International Science Council

What International Science Council does

The International Science Council (ISC) is a Paris-headquartered international non-governmental organization that serves as the global voice for science, convening 250 institutional members — including international scientific unions, national science academies, research councils, and regional federations — across all scientific disciplines and world regions. The organization was created in 2018 through the merger of the International Council for Science (ICSU, founded 1931) and the International Social Science Council (ISSC, founded 1952), inheriting over 90 years of accumulated scientific credibility and a unique convening mandate.

ISC delivers a portfolio of programmatic and convening services rather than discrete commercial products: strategic publications (on AI in research ecosystems, gender equality, trust in science, sustainability), international events and conferences (General Assemblies, the Beijing Science Dialogue, the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue), science-policy advisory services to the United Nations and national governments, an ISC Fellowship network of ~600 distinguished scientists, science-diplomacy initiatives (International Polar Year 2032-2033, Ocean Decade), and four regional focal points with a fifth in the Middle East under development. Underlying infrastructure is conventional: a public website (council.science), podcasts, newsletters, and broad social media presence across LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, and Threads.

The revenue model is non-profit and diversified across four streams: annual membership dues from the 250 institutional members (the principal revenue source, whose structure is being unified for the first time since the 2018 merger), a core host-country grant from the Government of France, multi-year project grants from organizations such as the US National Science Foundation (sustainability, 2023-2028) and IDRC Canada (AI impact in the Global South, 2024-2027), and funding via the UK-registered ISC Foundation. The organization is governed by a 16-member elected Governing Board led by President Sir Peter Gluckman and President-elect Robbert Dijkgraaf, with operational leadership under CEO Salvatore Aricò. Recent strategic emphasis is on multilateral science diplomacy, regional footprint completion, and AI-era science-system governance.

Name

International Science Council

Legal name

International Science Council

Website

https://council.science

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Science Council (ISC) is a Paris-based international NGO that convenes 250 scientific organizations worldwide to advise governments, the United Nations, and multilateral bodies, promote science as a global public good, and coordinate science-policy interfaces across all disciplines and regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Science Policy and Scientific Advisory Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Academic & Scientific Conferences (MPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• International science policy
• Scientific advisory services
• Global research coordination
• Science diplomacy
• Membership federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from 250 institutional members, with dues scale determined by the General Assembly following Governing Board advice
2. Government Grants: Core funding grant from the Government of France as the ISC's host country
3. Project Grants: Funding from external organizations and foundations for specific projects and areas of activity, including US NSF for sustainability (2023-2028), IDRC Canada for AI impact research in Global South (2024-2027), and others
4. ISC Foundation: UK-based charitable foundation providing grant funding primarily to support the International Science Council for research projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The International Science Council is a membership-based international non-governmental organization that serves as the global voice for science, convening 250 institutional members including scientific unions, national academies, and research councils. It delivers publications (strategic plans, annual reports, policy briefs, thematic reports), events and conferences (General Assemblies, regional dialogues), science policy advisory services supporting the United Nations and multilateral bodies, the ISC Fellowship network of approximately 600 distinguished scientists, science diplomacy initiatives, and regional coordination through focal points across Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

Product overview

The International Science Council is a membership-based international NGO that serves as the global voice for science, promoting science as a global public good. Rather than commercial products, the ISC offers a portfolio of programs and services including: publications (strategic plans, annual reports, thematic reports on topics like AI in research and gender equality in science), events and conferences (General Assemblies, regional dialogues like Beijing Science Dialogue), science policy advisory services supporting UN and multilateral bodies, the ISC Fellowship network of distinguished scientists (~600 Fellows), science diplomacy initiatives addressing global challenges, and regional coordination through focal points. The organization operates primarily through membership dues, government grants, and foundation funding rather than product revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications Strategic frameworks, annual reports, policy briefs, and thematic research reports produced by the ISC for its members, governments, and the UN system on topics including AI in research ecosystems, gender equality in science, sustainability, and crisis response for scientific communities.
• Events and Conferences International conferences and convenings including the ISC Midterm Meeting, Beijing Science Dialogue, General Assemblies, regional science forums, and thematic workshops organized for members and policy stakeholders.
• Science Policy Advisory Services Science-policy advice provided to the United Nations, governments, and multilateral bodies, supporting evidence-based decision-making through expert networks, policy briefs, and dedicated centers such as the Centre for Science Futures.
• Global Knowledge Dialogues Flagship dialogue events such as the Muscat Global Knowledge Dialogue that convene scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to address major global challenges through international knowledge exchange.
• ISC Fellowship A recognition-based network of approximately 600 distinguished scientists honored for contributions to promoting science as a global public good, including early and mid-career researchers.
• Science Diplomacy Initiatives Programmatic initiatives supporting international scientific collaboration and science diplomacy, including the International Polar Year 2032-2033, the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development 2024-2033, and Ocean Decade activities.
• Regional Focal Point Services Regional coordination services delivered through Regional Focal Points in Asia-Pacific (hosted by Australian Academy of Science), Latin America and the Caribbean (hosted by Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales), Africa (in development with Future Africa), and the Middle East (under development with Oman MOHERI).
• Podcast and Multimedia Content The ISC Podcast, including the Science Diplomat Podcast, featuring ISC leadership and global science discussions, distributed alongside the Council's social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky, Threads) for outreach and engagement.
• ISC Membership Program A membership program that brings together 250 scientific organizations worldwide, providing governance participation, knowledge-sharing platforms, meetings and resources, the Science Communications Network, and member-only access to the Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCR) Forum and Affiliated Bodies.

Named customers5 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and major.

• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026ISC and UNESCO joined forces in June 2026 to advance science for peace, human rights, and sustainable development. The agreement was signed by ISC President Peter Gluckman and UNESCO Assistant Director General ad interim Abou Amani, representing a major collaboration between the two organizations.
• Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Oman (MOHERI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2025Letter of intent signed in January 2025 to establish an ISC Regional Focal Point in the Middle East. The initiative aims to facilitate international research cooperation, exchange, and promote cross-regional scientific dialogue across all domains of science on critical global challenges.
• Colombian Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the ISC regional presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing in-kind support and institutional backing.
• Future AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-African organization based in South Africa that has been exploring possibilities for ISC presence in Africa since 2022, making recommendations to the ISC.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Euroscience: European grassroots organization promoting scientific collaboration and science-society dialogue, overlapping with ISC's convening, openness, and responsibility-in-science themes.

Regional players

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (US): US-based advisory body that produces consensus studies and advises government, comparable in function but nationally scoped; also a member within ISC's federation.

Direct peers

• InterAcademy Partnership (IAP): Globally networks national science academies and similar bodies to advise on science-policy issues; structurally similar to ISC in serving as a hub for member institutions across regions and disciplines.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Operates as a major international scientific membership society that publishes Science, runs scientific diplomacy, and convenes researchers and policymakers worldwide, mirroring ISC's mandate as a global voice for science.
• Science Europe: Membership association of European public research funding and research-performing organizations that advances science policy and cross-border collaboration, closely aligned with ISC's research-coordination and policy-advisory functions.
• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS): Global science academy with a developing-country focus that supports research capacity and advises governments, comparable to ISC's science-for-policy and Global South development missions.

Broad incumbents

• The Royal Society: Long-established national scientific academy with a global Fellowship, policy advisory role, and convening function, overlapping with ISC's fellowship network and evidence-based policy work.
• UNESCO: UN agency covering science for sustainable development and capacity building; though a partner, it is the principal intergovernmental counterpart to ISC's science-policy activities.

Others

• OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation: Intergovernmental policy directorate producing STI indicators and policy advice, addressing similar audiences and topics as ISC's science-system evolution work.
• World Economic Forum (WEF) Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Multistakeholder convener producing governance frameworks on emerging technologies, intersecting ISC's AI-in-research and science-diplomacy agendas through events and policy networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/InternationalScienceCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalScience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-science-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/council.science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Science Council