Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)

What Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) does

IEEP is an independent, Brussels-based non-profit think tank (legally structured as an AISBL under Belgian law) founded in 1976 by the European Cultural Foundation, specialising exclusively in European environmental policy. It delivers evidence-based research, comparative policy analysis, and multi-stakeholder convening across five core research programmes — Climate and Circular Economy, Biodiversity and Ecosystems, CAP and Food, Land Use and Climate, and Global Challenges and SDGs — and operates a portfolio of initiatives including Think2030, the European Green Deal Barometer, Science4Policy briefings, the Carbon Farming Projects Inventory, the EU Wellbeing Economy Coalition, the Green Trade Network, and the European Sustainable Agriculture Dialogue. Its primary audiences are the European Commission, European Parliament, Council, and EU agencies, with secondary engagement of Member State governments, academia, and civil society organisations.

The underlying "technology" is a multidisciplinary research and convening stack rather than a software platform: a team of economists, scientists, and lawyers produces policy reports, briefings, comparative analyses, and annual surveys (notably the European Green Deal Barometer, surveying 600+ experts in partnership with GlobeScan and subsequently Savanta). Distribution is through direct policymaker engagement, the IEEP website, publications, webinars, an annual Think2030 conference aligned with the rotating EU Council Presidency, and owned channels on LinkedIn, YouTube, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Podcasts.

IEEP generates revenue via research contracts, policy consulting, and project-based grants from EU institutions (notably the LIFE Programme of the European Union), Member State governments, international organisations, and member organisations. It does not sell commercial products or services and does not disclose pricing or financials; it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity, operating as an independent non-profit with 11-50 staff headquartered at Norrsken House Brussels, 72 Rue du Commerce, 1040 Bruxelles.

Name

Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)

Legal name

Institute for European Environmental Policy AISBL

Website

https://ieep.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IEEP is an independent Brussels-based non-profit think tank (AISBL), founded in 1976, that produces evidence-based research and convenes stakeholders on European environmental policy, serving the European Commission, Parliament, Council, Member States, academia, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Research and Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental policy research
• Climate policy analysis
• Sustainability consulting
• Biodiversity research
• Circular economy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts and Consulting: IEEP generates revenue through research contracts, policy consulting, and commissioned studies for EU institutions, governments, international organisations, and civil society organisations. The organization's work is produced with financial support of the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IEEP produces evidence-based policy analysis, research, and consulting on European environmental policy across climate, circular economy, biodiversity, agriculture, land use, and trade. The organization delivers research programmes, policy briefs, expert surveys, multi-stakeholder convening platforms, and sectoral dialogues tailored to EU institutions, Member State governments, academia, and civil society organizations.

Product overview

IEEP is a Brussels-based think tank specializing in environmental policy and sustainability research, not a traditional software technology company. IEEP offers a portfolio of research programmes, publications, and initiatives that work together to provide evidence-based policy recommendations. The core research programmes (Climate and Circular Economy, Biodiversity and Ecosystems, CAP and Food, Land Use and Climate, and Global Challenges and SDGs) form the foundation of expertise, complemented by initiatives such as Think2030 (policy dialogue platform), the European Green Deal Barometer (annual expert survey), Carbon Farming Projects Inventory (database), Science4Policy briefings (translational outputs), and various networks including the EU Wellbeing Economy Coalition, Green Trade Network, and European Sustainable Agriculture Dialogue. The products are interconnected research and convening offerings rather than a technology platform, unified by IEEP's mission to advance impact-driven sustainability policy across the EU.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Think2030: Multi-stakeholder forum providing science-based policy recommendations for a more sustainable Europe, coordinated by IEEP.
• European Green Deal Barometer
• Think Sustainable Europe
• Green Trade Network
• European Sustainable Agriculture Dialogue
• EU Wellbeing Economy Coalition
• Carbon Farming Projects Inventory
• Science4Policy briefings

Products and services

• Climate and Circular Economy Programme Research programme focused on climate policy, circular economy transitions, and sustainable resource management in the EU, for policymakers, researchers, and civil society stakeholders.
• Biodiversity and Ecosystems Programme Research programme addressing biodiversity protection, ecosystem services, and nature restoration policies in the EU, for EU institutions and conservation stakeholders.
• CAP and Food Programme Research programme focused on the Common Agricultural Policy, sustainable food systems, and agricultural environmental measures, for EU institutions, ministries, and agri-environmental stakeholders.
• Land Use and Climate Programme Research programme examining land use policies, climate mitigation in land sectors, and carbon sequestration, for EU institutions and Member State governments.
• Global Challenges and SDGs Programme Research programme addressing EU contribution to global challenges and Sustainable Development Goals implementation, for EU institutions, Member State governments, and international organisations.
• European Green Deal Barometer Annual expert survey and publication assessing the progress and resilience of European Green Deal implementation, surveying 600+ sustainability experts, for EU policymakers, media, and stakeholders.
• Think2030 Multi-stakeholder forum coordinated by IEEP providing science-based policy recommendations for a more sustainable Europe, convened with EU institutions, civil society, and partner think tanks.
• Science4Policy Briefings Science-based policy briefing series translating research findings into actionable policy recommendations for EU decision-makers.
• Carbon Farming Projects Inventory Database/research tool providing an overview of efforts to facilitate the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the EU, for policymakers and researchers.
• Green Trade Network Network coordinated by IEEP focused on sustainable trade policies and the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability in the EU.
• European Sustainable Agriculture Dialogue Dialogue platform for discussing sustainable agriculture policies among EU stakeholders, convened by IEEP with partners.
• EU Wellbeing Economy Coalition Coalition coordinated by IEEP promoting wellbeing economy principles and integrating sustainability into economic policymaking across the EU.
• Think Sustainable Europe Network IEEP-coordinated network of European think tanks providing a collaborative platform for sharing research and coordinating policy positions on environmental sustainability across the EU.
• IEEP Publications Portfolio of policy reports, briefings, and research publications covering all areas of environmental policy, distributed to EU policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• European Green Deal Barometer conducted annually since 2021, surveying 600+ sustainability experts on EGD implementation progress
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• Think Sustainable EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink Sustainable Europe is IEEP's network of European think tanks, providing a collaborative platform for sharing research and coordinating policy positions on environmental sustainability across the EU.
• Think2030 PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink2030 is a multi-stakeholder forum that provides science-based policy recommendations for a more sustainable Europe. IEEP coordinates this initiative with partner organisations across Europe.
• GlobeScancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobeScan collaborated with IEEP on the first European Green Deal Barometer edition (2021), providing survey expertise and methodology for the annual expert consultation.
• SavantamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSavanta collaborated with IEEP on the fourth and subsequent editions of the European Green Deal Barometer, providing survey creation and analysis capabilities.
• Jacques Delors CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with IEEP on the 2024 EU Elections and beyond webinar, presenting citizen survey results on climate preferences.
• E3GmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with IEEP on the 2024 EU Elections and beyond webinar, presenting analysis of European party manifestos on climate action.
• CAN EuropemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with IEEP on the 2024 EU Elections and beyond webinar, presenting the EU Parliament Scoreboard tool.
• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeinrich-Böll-Stiftung supported IEEP's European Green Deal Barometer work and hosted related publications.
• European institutions and civil societymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEEP maintains working relationships with European institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council), civil society organisations, industry, and non-profit sectors for policy research and dialogue.
• Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 2026 Think2030 conference was held under the Cyprus Presidency, which placed strong emphasis on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, water management, and reinforcing Europe's global standing.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• RFF (Resources for the Future): RFF is a US-based independent research institution focused on environmental, energy, and natural resource economics. It is comparable in mission and methodology (evidence-based environmental economics and policy research) but operates in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Stockholm Environment Institute: SEI is an independent policy research institute working on environment and development. It is a direct peer in applied environmental research, policy briefs, and international convening, though with a broader geographic footprint than IEEP.
• E3G: E3G is a Brussels-based environmental think tank focused on climate and energy policy. It is a direct peer to IEEP: similar Brussels footprint, similar convening model across EU institutions, civil society and industry, and a co-partner on IEEP's 2024 EU Elections webinar.
• Germanwatch: Germanwatch is a Berlin-based environmental and development policy think tank focused on climate, trade, and corporate accountability. It is a direct peer in mission and EU-policy engagement model.
• IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development): IISD is a Canadian research and policy institute working on sustainable development, including EU trade and agriculture policy. It is a direct peer in evidence-based environmental policy research and convening, with comparable programme structures.
• IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations): IDDRI is a French think tank working on sustainable development policy with strong EU engagement. It is a direct peer in mission, methodology, and policy-research-and-convening model, although it operates primarily from Paris.
• Wuppertal Institute: Wuppertal Institute is a German research institute focused on sustainability, climate, and resource policy. It is a direct peer in mission and product mix — applied environmental and economic research, policy briefs, and convening — though national rather than Brussels-based.
• CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies): CEPS is one of Brussels's leading think tanks producing policy analysis for EU decision-makers. It is a direct peer in scale, business model (research contracts, convening, publications), and customer base (European Commission, Parliament, Council).

Broad incumbents

• Bruegel: Bruegel is a Brussels-based economic policy think tank. It is a broad incumbent peer: similar scale and customer base (EU institutions, governments), broader economic remit, but operates the same commissioned-research-plus-convening model that IEEP uses for environmental policy.
• ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations): ECFR is a pan-European think tank producing analysis for EU and member-state policymakers. It is a broad incumbent peer in scale, pan-European footprint, and the research-and-convening model, though its focus is foreign policy rather than environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IEEP-EU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-european-environmental-policy
• Xx.com/IEEP_eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP)