Centre for Future Generations

What Centre for Future Generations does

Centre for Future Generations (CFG) is an independent nonprofit think-and-do tank that helps European policymakers anticipate and govern rapid technological change. Founded in 2021 by tech entrepreneur Steven Schuurman and social entrepreneur Laurens de Groot, the organization operationalized in 2022 from Rotterdam and relocated its headquarters to Brussels in 2023, where it operates from Norrsken House on Rue du Commerce. CFG organizes its work around five research programmes: Advanced AI, Biotech, Climate Interventions, Neurotech, and a Policy Incubator that addresses emerging topics outside existing policy silos. It produces policy briefs, factsheets, commentary, white papers, scenario projects, and atlases (Emerging Biotechnology Atlas, Neurotech Market Atlas, Neurotech Governance Map), and engages EU institutions through formal submissions to European Commission calls for evidence and public consultations.

CFG does not develop proprietary technology products; its outputs are research, policy recommendations, events, and convenings. Notable initiatives include the SAFEGEOGOV project with the University of Leeds and OECD on solar radiation modification governance scenarios to 2035, the Enforcement Initiative tracking the EU digital rulebook, and the flagship 'Europe and the geopolitics of AGI' report co-authored with RAND Europe, MIT, the University of Oxford, the Max Planck Institutes, and the ELLIS Institute. Engagement platforms include the annual Think & Do conference and the Tech & Tonic networking series.

CFG's business model is philanthropic: the organization does not sell products or services and refuses funding from governments, corporations, or political parties to preserve independence. Seed funding came from the Dreamery Foundation and Tanka Foundation to cover the first five years of baseline operations, with additional programme-specific support from foundations including ARIA, Laudes Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Powoki Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and others. The team is distributed across Brussels, London, New York, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and Australia. In March 2025, Thomas Lingard was appointed CEO, and in March 2026 the Advanced AI programme was spun out into the independent Arq Foundation led by Max Reddel.

Name

Centre for Future Generations

Legal name

Centre for Future Generations

Website

https://cfg.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre for Future Generations is an independent nonprofit think-and-do tank that helps European policymakers anticipate and govern rapid technological change across AI, biotech, neurotechnology, and climate interventions through research, policy submissions, and coalitions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

EdTech & Digital Learning Policy Research (EDADADAK), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Technology policy research
• Emerging tech governance
• Think tank services
• AI governance advisory
• Anticipatory policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic funding: Centre for Future Generations is a nonprofit organization entirely funded by philanthropy. The organization receives support from foundations, public institutions, and individual donors. It does not accept funding from governments, corporations, or political parties that could compromise its independence.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centre for Future Generations is an independent think-and-do tank that produces research, policy recommendations, and strategic foresight on governing emerging technologies (AI, biotech, neurotech, and climate interventions). It delivers these through formal policy input submissions to EU institutions, public research reports and white papers, and engagement events aimed at helping policymakers anticipate and address rapid technological change.

Product overview

Centre for Future Generations is an independent think-and-do tank offering a portfolio of research programmes, publications, and engagement platforms focused on technology governance policy. The organization operates five interconnected research programmes (Advanced AI, Biotech, Climate Interventions, Neurotech, and Policy Incubator) that produce policy briefs, white papers, commentary, and Big Thinking projects. These are complemented by direct policy engagement through consultation submissions to European institutions, public events including the annual Think & Do conference and Tech & Tonic series, and specialized initiatives like the SAFEGEOGOV climate governance project and Enforcement Initiative tracking EU digital rulebook compliance. The organization connects deep technical analysis to actionable governance recommendations for policymakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced AI Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Two CFG staff members moved into government positions within one year, including Velislava Petrova appointed Bulgarian foreign minister and Jorge Miguel Teixeira elected to Portuguese Assembly
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Democratic Tech AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Member of alliance launched at European Parliament. Coalition brings together diverse organizations including Internet Archive Europe and Open Markets Institute Europe to shape democratic technology policy.
• European Brain CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Co-hosted the European strategy for neurotechnology launch event with European Brain Council (EBC) and supported by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).
• RAND EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Co-authored the Europe and the geopolitics of AGI report with RAND Europe, MIT, University of Oxford, Max Planck Institutes, and ELLIS Institute. This represents CFG's flagship research collaboration on AI governance.
• European Network for Technological Resilience and Sovereignty (ETRS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Participated in launch of ETRS at Franco-German Tech Sovereignty Summit. CFG contributes to work on public engagement within this coalition coordinated by Bertelsmann Stiftung.
• MITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored the Europe and the geopolitics of AGI report on AGI preparedness for European policymakers.
• University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored the Europe and the geopolitics of AGI report on AGI preparedness.
• Max Planck InstitutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored the Europe and the geopolitics of AGI report on AGI preparedness.
• ELLIS InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored the Europe and the geopolitics of AGI report on AGI preparedness.
• European Economic and Social CommitteemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the European strategy for neurotechnology launch event as co-host alongside CFG and European Brain Council.
• European Techno-Democracy CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of coalition in Leuven that includes companies (Proton, Mastodon), academics (KU Leuven), and digital rights groups (Tactical Tech).
• University of LeedsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SAFEGEOGOV project conducting governance scenarios through to 2035 on solar radiation modification.
• OECDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SAFEGEOGOV project exploring governance scenarios for climate interventions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Bruegel: European economic policy think tank headquartered in Brussels that produces independent research for EU policymakers. Comparable to CFG in geographic positioning, independence model, and policy influence focus.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European policy think tank producing research and convening policymakers on EU affairs, including technology and geopolitical topics. Highly comparable to CFG in mission, EU focus, and event-driven engagement model.
• Ada Lovelace Institute: UK-based research institute examining the ethical and societal implications of AI and emerging technologies. Comparable to CFG in technology-governance focus and independence from industry funding.
• Future of Life Institute (FLI): Independent nonprofit focused on reducing existential risks from advanced technologies, particularly AI and biotechnology. Closely comparable to CFG in mission, philanthropic funding model, and policy-submission engagement.
• RAND Europe: European arm of RAND producing policy research for governments and institutions, including extensive work on AI, biosecurity, and emerging technology. Directly comparable to CFG and an existing research partner.
• AI Now Institute: Research institute producing policy research on the social implications of artificial intelligence. Comparable to CFG in AI-governance focus and independent research orientation.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based think tank producing policy research and analysis across EU governance, including digital and technology policy. Closely comparable to CFG in location, audience, and policy-advisory orientation.

Regional players

• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV): Berlin-based think tank working on technology policy, including AI, platform regulation, and digital infrastructure. Comparable to CFG in technology-governance focus but German-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House: Long-established international affairs think tank with growing work on technology and geopolitics. Comparable in think-tank model and policy influence ambitions, though broader in scope and substantially larger.

Emerging players

• GovAI: Research organisation studying the governance of transformative AI. Comparable to CFG's Advanced AI programme but narrower in scope and US/UK-leaning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFG_ThinkTank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CFG_ThinkTank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-future-generations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Future Generations