NEXT group
NEXT group is a Seoul-based independent, non-profit energy and climate policy think tank that produces research publications and analytical tools — including the Energy Policy Simulator, Carbon Budget Database, and renewable potential maps — to support Korean and East Asian policymakers, the National Assembly, industry, and researchers on net-zero energy transition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What NEXT group does
NEXT group (사단법인 넥스트) is an independent, non-profit energy and climate policy think tank headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, founded around 2019–2020 and incorporated as a Public Interest Corporation subject to National Tax Service disclosure. It produces research publications and operates a stack of analytical tools focused on Korea's net-zero energy transition. Its primary customers are Korean government agencies and policymakers, members and staff of the National Assembly, the domestic business community and industry associations (notably energy-intensive sectors such as petrochemicals and steel), and academic/research institutions; all outputs are distributed free of charge.
The organization's core technology stack comprises four assets: (1) the Energy Policy Simulator (EPS), an open-source, economy-wide energy and policy model adapted for South Korea under license from US-based Energy Innovation LLC, integrating levers such as carbon pricing and renewable subsidies to quantify GHG reductions, energy demand, and macroeconomic effects; (2) the Carbon Budget Database, which anchors Korea's 2035 NDC target to a science-based emission allowance and maps a net-zero-by-2050 pathway; and (3) and (4) the Wind Power and Photovoltaic Technology Potential Maps, high-resolution geospatial datasets built with Sixty Hertz to inform renewable deployment strategy across inland, marine, and rooftop segments. As of the most recent reporting, NEXT group has produced 103 publications organized around five research topics — Power Grid & Market, Renewable Energy Policy, Industrial Decarbonization, Climate Risk, and Policy & Regulation — and hosts recurring events including seminars, webinars, and international roundtables.
The business model is grant- and donation-funded public-interest research rather than commercial SaaS or consulting: all publications, databases, and tools are freely accessible via the NEXT group website, distribution occurs through direct digital channels (website, Telegram channel, ZeroEnergyBar YouTube channel) and event-based convening, and the only disclosed financial supporter named in the source material is the Climate Imperative Foundation. Revenue is not disclosed and customer relationships are non-transactional; monetization runs through influence on Korean energy and climate policy formulation and through recurring international partnership activity with Agora Energiewende, Renewable Energy Institute (Japan), Agora Industry, LBNL/UC Berkeley, SFOC, the Global Renewables Alliance, and SEMI-Energy Collaborative.
NEXT group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NEXT group
- Legal name
- 사단법인 넥스트 (NEXT group)
- Website
- https://www.nextgroup.or.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- NEXT group is a Seoul-based independent, non-profit energy and climate policy think tank that produces research publications and analytical tools — including the Energy Policy Simulator, Carbon Budget Database, and renewable potential maps — to support Korean and East Asian policymakers, the National Assembly, industry, and researchers on net-zero energy transition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NEXT group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy and Climate Policy Research
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Renewable Policy & Regulatory Strategy (National/State/Local) (EUAMANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), Scope 1–3 GHG Inventory Strategy, Data Governance & Controls (advisory) (EUABAKAD), Incentives, Subsidies & Tax Policy (ITC/PTC, FiTs, Auctions/CfDs) (EUAMANAE)
Keywords
Where NEXT group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
NEXT group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
NEXT group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NEXT group is an independent energy and climate policy think tank that produces research publications (Issue Briefs, Reports, Issue Papers) and maintains analytical databases and tools, including the open-source Energy Policy Simulator, the Carbon Budget Database, and high-resolution Wind and Photovoltaic Potential Maps for South Korea. The think tank also convenes seminars, webinars, and international roundtables on energy transition and industrial decarbonization topics for policymakers, legislators, industry, and researchers.
Product overview
NEXT group is an independent energy and climate policy think tank that produces research publications (Issue Briefs, Reports, Issue Papers), maintains analytical databases, and organizes events. Its core analytical products include the Energy Policy Simulator (a free, open-source modeling tool for evaluating energy policies), the Carbon Budget Database, and Renewable Energy Potential Map Series (Wind Power and Photovoltaic technology potential maps). The organization also hosts seminars, webinars, and international roundtables on energy transition and industrial decarbonization topics. NEXT group serves policymakers, government officials, industry stakeholders, and the research community with data-driven analysis and policy recommendations for Korea's net-zero energy transition.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) for South Korea A free, open-source analytical model that evaluates the impacts of energy policies across all sectors of the Korean economy. Users can construct customized scenarios integrating carbon pricing and renewable energy subsidies to quantitatively assess greenhouse gas reductions, energy demand, and macro-economic effects including GDP fluctuations and public health benefits. Aimed at policymakers, researchers, and analysts.
- Carbon Budget Database Database that sets Korea's 2035 NDC target based on the scientific emission allowance called the carbon budget and shows the emission reduction path to net-zero by 2050, presenting results derived from multiple methodologies and assumptions. Used by government policymakers, legislators, and researchers working on climate target setting.
- Wind Power Technology Potential Map High-resolution wind power potential map developed with Sixty Hertz that visualizes wind power potential at national and regional levels in Korea, part of the Renewable Energy Potential Map Series. Used to devise policies that utilize maximum wind power potential.
- Photovoltaic Technology Potential Map High-resolution photovoltaic potential map developed with Sixty Hertz that analyzes PV potential of different regions (inland, marine, rooftop) and technologies, identifying elements that limit full PV potential. Part of the Renewable Energy Potential Map Series.
Companies that use NEXT group
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
NEXT group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
NEXT group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Jeju ForumminorSession hosting at 2026 Jeju Forum on energy security, focusing on polycrisis and resilient energy systems.
- Agora IndustrycoreJoint publication partnership on industrial decarbonization research, specifically for petrochemical industry electrification pathways and renewable feedstock analysis.
- Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC)coreCo-hosting seminars on clean transition of petrochemical complexes, particularly focused on Yeosu industrial complex transformation into Clean Chemical City.
- Energy Innovation LLCcoreLicensing of EPS (Energy Policy Simulator) framework originally developed in the United States, adapted for South Korea's energy and policy context.
- Agora EnergiewendecoreLong-term collaboration on East Asia Energy Transition, including joint roundtable events, comparative policy analysis, and shared research on power sector transformation and industrial decarbonization in East Asia.
- Renewable Energy Institute (REI, Japan)coreTrilateral cooperation with Agora Energiewende for East Asia Energy Transition Roundtable, focusing on clean energy transition and industrial decarbonization across Korea, China, and Japan.
- Global Renewables AlliancecorePartnership for Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16) side event on power sector transformation in Asia, focusing on renewable integration and grid flexibility.
- SEMI-Energy Collaborative (SEMI-EC)coreCo-hosting CEM16 side event on power sector transformation, with collaboration on renewable energy market analysis and policy recommendations.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)coreCollaborative research on 'A Clean Energy Korea by 2035' report, providing power sector modeling and clean energy transition analysis.
- University of California, BerkeleycoreAcademic partnership for clean energy Korea research, contributing to the 80% carbon-free electricity generation pathway analysis.
- British Embassy SeoulminorCo-hosting webinars on UK energy transition lessons for Korea's power grid reform, and carbon pricing discussions.
- EmberminorCollaboration on UK energy transition analysis and Korea's power grid reform webinar, sharing comparative electricity market insights.
- Sixty HertzcorePartnership for development of Wind Power Technology Potential Map and Photovoltaic Technology Potential Map as part of Renewable Energy Potential Map Series.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NEXT group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Agora Energiewende: Germany-based independent energy transition think tank; directly comparable to NEXT group in mission, structure, and methodology. They co-host the East Asia Energy Transition International Roundtable (2025-09-01) and collaborate on comparative power-sector transformation research.
- Climate Analytics: International climate science and policy institute producing 1.5°C-aligned decarbonization pathway analysis. Methodologically aligned with NEXT group's Carbon Budget Database and net-zero pathway work, operating at a larger global scale.
- Agora Industry: Industrial decarbonization-focused sister organization to Agora Energiewende; co-published the 2026-06-17 petrochemical electrification paper with NEXT group. Most direct peer in industrial decarbonization research methodology.
- Ember: Independent energy think tank focused on the global electricity transition; partner of NEXT group on UK-Korea power-market webinars (2023-03-24). Comparable in producing data-driven electricity-market analysis targeted at policymakers and the public.
- Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC): Korea-based independent climate policy nonprofit; partner of NEXT group on the Yeosu Clean Chemical City seminar (2026-04-21) and petrochemical decarbonization work. Operates as a comparable Korean policy-advocacy organization with shared industrial decarbonization mandate.
- Energy Innovation LLC: US-based clean energy policy think tank that originally developed the Energy Policy Simulator framework licensed by NEXT group (2026-03-11). Closest methodological peer, with a near-identical quantitative policy-modeling approach adapted to a different national context.
- Renewable Energy Institute (REI): Japan-based renewable energy think tank; trilateral partner with NEXT group and Agora Energiewende on East Asia energy transition research. Operates a comparable nonprofit policy-research model focused on renewables and grid decarbonization.
Broad incumbents
- Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI): Korean government-affiliated energy economics research institute with deeper historical datasets and direct policy mandate; broader incumbent in Korea's energy policy space that NEXT group's tools partly complement and partly compete with.
- World Resources Institute (WRI): Global environmental research organization with energy transition and climate programs; broader incumbent operating across multiple geographies with deeper institutional resources than NEXT group's Korea-focused mandate.
- Korea Environment Institute (KEI): Korean government-affiliated environmental policy research institute; operates as a broader incumbent covering environmental policy beyond NEXT group's narrower energy-and-climate specialization, but with comparable national-policy mandate in Korea.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NEXT group social profiles
Digital presenceNEXT group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NEXT group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
NEXT group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NEXT group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NEXT group
What does NEXT group do?
NEXT group is an independent energy and climate policy think tank that produces research publications (Issue Briefs, Reports, Issue Papers) and maintains analytical databases and tools, including the open-source Energy Policy Simulator, the Carbon Budget Database, and high-resolution Wind and Photovoltaic Potential Maps for South Korea. The think tank also convenes seminars, webinars, and international roundtables on energy transition and industrial decarbonization topics for policymakers, legislators, industry, and researchers.
Is NEXT group a public or private company?
NEXT group is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NEXT group founded?
NEXT group was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NEXT group based?
NEXT group is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
Who are NEXT group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Agora Energiewende, Climate Analytics, Agora Industry, Ember, Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC), Energy Innovation LLC and Renewable Energy Institute (REI). Broad incumbents are Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI), World Resources Institute (WRI) and Korea Environment Institute (KEI).
Does NEXT group have an API?
No public API is recorded for NEXT group.
What industry is NEXT group in?
NEXT group's product category is Energy and Climate Policy Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMANAA, Renewable Policy & Regulatory Strategy (National/State/Local), with a secondary code of BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes. Its NAICS code is 541620 and its SIC code is 8742.