Instytut Spraw Publicznych

What Instytut Spraw Publicznych does

Instytut Spraw Publicznych (Institute of Public Affairs, ISP) is a Polish non-profit foundation and independent policy research think tank established in 1995 in Warsaw, Poland. It conducts evidence-based research, policy analysis, and recommendations across European affairs, social policy, democracy and civil society, migration, gender equality, and constitutionalism. ISP delivers its outputs through research publications and policy reports, expert seminars and conferences, podcasts (Studio S5, Inspirator Wyborczy), and direct engagement with Polish and international media. Its core programs include the Democracy and Civil Society Programme, Social Policy Programme, European Programme, the Gender Equality Observatory (established 2012), and the reactivated Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture (2023). ISP is governed by a Foundation Board chaired by Prof. Mirosław Wyrzykowski, with an Executive Board led by President dr Jacek Kucharczyk.

The organization's target beneficiaries are Polish and European policymakers (Members of Parliament, government officials), the academic community, journalists and media professionals, and civil society activists and organizations. ISP does not produce commercial software or technology products and has no proprietary technology platform; its core technology is its research methodology, publication archive, and convening capacity. The business model is grant-based: ISP operates as a non-profit foundation funded through project grants from international organizations and foundations (including National Democratic Institute, Norwegian Funds, Civitates Fund, Stefan Batory Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation), institutional partnerships, and project-based financing. Publications and resources are provided free of charge to all stakeholders. The organization maintains an in-house team of researchers and analysts plus an extensive network of associate experts from Polish academia.

Name

Instytut Spraw Publicznych

Legal name

Fundacja Instytut Spraw Publicznych

Website

https://isp.org.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Instytut Spraw Publicznych is a Warsaw-based independent Polish think tank founded in 1995 that conducts evidence-based policy research on democracy, European affairs, social policy, migration, gender equality, and constitutionalism, serving policymakers, academics, journalists, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Human Rights Organizations (813311), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights Monitoring, Documentation & Advocacy (BPADAGAK), Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank services
• Public policy analysis
• Democratic governance
• Electoral monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Warszawa

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant funding and project-based financing: ISP operates as a non-profit foundation and think tank, funded through project grants, institutional partnerships, and support from international organizations and foundations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Instytut Spraw Publicznych is an independent, non-partisan Polish think tank that produces evidence-based policy research, analytical publications, and policy recommendations on democracy and civil society, European affairs, social policy, migration, gender equality, and constitutionalism. Its core deliverables are research reports and policy papers disseminated to policymakers, academics, journalists, and civil society; expert seminars, conferences, and workshops; and thematic programs such as the Gender Equality Observatory and the Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture. All outputs are made available free of charge and funded through project grants from foundations and international partners.

Product overview

Instytut Spraw Publicznych (Institute of Public Affairs, ISP) is a leading Polish think tank established in 1995, functioning as an independent policy research and analysis organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of research publications and policy reports covering European policy, social policy, democracy and civil society, migration, gender equality, and constitutionalism; expert seminars and conferences; the Studio S5 podcast series; and specialized programs such as the Gender Equality Observatory (GEO) and Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture (CCLC). These offerings are analytical and educational in nature, disseminated to parliamentarians, government officials, academics, journalists, and civil society activists, rather than being software products with technical integrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gender Equality Observatory (GEO): A monitoring body created in 2012 inside ISP that analyses, promotes and mainstreams gender equality issues in Polish public sphere.
• Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture (CCLC)
• Inspirator Wyborczy
• Studio S5

Products and services

• Research Publications and Policy Reports
• Studio S5 Podcast
• Inspirator Wyborczy Podcast A podcast series focused on civic education around elections, helping citizens understand electoral processes, political actors, and how to monitor elections. Targeted at citizens, civil society activists, and journalists.
• Expert Seminars and Conferences Expert seminars, conferences, round tables, and workshops bringing together policymakers, academics, journalists, and civil society activists to discuss key Polish and European policy issues. ISP hosts dozens of such events annually.
• Gender Equality Observatory (GEO) A monitoring body that analyses, promotes, and mainstreams gender equality issues in the Polish public sphere, following governmental policy on balanced participation of women and men in political and public life. Targeted at policymakers, civil society, and gender equality advocates.
• Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture (CCLC) A centre supporting the institute in raising the quality of public debate in Poland and inspiring legal and institutional changes, focused on rule-of-law issues and rebuilding democratic institutions. Targeted at legal scholars, civil society, and policymakers.

Named customers1 record

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

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

• National Democratic Institute (NDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP collaborates with NDI on youth research projects, including studies on democratic attitudes and civic participation among young Poles aged 16-29. Joint research published on post-2019 electoral participation and youth political engagement.
• Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego (Stefan Batory Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership in electoral monitoring. Conducted Poland's first campaign finance monitoring during 2005 presidential elections. Collaboration on election observation and political finance transparency.
• Fundacja im. Friedricha Eberta (Friedrich Ebert Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing cooperation with Jan Czarzasty as project consultant. Collaboration on labor relations, social dialogue, and working conditions research in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Fundacja Odpowiedzialna Polityka (Responsible Politics Foundation)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed development of 'Równe i powszechne v. 2.0' social proposals for electoral law changes. Zofia Lutkiewicz from the foundation led the expert team working on electoral reform recommendations.
• Stowarzyszenie 61 (Association 61)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing electoral law reform proposals. Elżbieta Morawska from Stowarzyszenie 61 contributed to the 'Równe i powszechne v. 2.0' document on electoral law changes.
• Fundacja Edukacji Polonijnej (Polish Education Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISP expert Dr Sonia Horonziak served as Acting President until 2018, supporting Polish education among emigrant communities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych (PISM / Polish Institute of International Affairs): State-affiliated Polish think tank producing policy analysis on international affairs, EU policy, and security. Direct peer in Polish policy research space with overlapping European Programme focus.
• Fundacja demosEuropa: Polish pro-European think tank focused on European integration, democracy, and rule of law. Direct peer in the Polish think-tank ecosystem addressing European affairs and democratic governance themes highly similar to ISP's mission.
• Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich (OSW / Centre for Eastern Studies): Leading Polish think tank focused on Eastern European policy, security, and international affairs. Direct peer in the Polish think-tank ecosystem covering European policy and democratic governance themes overlapping with ISP's European Programme.
• Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) Poland: German political foundation active in Poland funding social democracy research and labour-relations policy. Direct peer and active partner of ISP, collaborating on labor relations, social dialogue, and working conditions research in Central and Eastern Europe.
• Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego (Stefan Batory Foundation): One of Poland's largest independent foundations funding democratic civic engagement and rule-of-law initiatives. Direct peer as a domestic Polish non-profit partner of ISP on electoral monitoring and political finance transparency since the 2005 presidential elections.
• Fundacja Centrum Analiz Społeczno-Ekonomicznych (CASE): Polish-affiliated economic and social policy research think tank with European footprint. Direct peer in Polish policy research covering economic and social policy domains overlapping with ISP's Social Policy Programme.

Broad incumbents

• European Policy Centre (EPC): Brussels-based think tank covering EU integration, social policy, and democratic governance. Broad incumbent with comparable policy-research methodology and overlapping themes in European affairs and social policy analysis.
• CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies): Leading EU-level think tank producing European policy research across governance, economic, and social domains. Broad incumbent in European policy research space with comparable social-science R&D approach and overlapping European affairs focus.
• Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) Poland: German political foundation with Polish operations funding centre-right policy research and civic education. Broad incumbent — German political foundation model parallel to Friedrich Ebert Foundation with active Polish programming in democratic governance.

Emerging players

• Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR): Polish human rights organization providing legal aid, monitoring, and advocacy. Emerging player in the Polish civic-society ecosystem with overlapping rule-of-law, human rights, and constitutionalism themes directly relevant to ISP's CCLC programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ISPThinkTank
• Facebookfacebook.com/InstytutSprawPublicznychISP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instytut-spraw-publicznych

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Instytut Spraw Publicznych