Lowy Institute

What Lowy Institute does

The Lowy Institute for International Policy is an independent, non-partisan Australian think tank founded in 2003 and headquartered at 31 Bligh Street, Sydney, with 11-50 employees. It produces authoritative research, expert commentary, and a portfolio of interactive data tools focused on international affairs, with particular depth on the Indo-Pacific, China, the United States, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, global economics, aid flows, and the international order.

Its product portfolio centers on a set of proprietary interactive data platforms — the Asia Power Index, the annual Lowy Institute Poll, the Pacific Aid Map, the Southeast Asia Aid Map, the Global Diplomacy Index, and the Southeast Asia Influence Index — supplemented by research publications (analyses, policy briefs, Lowy Institute Papers), The Interpreter commentary platform, The Informer newsletter, podcasts (Conversations and Pacific Change Makers), video content, and public events including the annual Lowy Lecture. It operates dedicated research programs such as the Pacific Islands Program and the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network. Customer engagement is concentrated on government policymakers, foreign policy decision-makers, academics and researchers, and the general public and media, served through a multi-channel distribution approach spanning owned digital properties, social platforms, podcasts/video, and earned media in outlets such as the Australian Financial Review, Financial Times, and Foreign Affairs.

As a non-profit funded primarily through donations and philanthropic support (with potential project-specific grants), the Institute provides most of its research, commentary, and data tools to the public free of charge. Its GTM motion is community- and content-led: building authority through research output and then distributing via events, media commentary, and digital channels to influence policy and public debate rather than to sell discrete products.

Name

Lowy Institute

Legal name

Lowy Institute for International Policy

Website

https://lowyinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lowy Institute is an independent, non-partisan Australian think tank that produces authoritative research, interactive data tools (including the Asia Power Index, Pacific Aid Map, and Lowy Institute Poll), and expert commentary on international affairs for policymakers, academics, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

Keywords

• International affairs research
• Foreign policy analysis
• Policy think tank
• Geopolitics research
• Data visualization tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: The organization relies on donations and support from individuals and organizations to fund its research activities

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Lowy Institute is an independent Australian think tank that produces authoritative research, policy analysis, and expert commentary on international affairs, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Its offerings include research publications, interactive data visualization tools (Asia Power Index, Pacific Aid Map, etc.), The Interpreter commentary platform, podcasts, videos, and public events featuring world leaders and policy experts.

Product overview

Lowy Institute is an independent Australian think tank offering a portfolio of research products and interactive data tools. The core offering includes authoritative research publications and The Interpreter commentary platform, supplemented by a suite of interactive data visualization tools including the Asia Power Index, Lowy Institute Poll, Pacific Aid Map, Southeast Asia Aid Map, Global Diplomacy Index, and Southeast Asia Influence Index. Additional offerings include podcasts (Conversations and Pacific Change Makers), videos, events, and specialized program networks like the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network. The portfolio functions as an integrated research and analytics ecosystem rather than a single unified product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Asia Power Index

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Asia Society Policy Institute: Asia-focused policy research arm of the Asia Society producing analysis on US-Asia relations, Asia economy, and security. Comparable to Lowy on its Asia-Pacific policy focus, data tools, and convening model.
• Atlantic Council: US-based international affairs think tank with Asia, Indo-Pacific, and global economics programs. Comparable to Lowy as a non-partisan policy and convening organization producing data-driven analysis (e.g., indices) and rapid-response commentary.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Long-standing US international-affairs think tank with programs across Asia, the Middle East, and global governance. Comparable to Lowy as an independent, non-partisan policy research organization producing authoritative country-and-region analysis.
• Brookings Institution: One of the world's largest and most-cited policy think tanks with a broad research portfolio spanning international affairs, economics, and security. Directly comparable to Lowy as a general-purpose international-affairs think tank producing authoritative analysis, large-scale data products, and convening events.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): US-based bipartisan think tank focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and Asia-Pacific security. Closely comparable to Lowy given the nonresident fellow overlap (Thomas Wright is a CSIS Senior Associate) and shared focus on US-China competition and Indo-Pacific strategy.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global think tank producing strategic analysis including flagship indexes, databases, and the annual Military Balance. Comparable to Lowy's Asia Power Index and Global Diplomacy Index as a data-and-analysis-led strategic studies think tank.
• Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI): Australia's leading defense and strategic policy think tank, also based in Australia and focused heavily on the Indo-Pacific, China, critical technologies, and security. The closest direct competitor to Lowy for Australian policymakers, media, and Pacific policy attention.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based world-leading international affairs think tank publishing research and convening policymakers on geopolitics, security, and global governance. Comparable to Lowy as a non-partisan, internationally focused think tank with global convening power and a research-led model.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Large, established US policy research organization producing analysis across defense, international affairs, and social policy at much greater scale and budget. Comparable as a broader incumbent covering Lowy's international affairs and security research space with deeper government contracting.

Regional players

• Griffith Asia Institute: Australia-based academic institute focusing on Asia research and policy engagement, positioned within Griffith University. Comparable to Lowy as a domestically anchored Asia-focused policy research outfit, but operating primarily through an academic lens.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LowyInstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LowyInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lowy-institute-for-international-policy
• Instagraminstagram.com/lowyinstitute/?hl=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/LowyInstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lowy Institute