Demos Helsinki

Name

Demos Helsinki

Legal name

Demos ry

Website

https://demoshelsinki.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Demos Helsinki is a Helsinki-based independent non-profit think tank founded in 2005 that delivers commissioned research, strategic foresight, capacity-building, and city transformation services to governments, international organizations, and select corporations across Europe, India, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advisory

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG)

Keywords

• Policy research consulting
• Strategic foresight services
• Capacity building programs
• Governance transformation advisory
• Think tank advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research and Consulting Projects: Demos Helsinki conducts commissioned research and consulting projects for governments, international organizations, and civil society. Projects are funded through grants, institutional funding, and project-based partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Demos Helsinki is a non-profit, independent think tank that conducts commissioned research, develops policy tools, and delivers capacity building programs for governments, international organizations, civil society, and corporations. Its core services include strategic foresight, governance transformation advisory, city transformation consulting, and specialized programs such as the Cassandra Initiative (societal insight for film/TV) and the MERGE project (beyond-GDP economics). Engagements are project-based, funded through grants, institutional partnerships, and consulting fees.

Product overview

Demos Helsinki is a globally operating, non-profit, independent think tank that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organisation's core offerings consist of research and strategic advisory services, capacity building programs, strategic foresight, and city transformation consulting. These services are delivered through collaborative engagements with local and national governments, international organisations, civil society, and critical industries. Notable programs include the Cassandra Initiative (bridging societal insight and film industry) and the MERGE project (beyond-GDP economics research). The company does not offer distinct software products or modules but rather delivers expert-driven consulting, research, and policy tools as services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cassandra Initiative: A function by Demos Helsinki that bridges societal insight and the film industry to create captivating fiction, translating societal understanding into entertainment products.

Products and services

• Research and Strategic Advisory Services Commissioned research and strategic advisory for governments, international organizations, civil society, and critical industries, combining societal insight with practical policy tool development.
• MERGE: Building Economic Policies Beyond GDP Research and policy project on beyond-GDP economics, bringing together academia, civil society, and policymakers to create breakthroughs in knowledge and policy impact on economic measurement beyond GDP.
• Cassandra Initiative Programme bridging societal insight and the film/TV industry, translating societal understanding into additional resources for the entertainment development process and producing alternative climate change narratives.
• Capacity Building Services Training and capacity-building programmes that build new capabilities within organizations and government bodies to drive societal transformations, including programs for civil servants and district officials.
• Strategic Foresight Foresight consulting that helps organizations strengthen societal relevance through anticipatory thinking, futures planning, and embedding a long-term view in decision-making.
• City Transformation Services Consulting for city leaders and administrations to transform governance, equipping them with the mindset, tools, and knowledge to address urban societal challenges and lead collective action.

Quantifiable outcome

• Understanding of just transition jumped from 11% to 44% in pre- and post-training surveys for Jharkhand officials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

49 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemos Helsinki collaborates with the European Commission on various research and policy projects, including Horizon Europe initiatives like the MERGE project on beyond-GDP economics.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Nations Development Programme on governance and development projects, including work on future of care and climate security.
• Bloomberg PhilanthropiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on initiatives related to innovation, governance, and societal transformation with Bloomberg Philanthropies.
• OECDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on policy research and economic transformation.
• HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the City of Helsinki on urban transformation and city governance projects.
• RATPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on urban mobility and city transformation projects with RATP (Paris transport authority).
• YLVAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with YLVA organization on relevant societal transformation initiatives.
• NestacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with UK-based innovation foundation Nesta on future-focused projects and innovation research.
• NokiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Nokia on technology for society initiatives, exploring how technology can serve societal transformation.
• Tampere UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of the MERGE project on beyond-GDP economics, leading a consortium of 15+ institutions.
• Zoe-Institute for Future-fit EconomiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinator of the MERGE project, working together on beyond-GDP economic frameworks.
• European Policy CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MERGE project contributing to policy research on wellbeing economics.
• Wellbeing Economy AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MERGE project, contributing to the beyond-GDP economics movement.
• UK Office for National StatisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MERGE project, contributing statistical expertise on beyond-GDP indicators.
• Joint Research CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Joint Research Centre partner in MERGE project on economic measurement beyond GDP.
• UNDP IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNDP India on just transition capacity building for Jharkhand district officials.
• Indian Institute of Management RanchicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership with IIM Ranchi to design and deliver capacity-building programme for district officials in India.
• Government of Jharkhand Task Force on Sustainable Just TransitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMandate-setting body for just transition work in Jharkhand, ensuring political anchoring of the program.
• Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration during Finland's EU Council Presidency 2019 on Economy of Wellbeing theme.
• Universiteit LeidenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in MERGE project contributing research expertise.
• University College LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in MERGE project contributing economic research.
• Research and Degrowth InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in MERGE project focused on degrowth and sustainable economics research.
• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Health 2050 project examining future health scenarios and freedom of choice.
• NovartisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VALVA health futures project on health choice freedom.
• Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in VALVA project on health futures research.
• Aalto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead consortium partner in Winland project on Finnish comprehensive security.
• University of HelsinkiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winland project contributing energy policy expertise.
• University of Eastern FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winland project on legislation aspects.
• National Defence University (Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winland project on resilience and learning.
• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winland project on water safety and climate change.
• University of TurkuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winland project on futures research.
• University of HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead university partner in TRY OUT! innovation platform for circular economy and cleantech startups.
• City of HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TRY OUT! innovation platform project.
• University of TurkucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TRY OUT! innovation platform project.
• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch consortium leader in BlueAdapt project on sustainable blue growth.
• University of HelsinkiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BlueAdapt project on blue economy and governance.
• University of LaplandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BlueAdapt project on regulation and policy.
• University of HelsinkicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in Helsinki Challenge science-based idea competition and accelerator programme.
• 9 partner universitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Finnish universities collaborating in Helsinki Challenge.
• Aalto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Code of Conduct national ethics framework for societal experiments.
• Government of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Code of Conduct project through government's research and activity.
• Finnish Environment Centre (SYKE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in KekeArvi evaluation project on sustainable development commitment tool.
• Kaskas MediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in KekeArvi project on sustainable development commitment evaluation.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Towards Digital Paradise project on sensor technology business models.
• Aalto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Towards Digital Paradise project on digital society.
• NokiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in Towards Digital Paradise project on sensor technology.
• Yellow Film & TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Cassandra initiative film project 'Baby Box' about Finland's development from poor agricultural nation to welfare state.
• EchobendcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 partnership with LA-based Echobend to co-create Social Impact Entertainment slate focusing on alternative climate change narratives.
• EU CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemos Helsinki contributed to EU Council conclusions on Economy of Wellbeing during Finland's 2019 EU Council Presidency.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Forum for the Future: International sustainability-focused non-profit working with governments and corporates on systems change. Highly comparable in mission (sustainability transitions) and partner profile.
• Nesta: UK innovation foundation that Demos Helsinki explicitly partners with on future-focused projects. Highly comparable mission (innovation for societal impact) and operating model (project-based, mixed funding).
• Zoe-Institute for Future-fit Economies: German non-profit research institute co-coordinating the MERGE project with Demos Helsinki. Directly comparable in mission (future-fit / beyond-GDP economics) and partner ecosystem.
• Sitra: Finland's Innovation Fund, a parliamentary-founded future-oriented think tank. Directly comparable to Demos Helsinki as a Finnish-based, futures-and-societal-transformation organization serving governments and corporates.
• Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies: Nordic-based futures and foresight research organization. Comparable to Demos Helsinki on strategic foresight, scenario planning, and public/private sector foresight mandates.
• The New Institute: Hamburg-based interdisciplinary research institute working on sustainability, economy, and governance. Comparable size, mission, and project-based funding model.
• Demos: UK-based cross-party think tank focused on social policy, governance, and democratic renewal. Closest brand and mission analog to Demos Helsinki (the names even align).

Broad incumbents

• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state-owned research institute with broader remit across sustainability, mobility, and policy. Overlaps with Demos on EU-funded sustainability and governance research, but at much larger scale.
• The Brookings Institution: Large US-based public policy think tank. Comparable in policy research and government engagement, but at a substantially larger scale and with a broader thematic scope.

Regional players

• Policy Horizons Canada: Canadian federal government foresight organization focused on strategic foresight and policy innovation. Comparable in foresight methodology and government client focus, but serves a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/demoshelsinki
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/demos-effect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Demos Helsinki