ISPI

What ISPI does

ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale), founded in 1933 in Milan, is an Italian nonprofit think tank and policy research institution registered as an Ente del Terzo Settore (ETS). It operates a unified portfolio of geopolitical and geoeconomic research organised into regional observatories (Africa, Asia, MENA, Russia/Caucasus, Latin America, Europe) and thematic programmes (Geoeconomics, Infrastructure, Energy, Digitalization/AI/Cybersecurity, Global Cities, Security, Migration, Transatlantic Relations). Research output is delivered through 2,000+ annual publications, a fortnightly Global Watch newsletter, multiple podcast series, video content, and 100+ events per year, supported by 80+ analysts. Its primary customers are three institutional segments: Italian and European government bodies (the Italian Parliament and Ministry of Foreign Affairs receive dedicated quarterly MENA reports), businesses through the Corporate Programme (90+ member companies paying annual fees for exclusive briefings, scenario conferences, and invitation-only events), and students/professionals via ISPI School, which offers Master's, Executive Master's (including in Energy Geopolitics, EU Project Management and Lobbying, and AI Geopolitics), professional training, and Smart Learning online courses.

ISPI does not develop proprietary technology products; its core 'platform' is its analyst network, research library, and event infrastructure, anchored at Palazzo Clerici in Milan. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring corporate membership fees, tuition from educational programs, event participation fees (including the flagship MED Dialogues and NEXT conferences), and publications/research services. Co-promotion and knowledge partnerships with Intesa Sanpaolo (Geoeconomics Observatory), Sace (country risk), McKinsey & Company (Infrastructure Programme), EuroMilano and NEAR (Global Cities), and institutional roles within Think20 (T20)/G20 and Think7 (T7)/G7 policy processes provide both funding support and distribution leverage. Pricing is not publicly disclosed across any stream, with corporate memberships, tuition, and event fees all quoted on a contact basis.

Name

ISPI

Legal name

Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale

Website

https://ispionline.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISPI is a Milan-based nonprofit Italian think tank (founded 1933) producing geopolitical and geoeconomic research, publications, executive education, and convening events for governments, 90+ corporate members, and students/diplomats worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research & Think Tank Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Competitive Intelligence & Benchmarking (BPAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Warning, Conflict Analysis & Prevention Programs (BPADAFAK), Infrastructure & Project Finance Advisory (BPAHADAO), Investments & Capital Markets (Trading, Portfolio, Derivatives) (EDABAJAI)

Keywords

• Geopolitical research services
• International relations think tank
• Policy analysis publications
• Executive education programs
• Geoeconomic scenario forecasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Fees: ISPI operates a Corporate Programme with 90+ member companies (soci) who pay membership fees to access exclusive briefings, scenario conferences, invitation-only lectures, and participation in ISPI events and research activities.
2. Educational Programs and Training: ISPI generates revenue through tuition fees for its ISPI School programs, including Master's degrees, Executive Masters (Geopolitics of Energy, EU Project Management and Lobbying, AI Geopolitics), professional training courses, and online learning (Smart Learning, Diplomas, Certificates).
3. Event Participation Fees: Revenue from participation fees for events including MED Dialogues (annual international conference), NEXT (young leaders program), scenario conferences, workshops, and briefings.
4. Publications and Research Services: ISPI produces and distributes publications (reports, policy papers, commentaries, infographics, podcasts, videos) serving institutions, businesses, and the general public. Some specialized publications may be distributed for a fee or as part of subscriptions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale) is a Milan-based think tank that conducts geopolitical and geoeconomic research through specialized observatories covering Europe, MENA, Russia, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and thematic areas such as geoeconomics, infrastructure, energy, digitalization/AI, security, and migrations. It sells research outputs (Global Watch newsletter, Dossiers, Reports, Commentaries), organizes flagship events (MED Dialogues, NEXT, scenario conferences), runs corporate briefings under its Corporate Programme, and delivers Master's degrees, Executive Master's, and professional training through ISPI School.

Product overview

ISPI (Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale) is a premier Italian think tank offering a unified portfolio of research, publications, education, and events focused on international affairs and geopolitics. The core offering comprises regional and thematic research programs (Observatories/Programmes) covering Africa, Asia, Europe, Americas, Middle East, and specialized topics like Geoeconomics, Infrastructure, Energy, Digitalization/AI, and Security. This research underpins publications (Global Watch, Dossiers, Reports) and multimedia content (podcasts, video series). ISPI School provides master programs and professional training, while MED (Mediterranean Dialogues) and NEXT (Future Leaders) are flagship event programs. The Corporate Programme offers exclusive services to member businesses. The organization has 80+ analysts producing 2,000+ publications annually and organizes 100+ events per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Programs and Observatories Geopolitical and geoeconomic research portfolio organized into regional observatories (Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, MENA, Russia/Caucasus) and thematic programs (Geoeconomics, Infrastructure, Energy, Digitalization/AI, Global Cities, Security, Migrations, Transatlantic Relations).
• Publications and Analysis (Global Watch, Dossiers, Reports) Subscription and on-demand publications providing synthetic analyses and timely commentary on global economic and political scenarios, including the fortnightly Global Watch newsletter, Dossiers, Reports, Commentaries, Infographics, and Daily Focus analyses.
• ISPI School Master Programs Post-graduate and executive master's programs in international relations, diplomacy, energy geopolitics, EU project management and lobbying, and AI geopolitics, delivered in-person at Palazzo Clerici Milan and via web-live streaming.
• ISPI School Professional Training Short professional development courses covering humanitarian actions, EU competition preparation, and customized corporate training in geopolitics, international relations, and specialized topics for businesses and institutions.
• MED - Mediterranean Dialogues Annual flagship international conference held in Rome convening heads of state, ministers, experts, and decision-makers to discuss Mediterranean and global geopolitical challenges.
• NEXT - Future Leaders Program Annual program empowering young leaders under 35 from around the world through a conference format addressing geopolitics, AI, and the future of work, providing training and networking with global leaders.
• ISPI for Business (Corporate Programme) Corporate membership program offering exclusive briefings, scenario conferences, invitation-only lectures, lunch talks, Future Leaders Program access, and tailored research for over 90 member companies.
• Events and Scenario Conferences More than 100 events per year including scenario conferences, invitation-only briefings, public discussions, Forum Bilaterali, and on-call briefings featuring international leaders and experts.
• Video Series and Podcasts Multimedia content portfolio including the 'settepiùsette' weekly geopolitics podcast, 'Globally' international affairs series, 'Dispacci dalla Russia', 'Confini' on borders, 'Lettere dall'oriente' on Asia, plus video series like The World This Week and infographics (IGDG).

Quantifiable outcome

• 90+ years of history as a leading Italian think tank in international relations research
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Intesa SanpaolocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPI and Intesa Sanpaolo co-promote the Geoeconomics Observatory initiatives, including research activities, conferences, scenario conferences, briefings, and advanced training courses. Intesa Sanpaolo also supports the Centre for Business Scenarios within ISPI's Geoeconomics Centre.
• SacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSace collaborates with ISPI and Intesa Sanpaolo in co-promoting the Geoeconomics Observatory activities, contributing to research on countries, geographic areas, and topics of interest for the Italian business community.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcKinsey & Company serves as the Knowledge Partner for ISPI's Infrastructure Programme. The partnership involves conducting studies, workshops, and conferences on infrastructure and geopolitics for the business community and institutions at national and international levels.
• FONDAZIONE ICO FALCKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFONDAZIONE ICO FALCK provides support for research activities of the Migrations and Demography Programme and the Geoeconomics Observatory at ISPI.
• EuroMilanosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuroMilano co-promotes the Global Cities Programme at ISPI, which analyzes the role of global cities at global and regional levels. Events and publications are developed for businesses and institutions at national and local levels.
• Think20 (T20)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPI contributes to the Think20 (T20) which provides policy recommendations for the annual G20 leaders' meetings. ISPI also contributes to Think7 (T7) for G7 leaders.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Infrastructure Programme avails itself of McKinsey & Company's knowledge partnership to produce studies, workshops, and conferences on global infrastructure trends, technologies, mobility, sustainability, and financing for businesses and institutions.
• NEARsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEAR partners with ISPI's Global Cities Programme to promote analyses and initiatives on the role of global cities. NEAR co-produces events and publications for businesses and institutions at national and local levels.
• Italian Parliament and Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISPI's Middle East and North Africa Centre publishes quarterly reports on the Mediterranean area specifically for the Italian Parliament and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ISPI is also involved in organizing the Rome MED international conference.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): One of the world's preeminent policy institutes on international affairs. Directly comparable to ISPI as a think tank producing research, publications, and events for governments, businesses, and members, but with significantly larger scale, endowment, and global brand.
• Atlantic Council: US think tank on international affairs and global economic policy, with a corporate membership model, large-scale events, and policy publications. Overlaps with ISPI in scenario conferences, geopolitical risk analysis, and corporate/program offerings.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global think tank on security, defense, and geopolitical risk with publications, conferences (e.g., Shangri-La Dialogue), and corporate memberships. Comparable to ISPI in the geopolitical/security niche, with broader international footprint.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Major US-based international affairs think tank with global centers, policy research, and corporate engagement. Comparable to ISPI in research and publications on geopolitics/geoeconomics, with vastly greater scale and global reach.

Emerging players

• Bruegel: European think tank specializing in economics with a strong focus on EU policy, governance, and geoeconomic topics. Comparable to ISPI's European Governance and Geoeconomics work in audience (policymakers, corporates) and publication cadence, though narrower in geographic scope.

Direct peers

• French Institute of International Relations (IFRI): Leading French think tank on international and strategic issues. Highly comparable to ISPI in mission, research output, and corporate/foundation funding model, serving as a national hub of geopolitical analysis with corporate membership.
• Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI): Italian think tank on international politics, foreign policy, and economics. The closest direct peer to ISPI in Italy, offering overlapping research, events, and policy advisory to government and corporate clients in a similar niche.
• Clingendael Institute: Dutch think tank on international relations, security, and geoeconomics offering research, training, and policy advice. Comparable to ISPI in training programs, policy research output, and government/enterprise client mix, with a smaller European national footprint.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) – German Institute for International and Security Affairs: Germany's leading foreign policy and security think tank, advising government and parliament. Comparable in research, publication, and policy advisory model to ISPI, with institutional parliamentary mandate analogous to ISPI's MENA reports for the Italian Parliament.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European think tank producing research, policy analysis, and events on European foreign policy. Overlaps with ISPI on European governance, geopolitics, and member/corporate audience, with a stronger pan-European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqn5_o2qcIvKgtAexVqgGTw
• Xx.com/ispionline
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISPIonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ispi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 ISPI