Research and Information System for Developing Countries

What Research and Information System for Developing Countries does

Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) is an autonomous policy research institute established in 1982 and headquartered at the India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. It operates as a public authority funded by the Government of India, sitting under the Ministry of External Affairs' policy ecosystem, and is subject to the Right to Information Act 2005. Its mandate covers international economic issues, trade and investment policy, technology and development, maritime cooperation, and South-South cooperation, and it acts as India's institutional bridge between policy research and multilateral forums including ASEAN-India, BRICS, BIMSTEC, IBSA, and the G77.

RIS's product surface is text- and event-centric rather than software-centric. It publishes multiple peer-reviewed journals (South Asia Economic Journal, Journal of Asian Economic Integration, Science Diplomacy Review, Development Cooperation Review, Asian Biotechnology Development Review), books and reports such as the World Trade and Development Report, discussion papers, policy briefs, newsletters, and the quarterly RIS Diary. It runs capacity-building programmes including the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) course portfolio and the IBSA Visiting Fellowship, and it convenes specialised forums (FIDC, FISD, FITM, the STIP Forum, and the Delhi Process). Three dedicated centres sit within the institute: the ASEAN-India Centre (AIC, inaugurated 2013), DAKSHIN: Global South Centre of Excellence (2023), and the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC), the last in partnership with the Indian Ports Association.

The business model is government appropriations plus programme-related grants rather than commercial revenue. RIS does not sell licences, charge subscriptions, or operate a typical SaaS GTM motion; instead, outputs are disseminated through institutional channels (ministries, embassies, multilateral bodies, partner universities) and through events and conferences. Customer segments are policy-led: Government of India ministries and developing-country policymakers, academic and research institutions, international development organisations, and regional cooperation bodies. Distribution is physical- and publication-led rather than via app stores, APIs, or developer platforms, and there is no disclosed app or SDK surface.

Name

Research and Information System for Developing Countries

Legal name

Research and Information System for Developing Countries

Website

https://ris.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RIS is a Government of India-funded policy research institute in New Delhi, established in 1982, that publishes journals and policy briefs and runs capacity-building programmes on trade, development, and South-South cooperation for ministries, multilaterals, and academic partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: RIS is a public authority funded by the Government of India, operating as a policy think tank focused on research and analysis in international development cooperation.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RIS is a government-funded policy research think tank that conducts research and publishes analysis on international economic issues, trade, development cooperation, technology, and South-South cooperation. It delivers capacity building programmes (ITEC, IBSA Fellowship, Internship) and hosts specialized centres (DAKSHIN, ASEAN-India Centre, CMEC) and thematic forums (STIP, FITM, FIDC, FISD, Delhi Process). Its outputs include academic journals, books, discussion papers, policy briefs, newsletters and the quarterly RIS Diary.

Product overview

RIS is a policy research think tank funded by the Government of India that functions as a multi-platform research and capacity building organization rather than a single product company. Its portfolio consists of research publications (journals, books, discussion papers, policy briefs, RIS Diary), capacity building programmes (ITEC, IBSA Fellowship), specialized centres (DAKSHIN, AIC, CMEC), and special initiatives (STIP Forum, FITM, FIDC, FISD, Delhi Process). The publications span academic journals, books/reports, and periodic briefs, while the centres and initiatives focus on thematic areas including Global South cooperation, ASEAN-India relations, maritime economy, science diplomacy, and development cooperation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Journals and Newsletters Academic and policy journals including Journal of Asian Economic Integration, Asian Biotechnology Development Review, South Asia Economic Journal, Science Diplomacy Review, and Development Cooperation Review, alongside topical newsletters such as CMEC Newsletter, Blue Economy Insight, FISD News Alert, DAKSHIN Newsletter, and Ayush Vaibhav Newsletter, targeted at researchers, policy makers and practitioners in development studies.
• Books and Reports Comprehensive books and reports on international trade, development cooperation, maritime connectivity and regional partnerships, including the World Trade and Development Report and summit outcome documents, targeted at policy makers, researchers and libraries.
• Discussion Papers Academic discussion papers covering topics such as WTO governance, agricultural R&D in BRICS, bioeconomy policy, triangular cooperation, and digital public infrastructure, intended for researchers and policy analysts.
• Policy Briefs Concise policy briefs addressing contemporary issues in trade, agriculture, technology, and international cooperation, including paperless trade, MSME digitalisation, and India-Africa partnerships, targeted at policy makers needing actionable analysis.
• RIS Diary Quarterly publication documenting RIS activities, events and institutional updates, published since 2003 for stakeholders and partners tracking the institute's work.
• ITEC Capacity Building Programme Training courses under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme covering South-South Cooperation, Science Diplomacy, Sustainable Development Goals, Trade and Sustainability, and International Economic Issues and Development Policy, targeted at officials and professionals from developing countries.
• IBSA Fellowship Programme Fellowship programme promoting academic exchange of young scholars in economics and social sciences among India, Brazil and South Africa, hosted at RIS.
• DAKSHIN - Global South Centre of Excellence Centre focused on Global South research and cooperation, serving policymakers, academics and practitioners across developing countries.
• ASEAN-India Centre (AIC) Think tank hosted at RIS to support ASEAN-India partnership, working on trade, investment, and regional cooperation research and dialogue.
• Center for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) Centre launched in partnership with Indian Ports Association to support India's maritime ambitions, the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and various associated maritime dimensions through research and convening.
• RIS Podcast Podcast channel featuring discussions on trade, development, and international cooperation topics, distributed publicly to extend RIS's research reach to broader audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established 44 years ago with continued government funding
• +2 more outcomes

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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• CSIR-NIScPR (National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026MoU signed between NIScPR and RIS to strengthen Science Technology Innovation Policy and Science Diplomacy, combining expertise in science communication and development policy research.
• Delhi UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026MoU signed to boost maritime education, enhancing academic cooperation between RIS and Delhi University in the maritime sector.
• Indian Ports Association (IPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA Memorandum of Agreement was signed between IPA and RIS in the presence of the Hon'ble Minister of Ports Shipping and Waterways to launch the Center for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) at RIS. This partnership supports India's Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and various maritime dimensions.
• ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group (AIEPG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIS hosts the ASEAN-India Centre (AIC), established following recommendations from the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group. AIC was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister on 21 June 2013 to promote closer ASEAN-India partnership.
• Ministry of AYUSHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of AYUSH has established the Forum on Indian Traditional Medicine (FITM) at RIS as a common platform for stakeholders to contribute to policy making in traditional medicine and develop proactive strategies for international engagement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations): New Delhi-based think tank conducting economic policy research on trade, investment, and development — closely aligned with RIS's economic governance and trade focus.
• Centre for Policy Research (CPR): Indian policy research institution covering governance, economy, and international affairs — comparable in scale, mission, and Indian policy-research positioning.
• German Development Institute (DIE): European think tank providing policy advice on development cooperation and global governance — closely aligned with RIS's development cooperation and South-South research.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based think tank focused on international development and humanitarian policy — directly comparable to RIS on development cooperation research and South-facing programming.
• Observer Research Foundation: India-based policy think tank focused on international relations, economics, and security. Most directly comparable to RIS in mission, geography, and Indian policy research positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based international affairs think tank producing independent analysis on global issues including trade and development — comparable in research depth and policy advisory model.
• Brookings Institution: Large US-based policy research organization covering global economy, development, and international relations — relevant as a global benchmark for think-tank operations and outputs.
• Council on Foreign Relations: US-based think tank specializing in US foreign policy and international affairs — relevant as a global policy research benchmark with comparable publication and convening model.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global think tank with centres worldwide covering international economics, trade, and governance — relevant as an established international-development research peer.

Regional players

• NITI Aayog: Government of India policy think tank. Comparable as a domestic Indian policy research body but government-internal rather than autonomous like RIS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RIS_NewDelhi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RISNewDelhi/videos?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/RISIndia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/research-and-information-system-for-developing-countries
• Instagraminstagram.com/risdelhi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Research and Information System for Developing Countries