Science for Democracy

What Science for Democracy does

Science for Democracy (SfD) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 2018 in Brussels and promoted by the Italian Associazione Luca Coscioni, dedicated exclusively to promoting the human right to science as codified in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its mission is to embed scientific evidence and the right-to-science framework within UN, EU, and national policy processes, and to defend freedom of scientific research, open science, and access to the benefits of scientific progress.

SfD operates a portfolio of advocacy services, campaigns, research tools, and educational programs rather than a software product. Core offerings include S.O.S. Science (case-based advocacy routing individuals to UN and regional human rights bodies), Shadow/Parallel Reports submitted to UN treaty bodies such as CESCR, the Research and Self-Determination Index (RSDI) as a comparative international ranking, the recurring World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research (six editions to date), and a slate of advocacy campaigns including Give CRISPR a Chance, Grow Scientific Progress (ECI), StopGlobalWarming.eu, EU CAN DO IT, the Coronavirus Never Again Appeal, and the Appeal for the Human Rights to Science. Educational programs include Exacta-mente Mujeres (STEM gender inclusion) and the P-Cube "Playing Public Policy" project with European universities.

As a non-profit, SfD is funded through donations, member contributions, and grants, and does not sell products or services. It serves UN member states, treaty bodies, EU institutions, the African Union, academic and scientific communities, NGOs, and individual citizens. Its go-to-market is mission-driven: it engages policymakers through side-events at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, amplifies campaigns via its website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube), and co-organizes convenings with partners including the African Union, AAAS, UNESCO, ISAAA AfriCenter, MAPS, ICEERS, Eumans, and the Loyola Law School International Human Rights Clinic.

Name

Science for Democracy

Legal name

Science for Democracy

Website

https://sciencefordemocracy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Science for Democracy is a Brussels-based international NGO founded in 2018 that exclusively promotes the human right to science through UN and EU advocacy, shadow reports, citizens' initiatives, and educational programs targeting governments, treaty bodies, and global scientific and civil society stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Political Organizations (813940)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education, Research & Academic Congresses (THAHAJAD), Popular Science, Technology & Nature Trade Publishing (MPAJAAAJ)

Keywords

• Human rights advocacy
• Right to science
• Policy advocacy
• UN treaty body reporting
• Civic engagement campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Science for Democracy is an international non-governmental organization that advocates for the human right to science through policy engagement, UN treaty body shadow reporting, and public campaigns. It offers advocacy services (S.O.S. Science, Shadow Reports), educational programs (Exacta-mente Mujeres, P-Cube), research tools (Research and Self-Determination Index), and European Citizens' Initiatives focused on scientific freedom and evidence-based policymaking.

Product overview

Science for Democracy is an international non-governmental organization that does not offer a traditional product or software platform. Instead, it provides a portfolio of advocacy services, campaigns, and educational programs focused on promoting the human right to science. Key offerings include: S.O.S. Science (human rights advocacy for scientists), Shadow Reports (UN treaty body submissions), the Research and Self-Determination Index (RSDI) measurement tool, European Citizens' Initiatives (EU CAN DO IT, StopGlobalWarming.eu, Grow Scientific Progress), educational programs (Exacta-mente Mujeres, P-Cube), publications (Freedom of Scientific Research book, Book of Abstracts), and various advocacy campaigns including Give CRISPR a Chance, Coronavirus Never Again, and the Appeal for Human Rights to Science. The organization also contributes to policy development through contributions to UNESCO Open Science guidelines and EU Parliament petitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S.O.S. Science A service that assists individuals who believe their right to benefit from progress in science and technology has been violated, connecting them with appropriate UN or regional human rights bodies for advocacy and potential litigation.
• Shadow Reports (Parallel Reports) Civil society reports that supplement official State Reports to UN human rights bodies, highlighting issues governments may have omitted or downplayed regarding the Right to Science.
• Research and Self-Determination Index (RSDI) A tool to measure the freedom of scientists and citizens to make decisions affecting their activities and lives, resulting in an international ranking that evaluates how domestic legislations recognize and support these rights.
• P-Cube - Playing Public Policy A collaborative project with European universities involving members in public policy exercises and simulations.
• Exacta-mente Mujeres A STEM education initiative helping adolescents overcome gender stereotypes about science and work, featuring women professionals from various STEM fields.
• Grow Scientific Progress European Citizens' Initiative European Citizens' Initiative advocating for clarified EU rules regarding new breeding techniques such as CRISPR, opposing their classification as GMOs.
• StopGlobalWarming.eu European Citizens' Initiative European Citizens' Initiative advocating for carbon pricing policies to fight climate change, supporting a price on CO2 emissions.
• Coronavirus Never Again Appeal Appeal to governments for a global system of quick responses to pandemics while respecting the right to science.
• Appeal for the Human Rights to Science Call for governments to respect international obligations concerning the right to science and promote debates within the UN system.
• Give CRISPR a Chance Campaign advocating for evidence-based rules around new breeding techniques like CRISPR in agriculture, including public events and educational snacks with gene-edited rice.
• EU CAN DO IT Petition Petition submitted to the European Parliament for a common European response to the COVID-19 social, economic, and health crisis.
• The Freedom of Scientific Research Open Access Book An open access multidisciplinary publication addressing the scope and limits of scientific freedom, including chapters on freedom of science, regulation needs, and ethical boundaries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully advocated for the adoption of UN General Comment No. 25 on Science in April 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• African UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2020Co-organized the VI World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research with African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. African Union co-sponsored the event and provided support for parliamentarian network on right to science.
• Associazione Luca CoscionicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization from which Science for Democracy was established in 2018. ALC members founded SfD following the 5th World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research. Ongoing close collaboration on advocacy, shadow reports, and campaigns.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized side-event on 'Science for Inclusion' at the UN in partnership with AAAS. Jessica Windham from AAAS participated as speaker in World Science Day webinar.
• Loyola Law School Los Angeles - International Human Rights CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on preparation and submission of shadow reports to UN treaty bodies, including joint reports on Italy's implementation of ICESCR.
• UNESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Open Science through participation in global consultations on UNESCO's international guidelines on Open Science. Angela Melo, UNESCO Director of Policies and Programmes, participated in World Congress.
• African Union Commission for Human Resources, Science and Technology (AU-HRST)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Massive Open Online Course (MOOCs) on Communicating Science in Africa. Co-sponsored the VI World Congress.
• International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on MOOCs on Communicating Science in Africa. Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCenter, participated as speaker in SfD events.
• Universitat Autonoma de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on P-Cube - Playing Public Policy project with multiple European universities.
• Technische Universitat DelftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on P-Cube - Playing Public Policy project with multiple European universities.
• Politecnico di MilanominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on P-Cube - Playing Public Policy project with multiple European universities.
• Universite du LuxembourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on P-Cube - Playing Public Policy project with multiple European universities.
• ALDA - Association des agences de la democracie localminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on P-Cube - Playing Public Policy project.
• EumansmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint collaboration on EU CAN DO IT petition to European Parliament on COVID-19 response. Co-submitted petition with over 8,000 citizen supporters.
• MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized UN side-events at Commission on Narcotic Drugs on science and controlled substances.
• ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized UN side-events at Commission on Narcotic Drugs on drug policy and human rights.
• Stop the Drug WarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized UN side-events at Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Associazione Luca Coscioni: Italian nonprofit that founded and continues to promote Science for Democracy. Directly comparable mission around freedom of scientific research, evidence-based drug policy, and end-of-life rights, and is the parent ecosystem in which SfD operates.

Broad incumbents

• Human Rights Watch: Global human rights organization producing shadow reporting and international advocacy outputs. Directly comparable on the UN treaty body mechanism and parallel reporting methodology SfD uses, though HRW's mandate and resources are far larger.
• Amnesty International: Large incumbent human rights organization that submits shadow reports to UN treaty bodies and runs global advocacy campaigns. Comparable on civil society advocacy methodology, treaty body engagement, and EU/UN convening power, though far broader in scope.
• International Science Council (ISC): Global umbrella organization convening scientific bodies and promoting science as a global public good. Highly comparable mandate around freedom and responsibility in science and is a natural counterparty on international science policy advocacy.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): Large incumbent scientific organization with active human rights and science policy programs, including a Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law program. Directly comparable on Science for Inclusion and human-rights-and-science intersection, though AAAS operates at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Eumans: Pan-European citizens' movement supporting European Citizens' Initiatives and citizen-led policy campaigns. Closely comparable on EU-level citizen engagement methodology, including the joint EU CAN DO IT petition to the European Parliament.
• Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs: International organization focused on science policy, ethical dimensions of scientific research, and the social responsibility of scientists. Directly comparable mission around freedom of scientific research and using science to serve humanity.
• Committee on Freedom and Responsibility of Scientists (CFRS / ISC): Standing committee under the International Science Council focused on defending scientific freedom and human rights of scientists worldwide. Directly comparable mandate on freedom of scientific research and scientists' rights advocacy.
• ARTICLE 19: International organization defending freedom of expression and information, including the right to access scientific information. Closely comparable on the science-and-rights intersection and on UN treaty body engagement.

Emerging players

• MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies): Research and advocacy organization promoting psychedelic science and evidence-based drug policy. Directly comparable on UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs side-event advocacy and controlled substances reform based on scientific evidence.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScFrD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbRd60vzFc95Nawmp3SH0KQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/science4dem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-for-democracy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Science for Democracy