Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques

What Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques does

Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques (IRES) is a Moroccan royal strategic studies institute headquartered in Rabat, founded in 2007 and operating under the direct authority of His Majesty the King of Morocco. Its mission is to conduct strategic studies and analyses on questions submitted by the King and to perform a strategic intelligence function at national and international levels on domains considered strategic for the country. The institute analyzes national structural questions, examines Morocco's external relations in their multiple dimensions, and gives substantial attention to global strategic issues, with the aim of informing public policy choices supporting Morocco's democratic and modern society project.

IRES's core product portfolio centers on the IRES Intelligence Platform (IIP), a strategic intelligence monitoring system, complemented by a Digital Library (Bibliothèque numérique), the IRES Forum for international conferences and seminars, IRES Publications (general reports, thematic reports, analyses, webography bulletins), a periodic Newsletter, a Strategic Dashboard tracking Morocco's international positioning, and the Observatory on Morocco's Image (established 2015) for perception analysis. The institute maintains an extensive international partnership network spanning European think tanks (CEPS), US policy institutes (Potomac Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Middle East Institute, Washington Institute), multilateral organizations (UNDP, African Development Bank, UN Economic Commission for Africa), and increasingly Asian counterparts.

As a non-profit government-affiliated institute, IRES does not operate a commercial revenue model and does not publicly disclose pricing. Its primary customer is the Moroccan Government and Royal Cabinet, with secondary stakeholders including international think tanks, the academic community, and global policy readers. The institute does not sell products or services commercially; outputs are distributed through institutional channels, publications, conferences, and digital platforms. Its competitive advantage rests on its royal mandate, brand recognition, accumulated intelligence assets, and exclusive access to high-level governmental and diplomatic stakeholders.

Name

Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques

Legal name

Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques

Website

https://ires.ma

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Institut Royal des Etudes Stratégiques (IRES) is a Moroccan royal strategic research institute that conducts strategic studies and intelligence on questions submitted by the King of Morocco, serving governmental decision-makers through its intelligence platform, publications, and international think tank partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Policy Research

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), International Affairs (92812), National Security (928110), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAMAJ

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Trade & Economic Development

SECONDARYBPAIAIAJ

Protocol, State Visits & Diplomatic Events Management

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Services

Keywords

• Strategic policy research
• Geopolitical intelligence
• Foresight analysis
• Policy advisory services
• International relations research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rabat

HQ country

Morocco

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IRES conducts strategic studies and analyses on questions submitted by His Majesty the King of Morocco and performs a strategic intelligence function at the national and international levels on domains considered strategic for the country. The institute analyzes structural national questions, examines Morocco's external relations in their multiple dimensions, and delivers strategic reports, foresight studies, and policy analyses to support public decision-making and reform choices.

Product overview

IRES operates as a unified research and strategic analysis institute offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offering centers on the IRES Intelligence Platform for strategic monitoring, complemented by a Digital Library providing documentary resources, the IRES Forum for organizing conferences and seminars, IRES Publications for strategic reports and analyses, a periodic Newsletter, a Strategic Dashboard for tracking Morocco's international positioning, and an Observatory on Morocco's Image for perception analysis. These products work together to support strategic decision-making and provide comprehensive coverage of national and international strategic matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IRES Intelligence Platform: Strategic intelligence platform operated by IRES

Products and services

• IRES Intelligence Platform (IIP) A strategic intelligence platform providing advanced monitoring and analysis capabilities for strategic decision-making support, accessible to governmental stakeholders.
• Digital Library (Bibliothèque numérique) Electronic documentary portal providing authenticated access to e-books and e-reviews for researchers and institutional users.
• IRES Forum (Conferences, Seminars, and Book Presentations) Platform organizing international conferences, seminars, book presentations, and external activities for strategic dialogue among researchers, officials, and international partners.
• IRES Publications (Strategic Reports and Analyses) Strategic reports and publications including general reports, thematic reports, seminar proceedings, analyses and viewpoints, and webography bulletins.
• Strategic Dashboard (Tableau de bord stratégique) Monitoring tool tracking the evolution of Morocco's international positioning, updated regularly with strategic indicators.
• Observatory on Morocco's Image (Observatoire sur l'image du Maroc à l'international) Monitoring observatory established in 2015 to track and analyze Morocco's international image perception, conducting annual perception surveys.

Quantifiable outcome

• The observatory on Morocco's image internationally, established in 2015, has tracked significant improvements in Morocco's external and internal reputation, particularly noted in 2020 during the pandemic period

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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Reptrak CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership for the study on Morocco's reputation in the world, conducting annual perception surveys. The sixth edition of the study, administered March-May 2020, showed significant improvement in Morocco's external and internal reputation.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean think tank partner based in Brussels. Partnership for studies on the future of Morocco-EU relations, including perception surveys of Morocco within European institutions. CEPS conducted the perception survey on Morocco's image for IRES.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing cooperation on human development issues. M. Edward Christow, UNDP Resident Representative, met with IRES Director General to discuss development-related cooperation.
• Potomac Institute for Policy StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS think tank participating in strategic dialogue with IRES on Morocco-US relations, alongside other American think tanks.
• American Enterprise InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS think tank involved in strategic dialogue with IRES on Morocco-US relations.
• Middle East InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS think tank participating in strategic dialogue with IRES on Morocco-US relations.
• Washington InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS think tank participating in strategic dialogue with IRES on Morocco-US relations.
• Hassan II Academy of Sciences and TechniquesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of international conference on 'Employment and development: for public policies centered on employment' with the College of Strategic Studies and Economic Development.
• Communist Party of China (International Department)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-level delegation from China's Communist Party visited IRES on May 21, 2026 to discuss strengthening the Sino-Moroccan strategic partnership and governance reform in light of geopolitical changes.
• World Futures Studies FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational federation whose executive board member M. Victor Vahidi Motti has contributed to IRES video gallery, indicating collaboration on futures studies.
• African Development Bank (BAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit from African Development Bank delegation to IRES, indicating ongoing cooperation and knowledge sharing on African development issues.
• United Nations Economic Commission for AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit from UN Economic Commission for Africa delegation to IRES, indicating cooperation on African economic development research.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based Royal Institute of International Affairs that conducts policy research on international affairs and serves as a convening body for government, business, and civil society. Directly comparable to IRES as both are royal/eminent-mandated strategic studies institutes advising heads of state on geopolitical decision-making — even IRES explicitly references operating under Chatham House rules.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based think tank specializing in EU policy, foreign affairs, and international relations research. CEPS is an existing strategic partner of IRES for Morocco-EU relations studies, including joint perception surveys — making it a directly comparable European counterpart in scope and methodology.
• Middle East Institute: Washington-based think tank focused on Middle East policy, economics, and security. Already a strategic dialogue partner of IRES on Morocco-US relations, MEI is a directly comparable regional-affairs research institution with similar convening and publishing functions.
• Brookings Institution: Washington-based research institution conducting in-depth analysis on domestic and foreign policy, economics, and global development. Direct functional peer to IRES given its role advising senior US policymakers, producing strategic reports, and convening international forums on geopolitical issues.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): London-based institute producing authoritative analysis on geopolitical, military, and strategic issues worldwide. Comparable to IRES as a strategic-studies-focused research body providing confidential briefings to government leaders and producing flagship annual assessments of regional security dynamics.
• Atlantic Council: Washington-based think tank focused on international affairs, transatlantic relations, and global strategy. Directly comparable to IRES in its emphasis on diplomatic dialogue, high-level convenings, and policy research aimed at shaping government decision-making on geopolitical issues.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Washington-based global think tank with centers in multiple regions conducting research on international affairs, geopolitics, and foreign policy. Comparable to IRES in its advisory mandate to government stakeholders, global partnership network, and foresight-oriented research output.
• Policy Center for the New South: Morocco-based think tank conducting policy research on South-South cooperation, emerging economies, and Africa-international relations. Direct regional peer to IRES given shared Moroccan institutional base, similar policy-research methodology, and overlapping subject matter on African and developing-economy strategic analysis.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) - German Institute for International and Security Affairs: Berlin-based institute providing strategic analysis to the German government and parliament on foreign and security policy. Closely comparable to IRES in its government advisory mandate, international-affairs research focus, and operational model as a publicly-funded national strategic studies institute.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: US-based global policy research institution producing strategic analysis for governments, militaries, and international organizations across defense, security, and policy domains. Comparable to IRES in its strategic-studies mandate and government-advisory orientation, though operating at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ires_maroc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ires.maroc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 →

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