Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych

What Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych does

Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych (PISM), the Polish Institute of International Affairs, is a non-governmental, non-profit research institute headquartered in Warsaw, Poland. Established by the Act of 20 December 1996, PISM operates under a statutorily defined mandate to provide expert analysis and policy advice on international affairs to all branches of the Polish government, while contributing to public debate on European and global foreign policy issues. The institute serves three primary customer segments: Polish government ministries and diplomatic institutions (its principal advisory clients), academic and educational institutions, and professionals working in international cooperation roles at companies, NGOs, and governmental agencies. Its current director is Jarosław Ćwiek-Karpowicz, who succeeded former director Sławomir Dębski.

PISM's core products are analytical publications — including reports, policy papers, bulletins, commentaries, and the annual Rocznik Polskiej Polityki Zagranicznej (Yearbook of Polish Foreign Policy) — covering topics such as Baltic Sea security, Russian sanctions and shadow fleet activity, EU defense policy, transatlantic relations, and African geopolitics (e.g., the Lobito Corridor). Beyond publications, the institute generates audio content via the Depesza PISM podcast series and convenes conferences and seminars on international security and diplomatic issues. It also operates a professional training arm, anchored by the Studium Polityki Zagranicznej (Foreign Policy Studies program) and the Warsztaty Współpracy Międzynarodowej (International Cooperation Workshops), a 64-hour program priced at 2,900 PLN with discounts for program alumni. Physical and digital distribution of PISM's publications is handled via its website (pism.pl) and an e-bookshop (eksiegarnia.pism.pl), with direct enrollment handled by named staff contacts.

PISM's business model is predominantly institutional rather than commercial: it is established by legislation, has no parent company or private shareholders, and does not publicly disclose revenue figures. Earned commercial income appears limited to training workshop fees (2,900 PLN per participant), bookshop sales, and any supplementary project-based funding — with no disclosed funding rounds or investor base. The institute employs 51-100 staff across its Warsaw headquarters and operates within a single domestic geography (Poland), though its analytical scope and podcast reach are international.

Name

Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych

Legal name

Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych

Website

https://pism.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych (PISM) is a Warsaw-based, non-profit Polish think tank founded in 1996 by statute, providing research, policy analysis, and training on international affairs to Polish government, diplomatic, academic, and professional audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foreign Policy Research and Analysis

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

Keywords

• Foreign policy research
• International relations analysis
• Diplomatic training programs
• Policy paper publications
• Security studies research

Headquarters

HQ city

Warszawa

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PISM is a Polish think tank that produces analytical publications (reports, policy papers, bulletins, commentaries, yearbooks) on international affairs and Polish foreign policy, and offers professional training programs including Studium Polityki Zagranicznej (Foreign Policy Studies) and Warsztaty Współpracy Międzynarodowej (International Cooperation Workshops). It advises the Polish government and contributes to debates on European security, transatlantic relations, and Eastern Europe.

Product overview

Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych (PISM) is a Polish think tank offering analytical publications (reports, policy papers, bulletins, commentaries, yearbooks), professional training programs (diplomatic protocol, negotiations, cross-cultural communication), podcasts, and conferences focused on international relations and foreign policy analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publikacje (Publications)
• Szkolenia (Training Programs)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global think tank on security and strategic studies, with strong European security focus overlapping PISM's Baltic/Eastern Europe coverage, but with global operations and military-strategic specialization.
• Chatham House: Leading UK-based international affairs think tank—overlaps with PISM in international affairs research and policy analysis, but operates globally with a much larger footprint and broader mandate.
• Carnegie Europe: Brussels-based arm of Carnegie Endowment covering European foreign and security policy—directly comparable subject matter but part of a much larger global network with greater resources.

Direct peers

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European think tank producing policy analysis and commentary on EU foreign policy—directly comparable in mission and competes with PISM for visibility in EU policy debates.
• DGAP (German Council on Foreign Relations): Independent German foreign policy think tank combining research, training, and events on international affairs—comparable in product mix (publications, conferences, training programs) to PISM.
• Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI): Swedish think tank producing analysis on foreign policy and international security, with publications and events—directly comparable in mission and Nordic/Baltic-adjacent regional focus to PISM.
• Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA): Finnish parliamentary-linked think tank producing research on international relations and EU/security policy—directly comparable in mandate, scale, and government-advisory function to PISM.
• OSW (Centre for Eastern Studies): Polish government-funded think tank analyzing the post-Soviet area and key European issues—closest Polish peer to PISM, operating in Warsaw with overlapping regional expertise and similar institutional model.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): German Institute for International and Security Affairs—the closest structural peer to PISM as a state-funded European policy research institute advising government on international affairs and security.
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI): Norwegian research institute focused on international relations and foreign policy—comparable in scope (publications, research, training) and European security focus to PISM.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PISM_Poland
• Facebookfacebook.com/PISMPoland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polish-institute-of-international-affairs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych