National Bureau of Asian Research

What National Bureau of Asian Research does

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy think tank established in 1989 as a legacy organization of Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. Headquartered in Seattle with a second office in Washington, D.C., NBR conducts policy-relevant research on strategic, political, economic, energy, technology, and security issues affecting U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The organization engages 200-250 specialist affiliates annually under contract, producing a publication portfolio that includes the peer-reviewed Asia Policy journal, the annual Strategic Asia analytical volume, NBR Reports, Commentary, Q&A series, and the Asia Insight podcast, alongside program-specific outputs such as the PLA Conference (co-convened with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command), the Pacific Energy Summit, the Pacific Technology Policy Conference, and the IP Theft Commission.

NBR's revenue model is diversified across foundation grants (including Carnegie Corporation funding the Chinese Language Fellowship Program), U.S. government grants (notably a 2020 State Department energy sector award), corporate and institutional support, individual donations via multiple channels (PayPal, recurring, checks), and premium subscriptions for enhanced publication access. Standard publications are distributed free, with premium tiers available. The organization maintains a Congressional Outreach Program providing direct briefings to U.S. legislators and staffs, and serves Fortune 500 private sector clients through the Strategic Asia Program. Governance is provided by a board featuring retired senior military officers, former ambassadors, and corporate executives, and the organization maintains research independence through diversified funding rather than single-donor dependence.

Name

National Bureau of Asian Research

Legal name

The National Bureau of Asian Research

Website

https://nbr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) policy think tank, founded in 1989, that conducts Asia-Pacific policy research and serves U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and Fortune 500 leaders through peer-reviewed publications, expert briefings, and convening events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants: NBR receives funding from foundations including the Carnegie Corporation of New York for programs such as the Chinese Language Fellowship Program, which provides fellowships of up to $50,000.
2. Government Grants: NBR receives government grants, including a State Department grant for energy sector development.
3. Individual Donations: NBR accepts individual contributions through various methods including online gifts via PayPal, checks, credit card, and automatic recurring donations on annual, quarterly, monthly, or other specified bases.
4. Corporate and Foundation Support: NBR receives support from corporations, foundations, government departments and agencies, and other institutions. The organization offers named programs and endowments that donors can designate gifts to.
5. Henry M. Jackson Foundation Partnership: The Henry M. Jackson Foundation supports NBR's internship program, training future Asia specialists through practical work experience.
6. Premium Subscriptions: NBR offers premium subscriptions for publications.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NBR is a nonprofit Asia policy think tank that produces original, peer-reviewed research and policy analysis on strategic, political, economic, energy, and security issues affecting U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Its core deliverables are publications (Asia Policy journal, Strategic Asia series, NBR Reports, Commentary, Q&A) and convening programs (Pacific Energy Summit, PLA Conference, congressional briefings), supported by a global network of contracted specialists and funded through grants, donations, and premium subscriptions.

Product overview

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a policy think tank offering a portfolio of research publications and specialized programs. The core publications include Asia Policy (peer-reviewed journal), Strategic Asia (annual analytical volume), NBR Reports, Commentary, Q&A, and Podcasts (Asia Insight). These are complemented by specialized programs such as the Strategic Asia Program, People's Liberation Army Conference, Energy Security Program, Maritime Awareness Project, Pacific Energy Summit, Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, and Technology and Geoeconomic Affairs. NBR also operates endowed centers including the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies, Kenneth B. and Anne H.H. Pyle Center for Northeast Asia Studies, Center for Innovation Trade and Strategy, and Slade Gorton Policy Center. Educational offerings include fellowships (Chinese Language Fellowship, Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship, Japan Studies Research Fellowship, Bridge to Asia Fellowship) and leadership programs (Gorton Leaders Program) as well as the Henry M. Jackson Internship Program. Events include the annual Pacific Technology Policy Conference and various congressional briefings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strategic Asia Program: Umbrella program providing authoritative assessment of Asia's evolving strategic environment and tailored briefings for U.S. government agencies and private sector leaders.
• People's Liberation Army Conference
• Energy Security Program
• Maritime Awareness Project
• Pacific Energy Summit
• Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property
• Chinese Language Fellowship Program
• Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship Program
• Bridge to Asia Fellowship Program
• Asia Insight Podcast

Products and services

• Asia Policy Peer-reviewed journal publishing policy-relevant research and analysis on Asia-Pacific affairs, for policymakers, scholars, and informed readers.
• Strategic Asia Annual analytical volume providing authoritative assessment of Asia's evolving strategic environment and forward-looking strategic analysis, targeted at policymakers and policy-aware leadership.
• NBR Reports Specialized reports addressing specific policy issues and research topics related to U.S.-Asia relations, for policymakers, scholars, and the public.
• Commentary Short-form expert analysis and commentary on current Asia policy issues, for policymakers, media, and informed readers.
• Q&A Expert question-and-answer discussions on Asia policy topics, for policymakers, media, and informed readers.
• Asia Insight Podcast Expert views podcast exploring pressing geostrategic and geoeconomic issues in the Indo-Pacific and implications for U.S. policy, for policymakers, media, and informed listeners.
• Strategic Asia Program Umbrella program providing tailored briefings and research on challenges and opportunities for U.S. national interests in the Asia-Pacific, for U.S. government agencies and private sector leaders.
• People's Liberation Army Conference Annual invitation-only conference examining People's Liberation Army developments and China's military modernization, for defense specialists, military, government, and policy think tank representatives.
• PLA Executive Education Course Executive education course on the People's Liberation Army of China, for analysts and practitioners.
• Energy Security Program Research program examining energy security issues and policy in the Asia-Pacific region, for policymakers, energy industry leaders, and scholars.
• Maritime Awareness Project Project providing analysis and awareness on maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific, for policymakers, military officials, and informed readers.
• Pacific Energy Summit Annual summit convening energy experts, industry leaders, and government officials to discuss energy security in the Asia-Pacific.
• Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property Commission producing reports and recommendations on protecting U.S. intellectual property from international theft, for U.S. policymakers, industry, and security officials.
• John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies Endowed chair program bringing senior experts to focus on national security issues in Asia, for senior policy and defense audiences.
• Kenneth B. and Anne H.H. Pyle Center for Northeast Asia Studies Endowed center focused on Northeast Asia policy research and analysis, for policymakers, scholars, and informed readers.
• Chinese Language Fellowship Program Fellowship providing up to $50,000 for American graduate students to pursue intensive Chinese language training to support China policy research.
• Ellings-Korduba Research Fellowship Program Research fellowship supporting American graduate and advanced undergraduate students to serve as junior fellows at NBR's Seattle office.
• Japan Studies Research Fellowship Program Three-month intensive research and professional development program for students focused on Japan studies and U.S.-Japan relations.
• Gorton Leaders Program Six-month professional development program for advanced undergraduate and master's students in the Seattle area focusing on democracy in China, national security, and IP protection.
• Bridge to Asia Fellowship Program Fellowship providing emerging leaders immersive policy experience at NBR's Seattle and Washington, D.C. offices from May through August.
• Henry M. Jackson Internship Program Internship program training future Asia specialists through practical work experience on research projects informing U.S. policy toward Asia.

Quantifiable outcome

• NBR experts and research have shaped congressional legislation and administration policies
• +2 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Energy Research Institute Network (ERIN)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2017NBR joined ERIN as Lead U.S. Representative, collaborating on energy research and policy analysis with international partners.
• Sasakawa USAstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2016NBR and Sasakawa USA launched a premier interactive maritime website, combining expertise on maritime security and Indo-Pacific issues.
• U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBR convenes an invitation-only, annual conference in collaboration with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) that brings together leading specialists from academe, government, the military, and policy think tanks to examine critical trends in PLA studies.
• Moss Adams LLPminorOthersTo remain accountable to its donors, NBR is audited annually by Moss Adams LLP, a major accounting firm.
• GuidestarminorOthersMore detailed financials are available through Guidestar, a nonprofit information platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stimson Center: Stimson is a nonpartisan policy research center with programs on South and East Asia security, energy, and maritime issues, producing research and convening experts — closely comparable to NBR's portfolio in Indo-Pacific security, energy, and maritime awareness.
• Wilson Center: The Wilson Center is a nonpartisan policy forum with substantive Asia programming and scholar-in-residence fellowships, producing policy analysis and convening events — comparable to NBR's combination of research publications, fellowships, and convening on Asia policy.
• Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE): PIIE produces rigorous, nonpartisan economic policy analysis on international economic issues, including substantial work on U.S.-Asia trade, investment, and China — directly comparable to NBR's research on economics, trade, and geoeconomic strategy.
• Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI): ASPI is a policy research arm focused specifically on Asia-Pacific issues affecting U.S. interests, producing reports, convenings, and policy recommendations — a direct overlap with NBR's Asia-focused policy research and congressional engagement.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a major bipartisan policy research organization with deep programs on Asia, defense, energy security, and technology — overlapping directly with NBR's mission of producing nonpartisan policy research for U.S. decision-makers on the Indo-Pacific.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a larger, established policy research institution with broad international economics, foreign policy, and Asia programs. While much broader in scope, its Asia scholarship, convenings, and government engagement overlap substantially with NBR's offerings.
• RAND Corporation: RAND is a larger policy research institution with deep defense, security, and Asia-Pacific programs, including analysis of China's military and Indo-Pacific strategy — overlapping with NBR's PLA Conference, defense, and security research portfolio.
• Atlantic Council: Atlantic Council is an international affairs think tank with substantial Asia and Indo-Pacific programs covering security, energy, technology, and economics — comparable to NBR's broad Asia-policy portfolio and convening-driven engagement with policymakers.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): CFR is a premier U.S. foreign-policy think tank producing reports, briefings, and convenings on international affairs including Asia, comparable to NBR's mission to inform U.S. policy on Asia through nonpartisan research and high-level convening.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie is a global network of research centers producing nonpartisan analysis on international peace and security, including substantial Asia programs — comparable in mission to NBR's nonpartisan, policy-relevant research for U.S. decision-makers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nbrnews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NBRonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/nbrnews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbrnews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Bureau of Asian Research