Institute for Science and International Security

What Institute for Science and International Security does

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, non-partisan research organization founded in 1993 by David Albright. Its core mission is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related technologies to additional nations and non-state actors, while strengthening the international non-proliferation regime through independent technical and policy analysis. The organization integrates scientific, technical, and policy research to produce assessments of nuclear weapons programs in states such as Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, China, Russia, India, and others.

The Institute's principal products include the Peddling Peril Index (PPI), a biennial ranking of strategic trade control effectiveness across 200 countries using more than 100 indicators covering export, import, transit, and transshipment controls; the ISIS Reports series of technical assessments; a Video Vault of archival nuclear technology footage; published books (including titles on Iran's nuclear archive, Taiwan's and South Africa's programs, and the A.Q. Khan network); congressional testimonies and conferences; and educational offerings such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Course. Its analytical work leverages commercial satellite imagery from providers such as Planet Labs PBC and Vantor, original Iranian documents seized by Israel's Mossad in 2018, and methodology integrating IAEA verification data with FATF proliferation financing assessments.

The organization operates as a donation-funded non-profit rather than a commercial enterprise. The vast bulk of funding comes from public and private foundations, supplemented by tax-deductible individual contributions, which provide flexibility to respond to global crises. Ancillary revenue streams include book sales via Amazon and direct PDF downloads from the Institute's website, and educational programs/webinars. Core research reports and analysis are distributed free of charge through its website (isis-online.org), social media channels, and direct engagement with government officials, scientists, experts, media, and the general public.

Name

Institute for Science and International Security

Legal name

Institute for Science and International Security

Website

https://isis-online.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Washington D.C.-based non-profit think tank founded in 1993 that produces technical analysis, satellite imagery assessments, and policy research on nuclear non-proliferation, serving government officials, scientists, media, and the public globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Research

NAICS

National Security (928110), International Affairs (928120), National Security and International Affairs (9281)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

IAEA Safeguards Implementation & Verification Support (inspections, declarations, reporting) (EUAKAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nonproliferation Technology & Detection (radiation portal monitors, RPMs, spectroscopy, forensics) (EUAKAJAG), Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Nuclear non-proliferation analysis
• Strategic trade controls
• Satellite imagery monitoring
• Weapons program assessment
• International security research

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Individual Contributions: The Institute accepts tax-deductible contributions from individuals. The vast bulk of funding comes from public and private foundations, with individual contributions providing flexibility to respond to global crises.
2. Book Sales: Sale of published books on nuclear weapons programs, non-proliferation, and strategic trade controls. Books available via Amazon and PDF downloads from the Institute website.
3. Educational Programs and Webinars: Revenue from educational offerings including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Course and various webinars and conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) is a non-profit research organization that produces authoritative technical analysis of nuclear weapons programs worldwide. Its core deliverables include the Peddling Peril Index (PPI) — a biennial ranking of strategic trade control effectiveness across 200 countries using 100+ indicators — commercial satellite imagery-based monitoring of nuclear facilities, and ISIS Reports providing country-specific technical assessments of proliferation programs.

Product overview

The Institute for Science and International Security operates as a non-profit research organization offering a portfolio of analytical products and educational resources focused on nuclear non-proliferation and international security. Its core offering is the Peddling Peril Index (PPI), a comprehensive ranking tool for evaluating strategic trade controls across 200 countries. The organization publishes ISIS Reports providing technical analysis on nuclear weapons programs in countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan. Educational products include the Video Vault containing archival footage of nuclear technology and inspections, Conferences & Testimonies featuring congressional presentations, and Webinars & Courses including a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Course. The organization also produces published books including Peddling Peril, Iran's Perilous Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons, and country-specific nuclear program histories. Together, these products serve government officials, scientists, experts, media, and the general public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peddling Peril Index (PPI)

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 25 Science and Technology Think Tank globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core.

• SymanteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Collaboration with Symantec on Fast16 malware analysis targeting nuclear weapons programs. The malware, dated to about 2005, was a multi-year sustained operation targeting a nuclear weapon program's hydrodynamic calculation group working on implosion systems using weapon-grade uranium.
• Kim ZettercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Collaboration with journalist Kim Zetter on Fast16 malware investigation. Zetter is a well-known cybersecurity journalist who contributed to revealing the malware operation targeting nuclear weapons programs.
• IAEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute analyzes IAEA reports and works closely with IAEA verification efforts, providing independent analysis of verification and monitoring reports.
• U.S. GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides congressional testimonies, works with government officials on policy, and receives government recognition as authoritative source on nuclear non-proliferation.
• Financial Action Task Force (FATF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Peddling Peril Index draws heavily on evaluations conducted by FATF for proliferation financing assessments, using FATF determinations and standards.
• Commercial Satellite Providers (Planet Labs PBC, Vantor)coreTechnology or IntegrationUses commercial satellite imagery from providers like Planet Labs PBC and Vantor for nuclear facility monitoring and analysis.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stimson Center: Stimson is a non-partisan think tank with substantial programs on nuclear policy, non-proliferation, and South Asia security. Highly comparable to ISIS in producing independent analysis for government and expert audiences on nuclear issues, with overlapping Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan portfolios.
• Arms Control Association (ACA): ACA produces independent analysis and reporting on arms control, non-proliferation, and nuclear policy issues, serving policymakers, media, and the public. It is a closely aligned think tank peer in mission and output format, though lighter on technical/imagery analysis than ISIS.
• Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI): NTI is a non-profit focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and chemical threats through independent analysis, policy recommendations, and global security projects. Highly comparable in mission, audience (governments, IAEA, media), and analytical output to ISIS's non-proliferation work.
• Federation of American Scientists (FAS): FAS is a longstanding non-profit policy organization producing technical and scientific analysis on national and international security, including nuclear weapons, non-proliferation, and emerging technology. Directly comparable in think-tank positioning, independent analytical mandate, and policy audience.
• James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS): CNS at the Middlebury Institute is the most direct peer: an academic non-proliferation research center producing technical analysis, satellite imagery studies, country assessments, and educational courses on nuclear programs and WMD proliferation, serving the same government, expert, and policy audience as ISIS.

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): IISS is a London-based global think tank producing strategic analysis, including the Military Balance and detailed work on nuclear programs and proliferation. Comparable in producing authoritative country-by-country security analysis for government and expert audiences, though with a broader strategic remit.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a large bipartisan policy organization with significant work on nuclear policy, deterrence, and non-proliferation. It is a broader incumbent than ISIS but competes for the same congressional, media, and policymaker audience on nuclear issues.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie is a major international affairs think tank with a sizable nuclear policy program producing analysis on Iran, North Korea, and global non-proliferation. It is a broader incumbent than ISIS - covering diplomacy, economics, and democracy - but directly overlaps in nuclear policy research and convening.
• Royal United Services Institute (RUSI): RUSI is a UK-based defense and security think tank producing analysis on nuclear deterrence, proliferation, and WMD. Comparable in authoritative independent research for government and media audiences, with a regional focus that complements ISIS's coverage.
• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a major U.S. policy think tank with a Foreign Policy program covering nuclear policy, sanctions, and non-proliferation. A broader incumbent than ISIS but overlapping in policy research, congressional engagement, and media-facing analysis on Iran and proliferation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thegoodisis
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100064867505262
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-science-and-international-security

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Science and International Security