Institute for Security and Development Policy

What Institute for Security and Development Policy does

The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) is a Sweden-based, independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Stockholm that produces policy research, publications, and convening platforms focused on security and development policy across Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and Europe. The institute operates through two overarching programs (the Asia Program and the Silk Road Studies Program) and six thematic centers covering China, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, South Asia/Indo-Pacific, and Research and Innovation Security. Its deliverables include academic publications (Asia Papers, Silk Road Papers, Focus Asia, Issue Briefs, Books), recurring forums and conferences (including the annual Taiwan-Nordic Forum and Digital Taiwan Lecture Series), and a strategic consultancy service for corporate clients. ISDP serves three primary customer segments: government and policymakers seeking geopolitical analysis on regional security, the academic and research community collaborating on publications and conferences, and media organizations sourcing expert commentary. The institute is funded through grants and institutional support from governmental and non-governmental sources, and its work is freely distributed via its website and an email newsletter. There is no technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability underpinning the institute; its assets are intellectual, drawn from a network of over 100 associated research fellows affiliated with global institutions.

Name

Institute for Security and Development Policy

Legal name

Institute for Security & Development Policy

Website

https://isdp.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISDP is a Sweden-based independent nonprofit research institute producing policy analysis, publications, and convening platforms on security and development issues across Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and Europe for governments, academia, and media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Analysis Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Policy research institute
• Security policy analysis
• Geopolitical risk research
• Think tank publications
• Strategic consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nacka

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: ISDP operates as a non-profit research institute funded through grants, institutional funding, and support from various sponsors and donors. The institute receives funding from governmental and non-governmental sources to conduct policy research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ISDP is a nonprofit policy research institute that produces expert analysis and publications on security and development issues across Asia, the Indo-Pacific, the Silk Road region, and Europe. It operates thematic research centers (China, Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, South Asia/Indo-Pacific, Research and Innovation Security), publishes policy briefs, papers and books, convenes forums and conferences, and offers strategic consultancy services to corporate and institutional clients.

Product overview

ISDP is a research institute focused on security and development policy research, not a commercial product company. It offers publications (policy briefs, papers, books), manages research programs (Asia Program, Silk Road Studies Program), operates thematic centers (China Center, Korea Center, Taiwan Center, Turkey Center, Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, Center for Research and Innovation Security), organizes events and forums, and provides strategic consultancy services. No commercial software products or technology offerings are identified in the source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stockholm Taiwan Center: A center focused on Taiwan-related research and policy analysis.
• Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs (SCSA-IPA)
• Stockholm Center for Research and Innovation Security (SCRIS)
• Stockholm China Center
• Stockholm Korea Center
• Turkey Center

Products and services

• Strategic Consultancy Services A distinct advisory service offered by ISDP to corporate and institutional clients, providing strategic analysis and consulting on geopolitical risk, regional security dynamics, and policy advisory related to Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and Europe-Asia security issues.
• Policy Research Publications A comprehensive series of published research outputs including Asia Papers, Silk Road Papers, Focus Asia, Issue Briefs, Conference Reports, and Books, covering regional and thematic security and development policy topics for policymakers, academics, and the public.
• Forums and Conferences Recurring convenings organized by ISDP including the annual Taiwan-Nordic Forum, the Digital Taiwan Lecture Series, academic roundtables, and participation in international conferences such as the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue and the ICES Inaugural Annual Conference, bringing together experts, policymakers, and scholars.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6th Taiwan-Nordic Forum 2026 - extended scope to include Baltic states for first time
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026ISDP co-hosted the ICES Inaugural Annual Conference in Brussels on June 10-11, 2026. The conference brought together leading diplomats, academics, and researchers for critical dialogues on EU-China relations amid great power competition and global order reconfiguration.
• Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026ISDP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) to strengthen cooperation in defense and security research.
• Taipei Mission in SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Taipei Mission in Sweden supported the realization of ISDP's Taiwan Studies Project and Stockholm Taiwan Center publications on green transition and climate cooperation.
• Uppsala UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDP has engaged with Uppsala University through PhD programs and research collaboration, including hosting Alec Forss who pursued Cultural Anthropology at Uppsala University.
• International Christian University (ICU) TokyocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Nagy holds his main affiliation as Senior Associate Professor at ICU Tokyo while serving as Associated Research Fellow at ISDP.
• Penn State University College of Information Sciences and TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDP hosted a student group from Penn State University on May 21, 2026, with Executive Director Dr. Niklas Swanström presenting on the institute and Swedish security policy.
• Stockholm China Center Partner InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDP's Stockholm China Center held roundtable discussions with the Huayang Center from China, facilitating academic exchange on China-related policy research.
• Yokosuka Council of Asia Pacific Studies (YCAPS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Stephen Nagy serves as Director of Policy Studies for YCAPS, spearheading the Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue series in collaboration with ISDP network.
• Ulaanbaatar Dialogue ConferencemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDP represented by Dr. Niklas Swanström and Dr. Jagannath Panda participated in the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue International Conference focusing on Northeast Asia security challenges and AI emerging security risks.
• European Japan Experts AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISDP organized a conference with the European Japan Experts Association at Yasuragi in Stockholm, bringing together European Japan experts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Independent Sweden-based institute researching armed conflict, military expenditure, and arms control. Directly comparable to ISDP as a Stockholm-headquartered, grant-funded security research organization of similar scale and Nordic base.
• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Berlin-based institute advising German parliament and government on foreign and security policy. Directly comparable as a European policy institute with a strong focus on Asia and security analysis, though typically larger in scale.
• Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS): Berlin-based think tank specializing in contemporary China policy research. Closely comparable to ISDP's Stockholm China Center in topical focus (China, EU-China relations), European footprint, and similar scale.
• Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Copenhagen-based research institute covering security, development, and foreign policy. Closely comparable to ISDP in mission, Nordic funding model, and policy-research orientation.
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI): Oslo-based institute conducting research on international relations, security, and development. Mirrors ISDP in geographic base, scope, and grant-funded think-tank structure.

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based policy institute with global programs on international affairs including Asia and security. Comparable in policy-research mission and convening function, with broader portfolio and larger resource base.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Washington DC-based bipartisan policy organization with substantial Asia and security programs. Comparable in topical scope to ISDP but operates at much larger scale with deep US-government ties.
• Brookings Institution: Washington DC-based research institution with a long-standing East Asia policy program. Comparable in policy-research mission to ISDP, especially on Asia security, but operating at a materially larger scale.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): London-headquartered global institute producing authoritative analysis on international security, military capabilities, and armed conflict. Comparable in security policy remit to ISDP but materially larger in budget and brand.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Washington DC-based global think tank with centers on Asia, Russia/Eurasia, and international security. Comparable in international security policy remit to ISDP, with substantially broader resource base and global centers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/isdp_sweden
• Facebookfacebook.com/isdpsweden
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-security-and-development-policy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Security and Development Policy