy.
• wiiw Health Economics and Policy Analysis (HEPA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized unit within wiiw focused on health economics and policy analysis, including tobacco taxation research supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research: Munich-based economic research institute producing macroeconomic forecasts, surveys, and policy analysis. Comparable to wiiw in survey-driven forecasting methodology, German-speaking institutional base, and broad subscription/membership catalogue.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Austria-headquartered (Laxenburg) international research institute applying systems analysis to global economic and policy challenges. Comparable to wiiw in Austrian base, international mission, and mixed public-institutional funding model.
• DIW Berlin (German Institute for Economic Research): Berlin-based economic research institute producing macroeconomic analysis, forecasts, and policy advice. Comparable to wiiw in mission, mixed public/membership funding, and recurring publication cadence.
• Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR): London-based international academic network fostering economic policy research across Europe. Comparable to wiiw in distributing economic research through institutional networks, conferences, and publications.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based think tank delivering policy-oriented economic analysis across the EU and neighbourhood. Comparable to wiiw in research-driven, membership-supported economic policy work.
• Bruegel: Brussels-based economic think tank producing independent macroeconomic analysis on European policy. Comparable to wiiw in mission (independent economic research), funding model (mix of public and member subscriptions), and target audience (policymakers and institutional investors).
• Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE): Warsaw-based economic research institute focused on transition and post-transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Closely comparable to wiiw in regional focus, policy advisory role, and EU-funded project portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Peterson Institute for International Economics: Washington DC-based non-profit producing rigorous international economic analysis. Comparable to wiiw in independent non-profit research model, policy impact, and membership-supported dissemination.
• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU): Global economic and political forecasting subscription service. Comparable to wiiw in subscription-based country-level macroeconomic forecasts and enterprise/policy buyer segment, though at much greater scale and broader geographic coverage.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): London-based development bank producing landmark transition reports and economic analysis on the CESEE region. Comparable to wiiw as a primary source of authoritative economic intelligence on the same geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiiw_ac_at
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/wiiwacat
• Facebookfacebook.com/wiiw.economic.studies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vienna-institute-for-international-economic-studies
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiiw_ac_at

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies