Foundation for European Progressive Studies

What Foundation for European Progressive Studies does

FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies) is the officially designated think tank of the progressive political family at the European Union level, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The organisation develops research, policy analysis, training programmes, and convening events intended to inform socialist and social democratic politics and policymaking across Europe. FEPS operates in close partnership with a network of 76 member organisations — primarily progressive political foundations and think tanks — spanning local, regional, national, European, and global levels, and it engages stakeholders from politics, academia, and civil society.

The core outputs of FEPS are publications (Policy Briefs, Policy Studies, Books, and the Progressive Yearbook), a magazine (The Progressive Post), a podcast series (FEPS Talks), short-form video content, and structured training programmes (FEPS YAN Young Academics Network, Primers, Autumn Academy, National Academies, Open Progressive University, Training of Trainers, and Ones to Watch). It also convenes the annual FEPS Policy Conference and project-based working groups such as the Progressive Migration Group and the Feminist Foreign Policy Progressive Voices Collective. The underlying technology stack is a WordPress-based publishing platform with conventional digital marketing and analytics integrations including HubSpot Analytics, Matomo Analytics, Google Publisher Tag, Google AdSense, YouTube and Vimeo embeds, and social widgets across major platforms. No proprietary technology, AI systems, or commercial software products are evident.

FEPS is structured as an international non-profit foundation under Belgian law (entity number 0896.230.213) and is funded through a combination of European Parliament grants and member organisation contributions. Its governance comprises a President (Nicolas Schmit), Secretary General (László Andor), Bureau, and Scientific Council. The go-to-market approach is community-led rather than commercial: FEPS does not sell products or services at a price, but instead distributes publications and training free of charge to its political and academic audience, monetising through institutional grants and member support.

Name

Foundation for European Progressive Studies

Legal name

Foundation for European Progressive Studies

Website

https://feps-europe.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FEPS is the official think tank of the EU progressive political family, producing policy research, publications, training programmes, and events for 76 member organisations, socialist and social democratic parties, and EU policymakers, based in Brussels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Periodical Publishers (51312)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO), ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL), Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Congresses (THAHAJAF), Conference Proceedings & Research Reports Publishing (EDAGAFAL)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank services
• Political training programmes
• Policy publications
• European policy advice

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

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. Membership contributions and partnerships: FEPS operates with support from 76 member organisations, primarily progressive political foundations and think tanks across Europe, providing funding and collaborative partnerships

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FEPS produces policy research and publications (Policy Briefs, Policy Studies, Books, Progressive Yearbook), a flagship magazine (The Progressive Post), training and capacity-building programmes (FEPS YAN, Autumn Academy, National Academies, Open Progressive University, Training of Trainers, Ones to Watch, Primers), and convening events (FEPS Policy Conference, Progressive Migration Group). Offerings are targeted at socialist and social-democratic politicians, policymakers, academics, and civil-society stakeholders across Europe.

Product overview

FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies) is a European think tank operating as a single unified organization rather than a product platform. It offers research publications, policy analysis, training programs, and media content. The core offerings include publications (Policy Briefs, Policy Studies, Books), a magazine called Progressive Post, training programs (FEPS YAN, Primers, Autumn Academy, National Academies, Open Progressive University, Training of Trainers, Ones to Watch), a podcast series (FEPS Talks), and events. These offerings work together to support the organization's mission of developing innovative research, policy advice, training and debates to inspire and inform socialist and social democratic politics and policies across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Progressive Post: Free magazine published by FEPS covering progressive politics and policy
• FEPS Talks
• FEPS YAN (Young Academics Network)
• Open Progressive University
• Autumn Academy

Products and services

• Policy Briefs
• Policy Studies
• Books
• Progressive Yearbook
• The Progressive Post
• FEPS YAN (Young Academics Network)
• Primers
• Autumn Academy
• National Academies
• Open Progressive University
• Training of Trainers
• Ones to Watch
• FEPS Talks
• Shorts
• FEPS Policy Conference

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• 76 Member OrganisationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEPS works in close partnership with 76 member organisations, primarily progressive political foundations and think tanks across Europe. These member organisations represent the progressive political family and provide support for FEPS research, policy development, and thought leadership activities across local, regional, national, European and global levels.
• European ParliamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEPS receives funding from the European Parliament and operates in compliance with European regulations, including transparency requirements. The organisation publishes audit reports and activity reports in compliance with EU regulations.
• Progressive PostflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEPS publishes Progressive Post, a free magazine covering progressive politics and policy analysis, available at progressivepost.eu. This is a flagship publication initiative of the organisation.
• FEPS YAN (Young Academics Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEPS YAN is a network of young academics engaged in progressive research, providing a pipeline of new ideas and research talent to support FEPS's mission. The network runs annual cycles with new member calls.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European think tank producing policy research, commentary, and events across EU and foreign policy. Highly comparable in mission, multi-country membership model, and pan-European think tank positioning, with overlapping audience of policymakers, media, and academia.
• Bruegel: Brussels-based European economics think tank producing policy research and commentary for EU institutions. Directly comparable as a Brussels-headquartered, EU-focused think tank with similar output formats (briefs, papers, events) and member-based governance.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Leading Brussels-based think tank producing EU policy research across economics, politics, and law. Directly comparable in product mix (policy papers, events, member network) and target audience of EU policymakers and stakeholders.
• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based think tank focused on EU integration, economic, and social policy. Comparable as a Brussels think tank with a member-driven governance model, producing policy briefs, events, and commentary for EU-level audiences.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): German social-democratic political foundation affiliated with the SPD, operating EU and global offices with policy research, training, and political education programmes. Closely comparable as the social-democratic sister foundation with similar ideological alignment, training offerings, and member-network structure.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): German political foundation affiliated with the CDU, with EU office in Brussels and global research, training, and conferences. Comparable as a politically aligned foundation with a Brussels EU office, member-style national presence, and similar publication/training formats.
• Notre Europe - Institut Jacques Delors: Paris- and Brussels-based think tank focused on European integration, federalism, and progressive EU policy. Highly comparable in progressive political positioning, EU policy focus, and think tank product mix (policy papers, briefs, events).

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Europe: Brussels arm of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, producing foreign policy and EU policy research. Comparable in Brussels-based policy research output, expert commentary, and event programming, though broader in geographic scope.
• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank producing research, publications, and events. Comparable in non-partisan think tank model, publication formats (briefs, papers, magazine), and policy-event programming, though broader geographically and thematically.

Regional players

• European Trade Union Institute (ETUI): Brussels-based research and training centre of the European Trade Union Confederation focused on labour, social, and economic policy. Comparable as a Brussels-based, EU-focused policy research and training organisation aligned with progressive/social stakeholders and serving a pan-European membership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FEPS_Europe
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnUz0
• Facebookfacebook.com/FEPS.Europe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/feps-europe
• Pinterestpinterest.com/fepseurope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Foundation for European Progressive Studies