What Das Progressive Zentrum does

Das Progressive Zentrum e.V. is an independent, non-profit think tank headquartered in Berlin (Werftstraße 3, 10557 Berlin), founded in 2007 and registered as a German eingetragener Verein (e.V.). The organization develops and debates ideas for societal progress, with a programmatic focus on resilient democracy, a Green New Deal, and progressive governance. It serves a horizontal coalition of decision-makers from politics, business, civil society, and academia, primarily in Germany but with an explicit transatlantic reach across Europe and North America.

The think tank's product portfolio consists of knowledge outputs and convening platforms rather than technology products. Knowledge outputs include Policy Papers, Discussion Papers, Studies & Surveys, Books, the bilingual column "Die Progressive Lage," and the "Talking Progress" podcast. Convening platforms include three flagship event series — the Politisches Symposium, the Innocracy democracy conference, and the Progressive Governance Summit — along with multi-stakeholder research projects such as Industrial Heartlands (transatlantic industrial transformation) and "Die Unverzichtbaren – Basisarbeit in der Transformationsgesellschaft." Distribution is free and digital-first via the organization's website, supported by a newsletter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.

The organization operates as an event-driven, community-led non-profit with no commercial pricing model. Its core team of approximately 25 employees is augmented by a network of Policy Fellows, Visiting Fellows, an Academic Board, a Board of Directors, and a Circle of Friends. Strategic partnerships and alumni ties extend into aligned foundations (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung, Bertelsmann Stiftung) and, via the Industrial Heartlands project, U.S. institutions including the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Congress of American Indians. Revenue streams are not publicly disclosed; funding is implicitly derived from partners, project supporters, and event-related contributions.

Name

Das Progressive Zentrum

Legal name

Das Progressive Zentrum e.V.

Website

https://progressives-zentrum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Das Progressive Zentrum is a Berlin-based independent, non-profit think tank founded in 2007 that produces progressive policy research, publications, and convening events for decision-makers across politics, business, civil society, and academia in Germany, Europe, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Democratic Governance & Public Administration Reform (BPADAGAJ)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Progressive governance
• Think tank
• Policy publications
• Dialogue events

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

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. Non-profit organizational model: Das Progressive Zentrum e.V. operates as an independent, non-profit think tank. The organization develops research, publications, and events supported by partners and a network of supporters. Specific revenue streams are not publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Das Progressive Zentrum is an independent, non-profit think tank that produces policy research, publications, and events on progressive governance, democratic resilience, green transition, and economic transformation. It convenes decision-makers from politics, business, civil society, and academia through flagship conferences and a network of Policy Fellows, and disseminates free Policy Papers, Discussion Papers, studies, a podcast, and a bilingual column.

Product overview

Das Progressive Zentrum operates as a non-profit think tank producing policy research and convening dialogue platforms. Its core offerings consist of publication series (Policy Papers, Discussion Papers, Studies), major conference events (Politisches Symposium, Innocracy, Progressive Governance Summit), research projects (Industrial Heartlands, Basisarbeit), and digital content (Talking Progress podcast, Die Progressive Lage column, Newsletter). The organization does not offer a commercial software product; its outputs are knowledge products, events, and research rather than technology platforms or SaaS offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Papers and Publications Comprehensive publication series (Policy Papers, Discussion Papers, Studies & Surveys, and Books) covering progressive political analysis on topics including democracy, industrial policy, transformation, and transatlantic relations, freely available to the public via the website.
• Politisches Symposium Flagship high-level dialogue event bringing together decision-makers from politics, business, civil society, and academia to debate progressive policy agendas, including the 2025 'Agenda der Verantwortung' and 2024 'Progressive Sicherheit' editions.
• Innocracy Conference Large civil society conference dedicated to democratic innovations and civic participation, convening over 70 speakers and 550 guests to discuss democratic renewal and institutional reform.
• Progressive Governance Summit International summit connecting progressive leaders from Europe and North America to discuss governance challenges, featuring participation from government heads and party representatives.
• Talking Progress (Podcast) Podcast series featuring conversations with thought leaders on progressive politics, democracy, and policy innovation, including episodes on transatlantic relations and democratic governance.
• Die Progressive Lage (Column) Bilingual column published every two weeks featuring authors from the organization's network writing on current political developments and progressive policy perspectives.
• Industrial Heartlands Project Transatlantic dialogue initiative examining structural transformation in former industrial regions in Germany and the United States, producing policy papers on rearmament, recarbonization, and political realignment.
• Die Unverzichtbaren – Basisarbeit in der Transformationsgesellschaft Study and dialogue project examining working conditions and perspectives of essential workers (caregivers, cleaners, retail workers, delivery personnel) in the transformation society, including a short documentary film.
• DPZ Newsletter Regular email newsletter providing updates on events, studies, and debates in progressive politics, available in German with subscription via the organization's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550+ participants and 70+ speakers at Innocracy25 conference
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core and minor.

• Friedrich-Ebert-StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVera Gohla, Policy Advisor at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, is an alumna of the DPZ fellowship program. The foundation shares progressive values and policy focus areas with Das Progressive Zentrum.
• Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung (BKHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElisabeth Winter serves as Programme Director at BKHS and was a fellow at DPZ. Both organizations focus on international trade policy and transatlantic cooperation.
• U.S. Department of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Courtney, DPZ alumn, works as Team Lead for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program at the U.S. Department of Commerce, continuing collaboration from the Industrial Heartlands project.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicholas Courtney previously served as Director of Policy at NCAI. The collaboration on Industrial Heartlands project connected transatlantic perspectives including tribal governance in the US.
• Industrial Heartlands Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder project involving partners from Germany and the United States focused on structural transformation in former industrial regions, including government officials and civil society actors.
• Bertelsmann StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical collaboration documented in the 'Zukunft der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft' (Future of Social Market Economy) think tank round series.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Progressive Policy Institute (PPI): US-based progressive think tank focused on innovation, market-based reform, and progressive policy frameworks. Comparable in progressive orientation and policy-paper-driven output, and a direct transatlantic counterpart for DPZ's dissemination of new economic-policy ideas.
• Das Progressive Zentrum Partner: Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung (BKHS): Smaller German foundation focused on international trade policy and transatlantic cooperation. DPZ alumni have moved into BKHS programme roles. Highly comparable agenda on transatlantic governance and trade-a key topical overlap with DPZ's Industrial Heartlands project.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operating foundations, active in social market economy, democracy, and Europe policy. Already a documented collaboration partner ('Zukunft der Sozialen Marktwirtschaft' series). Comparable policy publications and convening function, but with much larger staff and budget.
• Open Society Foundations: Global foundation funding democracy, rule of law, and progressive causes, with major European presence. Operates at vastly larger scale but directly overlaps DPZ's themes of democratic resilience, civil society, and progressive governance. A potential partner and competitor for influence and funding.
• Körber-Stiftung: Major Hamburg-based German foundation active in democratic participation, international dialogue, and policy debate. Comparable in convening function (e.g., Körber-TownHall Debates) and democracy-focused programming. Much larger scale but overlapping thematic priorities.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Green Party. Operates a broad research, scholarship, and convening agenda across democracy, ecology, and progressive policy topics that directly overlap with DPZ's focus areas. Comparable structure with fellowship programs and international offices.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES): Germany's largest progressive (SPD-affiliated) political foundation. FES is a direct ideological and topical peer to DPZ, operating at vastly larger scale with broader mandates, global offices, and a longer publication history. DPZ alumni have moved into FES roles, evidencing the affinity.

Direct peers

• Centre for European Reform (CER): London-based pro-European think tank producing policy briefs and convening debates on EU governance, democracy, and economic reform. Comparable output format (briefings, events), orientation toward decision-makers, and ideological positioning (progressive integration). A relevant peer for DPZ's transatlantic democratization work.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with a strong Berlin presence and transatlantic footprint. Comparable network-of-fellows model, policy paper output, and convening events (Global Progress-themed programming). Directly competes for the same European progressive-policy audience and donor pool.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV): Berlin-based independent think tank working on digitalization, democracy, and public-policy reform. Highly comparable in size (~25-40 staff), Berlin base, policy focus, and event-driven model. Direct competitor for policy talent, foundation funding, and convening influence in adjacent subject areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DPZ_Berlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/das-progressive-zentrum
• Instagraminstagram.com/dpz_berlin
• Facebookfacebook.com/DasProgressiveZentrum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Das Progressive Zentrum