Danish Institute for International Studies

What Danish Institute for International Studies does

Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) is an independent, publicly funded research institute headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, that conducts social science research and policy analysis on international affairs. The institute was established in its current form in 2013 when the former Dansk Center for Internationale Studier og Menneskerettigheder (DCISM) was split into DIIS and Institut for Menneskerettigheder; its intellectual lineage traces back to the Copenhagen Peace Research Institute (COPRI, 1985-2003), where the securitization/desecuritization framework originated. DIIS organizes research around thematic areas including defense and security, foreign policy, development, peace and conflict, migration, global economy, and natural resources and climate, with dedicated research centers for Peace Research and Ukraine Research, plus an annual defense and security studies program (FSPS) developed in consultation with the Danish Ministry of Defence.

DIIS delivers a portfolio of research publications, including Policy Briefs, Reports, Working Papers, Comments, podcasts, and the annual Danish Foreign Policy Review, distributed through its main website (diis.dk) and a dedicated Research Portal powered by the Elsevier/Pure platform. The institute maintains a multi-channel dissemination strategy including a weekly newsletter, podcasts, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, alongside traditional media engagement. Outputs are published open access and do not carry commercial pricing.

DIIS is a non-profit, privately organized research institution financed primarily by the Danish state through the Danish Research Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with project-level competitive grant funding supplementing core appropriations. The Center for Peace Research receives dedicated funding from the Research Reserve under the Research and Innovation Agreement 2026-2029. The institute serves Danish and international government agencies, ministries, and policymakers needing evidence-based analysis on international affairs, as well as academic researchers, students, and the broader public through media engagement. Strategic collaborations are maintained with the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), Nordic peer institutes (SIPRI, PRIO, TAPRI), and academic partners including Harvard, Oxford, and Sciences Po CERI.

Name

Danish Institute for International Studies

Legal name

Dansk Institut for Internationale Studier

Website

https://diis.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DIIS is an independent, publicly funded Danish research institute in Copenhagen that conducts social science research on international affairs, delivering open-access policy briefs, reports, and the Danish Foreign Policy Review to Danish and international policymakers, academics, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and International Affairs Analysis

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), International Affairs (92812)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building (BPADAFAE), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG)

Keywords

• International affairs research
• Policy research services
• Peace and conflict studies
• Defense and security research
• Foreign policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: DIIS is a Danish government-funded research institute that receives core funding from the Danish state, particularly through agreements with the Danish Research Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additional project funding comes from competitive research grants.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DIIS conducts independent social science research and produces policy-relevant analysis on international affairs, including defense and security, foreign policy, development, peace and conflict, migration, global economy, and natural resources/climate. Its core outputs are publication series (Policy Briefs, Reports, Working Papers, Comments, Podcasts, and the annual Danish Foreign Policy Review), specialized research centers, and the FSPS defense and security studies program, all distributed freely to policymakers, academics, and the public.

Product overview

DIIS operates as a unified research institute offering a portfolio of research publications and specialized research centers. The core products include various publication series (Policy Briefs, Reports, Working Papers, Comments, Podcasts, and the annual Danish Foreign Policy Review) distributed through the DIIS Research Portal. Additionally, DIIS maintains dedicated research centers including the Center for Peace Research (focused on arms control, multilateralism, conflict resolution) and the Center for Ukraine Research (examining Ukraine's reconstruction and development). The Forsvars- og sikkerhedspolitiske studier (FSPS) program provides annual defense and security policy studies. This is a single institutional research platform rather than a modular software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DIIS Policy Briefs Short analytical briefs providing policy recommendations and research insights on international affairs topics, intended for policymakers and the public.
• DIIS Reports Comprehensive research reports covering topics in defense, security, foreign policy, development, and international studies.
• DIIS Working Papers Academic working papers presenting research findings and methodological approaches to international studies for scholarly audiences.
• DIIS Comments Short commentary pieces offering expert analysis on current international events and policy developments.
• DIIS Podcasts Audio content featuring expert discussions and interviews on international affairs topics, distributed as a podcast series.
• Danish Foreign Policy Review Annual comprehensive review of Danish foreign policy developments and strategic priorities.
• DIIS Research Portal Online portal providing access to academic publications, researcher profiles, and research activities, powered by the Elsevier/Pure platform.
• Forsvars- og sikkerhedspolitiske studier (FSPS) Annual defense and security policy studies program developed in consultation with the Danish Ministry of Defence, covering EU strategic autonomy, Arctic security, the war in Ukraine, and hybrid threats.
• DIIS Center for fredsforskning (Center for Peace Research) Research center focused on peace research covering arms control, multilateralism, and conflict resolution, established with funding from the Research Reserve for 2026-2029.
• DIIS Center for Ukraineforskning (Center for Ukraine Research) Research center examining Ukraine's reconstruction, political, economic, and security dynamics, with focus on reconstruction financing, governance, civil society, and democratic inclusion.

Segments3 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 core and supporting.

• Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DIIS Center for Ukraine Research collaborates closely with KSE, particularly with the Sanctions Hub of Excellence at KSE Institute, on policy-oriented research in economic sanctions against Russia, joint research activities, knowledge exchange, and hosting of KSE researchers.
• SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Nordic peace research institute collaboration as part of the broader Nordic peace research network. SIPRI is known for annual military expenditure reports and serves as a peer institution for knowledge exchange.
• PRIO (Peace Research Institute Oslo)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Norwegian peace research institute collaboration. PRIO developed into a strong research environment and publishes the Journal of Peace Research.
• TAPRI (Tampere Peace Research Institute)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Finnish peace research institute collaboration as part of the Nordic peace research network. The Finnish institute has focused on post-conflict reconciliation and transitional justice.
• Copenhagen Peace Research Institute (COPRI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Historical predecessor institution (1985-2003) where the internationally recognized theory of securitization/desecuritization originated. While COPRI was dissolved in 2003, its intellectual legacy informs current Danish peace research efforts at DIIS.
• Harvard UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic collaboration on Borderwork research project focusing on migration studies in West Africa, with Professor Michael Jackson from Harvard Divinity School serving as academic advisor.
• University of OxfordsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic partnership in Borderwork project with Professor Ruben Andersson from Oxford's Queen Elizabeth House providing expert guidance on border studies.
• Sciences Po (International Research Center - CERI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic collaboration with Research Director Luis Martinez on West African migration and border governance research.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based international affairs research institute. Similar mandate on independent analysis of international issues, though operating with broader funding sources including memberships and endowments rather than single-government funding.
• NUPI (Norwegian Institute of International Affairs): Norwegian government-funded research institute covering foreign policy, security, development, and global economy. Closely matches DIIS in scope, funding model, and Nordic policy advisory role.
• SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute): Swedish government-funded research institute focused on peace, arms control, and security. DIIS explicitly collaborates with SIPRI through the Nordic peace research network and shares overlapping scope on conflict, military expenditure, and security analysis.
• SWP (German Institute for International and Security Affairs): German government-funded research institute advising the Bundestag and federal government on international affairs. Closely matches DIIS in funding model, policy advisory mandate, and research scope on security, foreign policy, and development.
• PRIO (Peace Research Institute Oslo): Norwegian research institute conducting peace and conflict research, publisher of the Journal of Peace Research. Directly comparable in mandate, Nordic government funding model, and research scope on armed conflict and peacebuilding.
• IFRI (French Institute of International Relations): French think tank on international and strategic issues. Comparable in conducting independent policy-oriented research on foreign policy, security, and international economics, though operating on a hybrid public-private funding model.
• FIIA (Finnish Institute of International Affairs): Finnish government-funded research institute conducting international affairs research. Directly comparable Nordic peer with similar funding structure, policy advisory function, and research portfolio on defense, foreign policy, and security.
• IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies): UK-based institute focused on defence and security analysis. Highly comparable on the defence, arms control, and strategic studies aspects of DIIS's FSPS program and Center for Peace Research.
• Clingendael Institute: Dutch institute for international relations providing policy analysis and diplomatic training. Comparable European policy research institute with government-aligned funding and overlapping coverage of defense, security, and foreign policy.

Broad incumbents

• ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations): Pan-European think tank with offices across multiple EU countries. Overlaps with DIIS on European foreign policy and security analysis but operates with broader pan-European scope and pan-European funding base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DIISpublish
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/danish-institute-for-international-studies
• Xx.com/diisdk
• Facebookfacebook.com/138386242844010

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Danish Institute for International Studies