Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia

What Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia does

Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia is a private, non-profit think tank founded in 1983 and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. It conducts independent policy research and convening across foreign policy and security studies, economics and trade, climate and energy, social policy, and cyber and technology policy. The institute operates primarily through Track Two diplomacy — informal engagement among policy experts that complements official state channels — and is the Malaysian member of the ASEAN-ISIS network, co-chair of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP), and a participant in the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), the Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT), and the Research Institute Network (RIN). It is governed by a Board of Directors, currently led by Executive Chairman Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah and Chief Executive Herizal Hazri, with a research team of 51–100 staff that includes senior fellows, visiting fellows, royal fellows, and named chair holders.

Its product portfolio centers on policy publications (Policy Briefs, ISIS Focus, THOC Essays, Books, Speeches, Presentations, Infographics, Annual Reports), flagship events (the annual Asia-Pacific Roundtable, PRAXIS forum, and bilateral dialogues including the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue and Japan-ASEAN roundtable), the "We Think" video series, and a YouTube channel. Underlying capability is essentially human-capital and convening infrastructure: senior researchers with prior government experience (e.g., a former MITI CPTPP chief negotiator, a former Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary-General) plus four decades of accumulated research output and brand credibility in Malaysian and ASEAN policy circles.

ISIS Malaysia's revenue model relies on a mix of research grants and government funding, supplemented by event and publication-related revenue, with publications distributed free of charge via isis.org.my. Its primary customers are Malaysian government ministries and agencies — including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and the National Security Council — together with the diplomatic community, ASEAN institutions, regional think-tanks, and academic researchers. The pricing model is effectively subsidized; the institute's commercial value is captured through policy advisory outcomes and convening influence rather than transactional sales.

Name

Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia

Legal name

Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia

Website

https://isis.org.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ISIS Malaysia is a Kuala Lumpur-based non-profit think tank founded in 1983 that conducts independent policy research and Track Two diplomacy across foreign policy, security, economics, climate, and technology, serving Malaysian government ministries, ASEAN institutions, and the regional diplomatic community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Government Funding: Think-tank receives government support and research grants for policy research activities
2. Publication and Event Revenue: Revenue from hosting conferences, roundtables, and selling publications and reports

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ISIS Malaysia is a policy research think-tank that conducts independent research and analysis on foreign policy, security, economics, trade, climate, and social policy, and convenes policymakers and experts through publications, conferences (Asia-Pacific Roundtable, PRAXIS), and Track Two diplomacy networks. Its offerings are produced primarily for government ministries, the diplomatic community, and academic stakeholders.

Product overview

ISIS Malaysia operates as a policy research think-tank offering a portfolio of intellectual products centered on publications, events, and advisory services. Its core offerings include research publications (Policy Briefs, ISIS Focus, Books, Speeches), flagship conferences (Asia-Pacific Roundtable, PRAXIS forum), video content (We Think series), and policy research and analysis across topics including foreign policy, security studies, economics, and climate. The organization functions through Track Two diplomacy networks including ASEAN-ISIS, CSCAP, and PECC to facilitate dialogue and policy engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ISIS Malaysia Publications Portfolio of research publications including Policy Briefs, ISIS Focus, THOC Essays, Books, Speeches, Presentations, and Infographics covering foreign policy, security studies, economics, and regional affairs. Made available to government, diplomatic, academic, and general public audiences.
• Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) Annual flagship conference bringing together policymakers, diplomats, and experts to discuss strategic and security issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
• PRAXIS Forum Annual forum featuring policy-relevant discussions with national and international stakeholders.
• We Think Video Series Video content series featuring analysis and commentary on geopolitical developments, policy issues, and strategic affairs affecting Malaysia and the region.
• Policy Research and Analysis Strategic research and analysis services on foreign policy, security studies, economics, trade, climate, and regional integration for government and institutional stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hosts annual flagship events including Asia-Pacific Roundtable (38th/39th APR) and PRAXIS

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• SETA FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Collaborative partnership for the Kuala Lumpur-Ankara Dialogue 2026, gathering policy visionaries to discuss Ankara and Putrajaya's six-decade partnership and its impact on geopolitics and geoeconomics.
• ASEAN-Institutes of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISIS Malaysia is the Malaysian member of ASEAN-ISIS, a network of premier think-tanks from ASEAN member states engaged in Track Two diplomacy. The network provides a platform for policy dialogue and research collaboration on regional strategic issues.
• Council of Security and Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific (CSCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISIS Malaysia co-chairs the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, working on security cooperation and confidence-building measures across the Asia-Pacific region through Track Two dialogue.
• Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISIS Malaysia participates in PECC as part of its international economics and trade research engagement, contributing to regional economic cooperation analysis and policy dialogue.
• Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISIS Malaysia participates in NEAT, a network of East Asian think-tanks focused on regional cooperation and integration issues.
• Research Institute Network (RIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of research institutes facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing among policy research institutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• East-West Center: US-based education and research organisation focused on US-Asia-Pacific relations. Comparable in convening role across the Asia-Pacific region and policy research orientation toward Indo-Pacific issues.
• Brookings Institution: US-based large-scale public policy research organisation covering economics, foreign policy, and governance. Comparable as an incumbent policy research institution, though broader in mandate and substantially larger in scale.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global policy research network covering international affairs, economics, and security. Comparable as a senior-incumbent policy think tank with regional centres and Track Two convening capability.
• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank with deep convening power across governments and multilaterals. Comparable as an incumbent in policy research and Track 1.5/Track Two diplomacy, though with a global rather than ASEAN focus.
• The Wilson Center: US-based non-partisan policy research centre covering international affairs. Comparable as an established think tank engaging governments and scholars on global policy issues with a convening-led model.

Direct peers

• Lowy Institute: Australian independent think tank focused on international policy, particularly the Indo-Pacific. Closely comparable in regional security and economic policy research mandate and as a mid-sized policy institute.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): US-based bipartisan policy research organisation focused on international security, foreign policy, and economic policy. Comparable as a flagship strategic and international studies think tank with global convening power.
• ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute: Singapore-based regional research institute covering Southeast Asian politics, economics, and security. Closest direct peer in scale, mandate, and Track Two-style convening role for the ASEAN region.
• Habibie Center: Indonesia-based independent think tank focused on democracy, foreign policy, and regional issues. Comparable as a fellow ASEAN member-state think tank engaged in Track Two diplomacy and policy research.
• S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS): Singapore-based school of international studies focused on security, foreign policy, and regional affairs in Southeast Asia. Highly comparable given overlapping ASEAN strategic studies mandate and adjacent geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCS5htvqqY2sV6Hb2wGbQQEg
• Xx.com/ISIS_MY
• Facebookfacebook.com/isismalaysia.official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isis-malaysia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Strategic & International Studies Malaysia