Migration Research Institute

What Migration Research Institute does

Migration Research Institute (Migrációkutató Intézet) is a Budapest-based, non-profit policy research organization founded in September 2015 and operating under the institutional umbrella of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC). It studies migration phenomena with a particular emphasis on immigration in Europe, synthesizing findings across security, geopolitical, demographic, and policy disciplines, and produces a portfolio of analytical publications: the periodic Horizont series, the brief Fókuszpontr series, the rapid-response Gyorselemzések, the Szemle reviews, the academic Limen publications, and authored/co-published books. Its primary audiences are policy makers and government officials, the academic community studying migration and security, and the general public and media interested in evidence-based migration discourse. Distribution is conducted through the institute's bilingual (Hungarian-English) website, active social media channels (X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email communications, a podcast series, and a substantial events program that includes the MCC-MRI Summits, the Budapest Conference on Terrorism co-organized with the University of St Andrews Handa Centre, and panel discussions hosted in Budapest and at international venues.

The institute's research and product portfolio is built on a small, specialized team of analysts and researchers — including Executive Director Viktor Marsai, Head of Research Omar Sayfo, Senior Researcher Tárik Meszár, Researcher Géza Dobó, Analyst Róbert Gönczi, and Editor Ildikó Kaposi — whose expertise spans the Western Balkans, the MENA region, human smuggling, irregular border crossing, and migration security crossovers. It maintains a network of strategic partnerships with the University of St Andrews Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, Ordo Iuris, the Batthyány Lajos Foundation, Hungarian Conservative, the Danube Institute, and INIR (International Network for Immigration Research), and it is physically embedded in the MCC Scruton building on Tas Vezér utca in Budapest.

Its business model is that of an embedded non-profit think tank: publications are freely accessible on the website, events are generally free to attend with registration required, and revenue (to the extent any is earned directly by the institute) flows from grants, institutional funding channeled through its parent MCC, and potentially commissioned research. There is no disclosed product pricing, no paid subscription product, and no commercial revenue line item. Marketing and audience development are largely community-led, executed through the publication archive, the annual and ad-hoc events program, expert media appearances, and the institute's social channels, with no dedicated sales motion.

Name

Migration Research Institute

Legal name

Migration Research Institute

Website

https://migraciokutato.hu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Migration Research Institute is a Budapest-based, non-profit policy research organization within the Mathias Corvinus Collegium that studies European migration through analytical publications (Horizont, Fókuszpontr, Limen), conferences, and expert events for policy makers, academics, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Migration, Refugees & Labor Mobility IGOs (BPADAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Visa, Immigration Liaison & Travel Document Policy (Foreign Affairs) (BPAIAIAL)

Keywords

• Migration research
• Policy analysis
• Academic publications
• Think tank research
• Security studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Budapest

HQ country

Hungary

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research and Publication Revenue: The institute generates revenue through producing research publications, analyses, and reports that are distributed to academic institutions, policy makers, and the general public. Revenue may come from grants, institutional funding, and potentially publication sales or commissioned research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Migration Research Institute is a non-profit research organization that conducts multi-disciplinary studies on migration phenomena, with a particular focus on immigration in Europe. It produces regular publication series (Horizont, Fókuszont, Gyorselemzések, Szemle, Limen), authored books, a podcast series, and organizes conferences and panel discussions on migration policy, border security, terrorism, and geopolitical impacts.

Product overview

Migration Research Institute operates as a research organization offering a portfolio of publication products centered on migration studies and policy analysis. The core offerings include Horizont (in-depth periodic analyses), Fókuszpont (brief analytical commentaries), Gyorselemzések (rapid-response analyses), Szemle (review publications), and Limen (academic publications). Additional offerings include authored books, organized events and conferences, a podcast series, and participation in the International Network for Immigration Research (INIR) platform. The publications are produced by the institute's researchers expressing independent views, with the Horizont and Fókuszpont series forming the primary analytical output covering European immigration, geopolitical migration drivers, and policy responses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Horizont: Periodic publication of the Migration Research Institute featuring in-depth analyses on migration topics
• Fókuszpont
• Limen
• Gyorselemzések

Products and services

• Horizont Periodic in-depth analysis publication series produced by Migration Research Institute researchers, covering migration phenomena, immigration policies, and geopolitical impacts on European migration. Targeted at policy makers, academics, and informed readers.
• Fókuszont (Fókuszont) Brief analytical publication series providing focused commentary on current migration-related events and policy developments. Aimed at policy makers, media, and the informed public seeking concise analysis on timely topics.
• Gyorselemzések (Quick Analyses) Rapid analytical publication series addressing timely migration topics and emerging developments, providing quick-turn analysis in response to unfolding events.
• Szemle (Review) Review publication series providing comprehensive analysis and overviews of migration topics, complementing the institute's other analytical outputs.
• Limen Academic publication series by the institute covering migration research, providing scholarly analysis suitable for academic audiences and citation.
• Books Books authored or published by Migration Research Institute researchers on migration topics, distributed via the institute's website and partner channels.
• Events and Conferences Organized conferences, panel discussions, and expert gatherings on migration policy, security, and geopolitics, including the MCC-MRI Summits, Budapest Conference on Terrorism, and other international events. Free to attend with registration.
• Podcast Audio podcast series discussing migration topics and research findings, distributed via the institute's website and audio channels.

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Ordo IurismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Collaborated on the study 'Take Back Control From Brussels: The Renationalization of EU Migration and Asylum Policies' with MCC Center for European Studies and Migration Research Institute. Focus on EU migration policy failure analysis.
• University of St Andrews Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political ViolencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025Co-organized the Budapest Conference on Terrorism with the Migration Research Institute. The partnership focuses on bridging political violence and organised crime studies, examining intersections of ideology, strategy, and profit in contemporary terrorism.
• Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCC is the parent organization hosting the Migration Research Institute. The institute operates within the MCC ecosystem, using MCC venues (MCC Scruton, Hunyadi Hall) for events, and sharing staff resources. MCC provides institutional support and branding.
• Batthyány Lajos FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-published 'The Geostrategy of Migration' with the Migration Research Institute and Hungarian Conservative in 2026.
• INIR (International Network for Immigration Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe institute is part of the International Network for Immigration Research platform, connecting with international research institutions in the field.
• Danube InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the 'Will Civil War Come to the West?' panel discussion with MCC Budapest, bringing together international experts on political analysis and cultural insights.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank covering migration among many other geopolitical topics. Comparable as a high-credibility research and events organization, though far broader in scope and more established globally.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based think tank producing EU-wide policy research including on migration. Comparable as a European policy research organization with broader thematic scope than MRI and significantly larger institutional footprint.
• Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC): Hungarian educational and research foundation that is MRI's parent organization. Comparable as the parent ecosystem providing infrastructure, branding, and funding — broader in scope (education, culture, policy) but materially overlapping with MRI's activities.

Direct peers

• Migration Policy Institute (MPI): Washington, DC-based think tank studying migration trends and policies globally, producing reports, data, and policy analysis. Direct peer to MRI as a migration-focused research and policy advisory organization, though larger and more established with a broader international remit.
• Ordo Iuris: Polish conservative legal think tank that has co-authored publications with MRI on EU migration policy renationalization. Comparable as a Central European ideologically aligned policy research organization and active collaborator.
• Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM): UCL-based academic research centre producing economic and policy research on migration. Comparable to MRI as a research-driven migration organization, with stronger academic/credentialed positioning and a UK base.
• Danube Institute: Budapest-based think tank focused on European and transatlantic policy with similar ideological alignment to MRI. Sister-organization peer given shared Budapest location, overlapping ideological orientation, and co-organization of events (e.g., 'Will Civil War Come to the West?' panel).
• International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD): Vienna-based intergovernmental organization supporting migration policy development across 40+ member states. Comparable to MRI in its focus on migration research, policy advice, and capacity-building, though operating at an intergovernmental rather than national think-tank level.
• Batthyány Lajos Foundation: Hungarian foundation that co-published 'The Geostrategy of Migration' with MRI in 2026. Comparable as a Central European ideologically aligned policy research/publishing organization and active collaboration partner.

Emerging players

• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based independent think tank covering migration and integration policy. Comparable as a European-focused policy research organization producing analysis for EU policy makers, though with a more centrist orientation than MRI.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/mri_hungary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvcg7xJjyKKfick-6Wtvxqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/migraciokutato
• Instagraminstagram.com/migraciokutato_intezet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/migration-research-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Migration Research Institute