Khazanah Research Institute

What Khazanah Research Institute does

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is a non-profit policy research institute registered in Malaysia (registration 201301030471(1060301-U)) that conducts rigorous, evidence-based socio-economic research to inform Malaysian policy. Founded circa 2014 and headquartered at Level 17-1, Mercu UEM, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, KRI operates with 11-50 employees and produces research across six thematic streams: Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development; Work, Jobs and Livelihoods; Households, Demography and Public Wellbeing; Urbanisation, Housing and Public Infrastructure; Environment, Food and Climate Resilience; and Technology, Digitalisation and Future Proofing. The institute's output ecosystem comprises Research Reports, Discussion Papers, Working Papers, Views, Policy Briefs, Data Sets, Data Visualisations, a flagship annual publication titled 'The State of Households', the KRI OpenData platform, and multimedia content including the KRI Opentable Podcast. It also generates primary datasets such as the Graduate Career Tracking Survey (with the Ministry of Higher Education), the NEXUS Survey on night markets, the TEDUH Housing Project Data, and Greater Kuala Lumpur Mobilities data.

KRI's technology footprint is non-commercial and built on an open-access distribution model: a primary website (krinstitute.org) hosts all publications, with additional reach via newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and podcast channels. There is no proprietary AI/ML product, mobile app, or paid software offering; rather, KRI uses AI-adjacent research methods (data visualisations, surveys, statistical analysis) and publishes policy research on AI governance, algorithmic management of platform workers, and AI-driven credit scoring. The business model is non-profit: outputs are provided free of charge, and KRI does not disclose revenue or funding sources, though the 'Khazanah' brand suggests a possible affinity to Khazanah Nasional (Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund), with no confirmed parent-subsidiary relationship in the source material.

The institute's primary stakeholder segments are Government and Policymakers and the Academic and Research Community, with a secondary segment of Civil Society and the Business Community. It maintains strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), INCEIF University, the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute (ASB), the ASEAN Secretariat (via the ASEAN-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and references work from the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APFWLD). Governance is exercised through a Board of Trustees chaired by Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, with research leadership under Director of Research Dr Suraya Ismail and four Associate Directors of Research (Yin Shao Loong, Rachel Gong, Christopher Choong Weng Wai, Aidonna Jan Ayub), advised by Professor Emeritus Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram as Research Advisor. Public-impact scale indicators include 900+ publications, 579,000+ cumulative visitors, 1,000+ report downloads, and 907+ media mentions.

Name

Khazanah Research Institute

Legal name

Khazanah Research Institute

Website

https://krinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is a Malaysia-based non-profit policy research institute that conducts evidence-based socio-economic research to inform Malaysian policy across themes including economic development, labor, households, housing, climate, and technology, serving government, academia, and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is a non-profit policy research institute that conducts evidence-based socio-economic research on Malaysia and disseminates findings through an integrated portfolio of publications, data sets, multimedia content, and policy dialogue events. Its core offerings include Research Reports, Discussion Papers, Working Papers, Views, Policy Briefs, Data Sets and Data Visualisations, the flagship "The State of Households" annual book, the KRI Open Table Podcast, and hosted roundtables and events.

Product overview

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is a non-profit policy research institute for Malaysia that undertakes rigorous, evidence-based research to address Malaysia's most pressing socio-economic challenges. KRI operates as a knowledge platform offering multiple publication types that work together as an integrated research ecosystem. The core offerings include Research Reports (comprehensive policy publications on topics including AI governance, technology, housing, labor, and climate), Discussion Papers (peer-reviewed emerging research), Working Papers (early-stage research concepts), Views (timely analyses on trends), Policy Briefs (concise policy recommendations), and Data Sets/Data Visualisations (open research data). KRI also produces the flagship 'State of Households' annual book, maintains a multimedia platform with the KRI Open Table Podcast series, and hosts events and roundtables for policy dialogue. The publications cover thematic areas including Technology/Digitalization/Future Proofing, Inclusive Economic Development, Work/Jobs/Livelihoods, Households/Demography/Wellbeing, Urbanization/Housing, and Environment/Climate Resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Reports Comprehensive policy research publications examining Malaysia's pressing socio-economic challenges across topics including technology, digitalisation, AI governance, housing, labour, and climate resilience. Targeted at government, academics, and civil society.
• Discussion Papers Peer-reviewed publications sharing emerging research on key issues, designed to invite feedback and encourage dialogue on topics such as AI, automation, platform workers, and digital transformation. Targeted at researchers and policymakers.
• Working Papers Preliminary papers sharing early-stage research, concepts, and findings that serve as precursors to more developed Discussion Papers or Reports, covering topics from green transition to night market ecosystems. Targeted at researchers and policymakers.
• Views Individual reflections and analyses on timely topics offering context and viewpoints to help readers understand emerging trends and policy debates on technology, economics, and society. Targeted at general public and policymakers.
• Policy Briefs Concise summaries of research findings and policy recommendations for decision-makers on key national issues. Targeted at government policymakers.
• Data Sets Research data collections including Graduate Career Tracking Survey, TEDUH Housing Project Data, and Greater Kuala Lumpur Mobilities data for public analysis. Targeted at researchers and analysts.
• Data Visualisations Interactive and static data visualizations such as walkability measurements of Greater KL and other urban research findings. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, and the general public.
• KRI OpenData Open data platform providing access to KRI's research datasets and visualisations for public use and further analysis. Targeted at researchers, journalists, and the general public.
• Multimedia Content KRI Open Table Podcast series and video content covering research discussions, expert interviews, and policy dialogues on Malaysia's socio-economic issues. Targeted at general public and policymakers.
• The State of Households Flagship annual publication series examining household well-being, income, consumption, education outcomes, and digital adoption patterns in Malaysia. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, and the general public.
• Events & Roundtables Hosting of policy dialogues, roundtables, seminars and workshops including ASEAN-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue, AI Governance roundtables, and urban development discussions. Targeted at policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 579,000+ visitors to the institute's resources since launch
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

• ASEAN SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026KRI participates in the ASEAN-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue as a key policy research contributor, engaging with regional policymakers on economic and development issues.
• Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APFWLD)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2024Referenced in KRI research on gendered impacts of trade agreements including RCEP. APFWLD raises concerns about RCEP's impacts on women and small-scale farmers.
• Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2024Collaborated on Techie Talk podcast episode discussing Malaysia's position in the Technology & Technical (T&T) industry, combining KRI's research expertise with MDEC's industry perspective.
• Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint collaborative research effort including the Graduate Career Tracking Survey (GCTS) conducted between May and July 2023. KRI collaborates with MOHE on research projects addressing higher education and workforce development issues in Malaysia.
• INCEIF UniversitynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for joint events and knowledge sharing. Collaborated on organizing the Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz Lecture.
• ASB (Islamic Banking and Finance Institute)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz Lecture with KRI and INCEIF University, demonstrating collaboration on economic research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA): independent think tank focused on economic and policy issues with a strong ASEAN orientation
• Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI): Bangkok-based independent policy research institute producing socio-economic research and policy recommendations. Comparable as a regional peer in scope and methodology, though serving Thailand rather than Malaysia.
• Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS): Government-attached Philippine socio-economic policy research institute producing working papers, policy notes, and discussion papers. Comparable as a regional peer in the development research space, though funded by the Philippine government.
• Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta: Leading Indonesian policy think tank producing research on economic, political, and social issues for Southeast Asia. Comparable as a regional peer in size and policy-focus, operating across Indonesia and ASEAN.
• ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute: Singapore-based regional think tank covering Southeast Asian socio-economic and political issues, producing research reports, policy briefs, and surveys. Comparable as a regional peer, though more international in scope and headquartered in Singapore.

Direct peers

• Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia: Malaysia's most established policy think tank, similarly producing reports, policy briefs, and convening events on national economic and strategic issues. Directly comparable in mission and target audience, with a larger and longer-established profile.
• Penang Institute: Malaysian socio-economic think tank focused on inclusive development, state economic policy, and public wellbeing, publishing reports, working papers, and datasets. Closely comparable to KRI in thematic focus and publication model.
• Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Malaysia: Malaysian public policy research institute producing reports, policy briefs, and op-eds on economic reform, governance, and social mobility. Directly comparable in size, mission, and policymaker engagement model.

Broad incumbents

• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP): National University of Singapore school conducting policy research and producing working papers, reports, and policy briefs on Asian development and governance. Comparable as a research-oriented policy institution, though part of a larger university.

Emerging players

• Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) Asia Pacific University: Malaysian-focused policy research centre producing studies on socio-economic issues, with a smaller footprint than KRI. Comparable as a domestic public policy research peer, though narrower in scope and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KRInstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@khazanahresearchinstitute557
• Facebookfacebook.com/KRInstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/krinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/krinstitute
• TikToktiktok.com/@krinstitute

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 Khazanah Research Institute