Istituto Bruno Leoni

What Istituto Bruno Leoni does

Istituto Bruno Leoni (IBL) is an Italian non-profit think tank founded in 2003 and headquartered in Milan (with an administrative office in Turin), organized as a dual Associazione + Fondazione structure. Its core function is producing free-market policy research and intellectual content aimed primarily at Italian and European policymakers, academics, and the educated public. The institute's outputs span Briefing Papers, Occasional Papers, Focus commentaries, the annual Indice delle liberalizzazioni, the Superindice IBL composite index, the Barometro delle libertà tracking tool, and a live Contatore del debito pubblico on its homepage. Content is distributed through a multi-channel stack: a flagship website, social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube), 15+ podcast series on Spotify/Apple/Spreaker, online courses, an annual Discorso Bruno Leoni lecture (past speakers include Vernon L. Smith, Vaclav Klaus, Nassim Taleb, Antonin Scalia), a Premio Bruno Leoni award dinner, and the IBL nelle scuole program delivering 11 educational modules to Italian high schools. Supporting sub-brands include Leoni Blog and Lisander (a liberal-Catholic dialogue space on Substack).

The business model is non-profit and donation-driven. IBL is funded primarily through voluntary contributions from individuals, companies, associations, and foundations, plus Italian 5-per-mille tax designations, project-specific grants and sponsorships (e.g., UPS Italia, BAT Italia, TeamSystem, Fondazione Cariplo, Compagnia di San Paolo, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation), and revenue from IBL Libri, its wholly-owned publishing house operating nine editorial collections that has produced ~240 titles cumulative to 2025. Books are sold direct-to-consumer at €10–€24; a Book Club subscription (€249 standard, €199 under-30) bundles annual publications with exclusive events. The institute claims no single donor accounts for a substantial portion of its budget, supporting independent positioning, and reports 575,000 euros in combined 2020 revenue. Strategic affiliations include membership in Atlas Network (global free-market think-tank network) and co-founding status in Epicenter (European policy network), with Friends of IBL operating as a US 501(c)(3) for transatlantic reach.

Name

Istituto Bruno Leoni

Legal name

Fondazione Istituto Bruno Leoni

Website

https://brunoleoni.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Istituto Bruno Leoni is an Italian non-profit think tank founded in 2003 that produces free-market policy research, books, podcasts, and school programs for policymakers, academics, students, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Think Tank Policy Research

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial & Consumer Literacy (Banking, Credit, Contracts) (EDAAAAAG), Core Subject Textbooks (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies) (EDAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank services
• Economic publications
• Liberal education
• Public events

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and membership contributions: IBL is primarily funded by voluntary contributions from individuals, companies, associations, and foundations. The majority of funders subscribe to a membership fee or make liberal donations. Some funding is raised for specific projects (books, research). An annual dinner is organized where participants purchase tables or individual seats to support the institute's activities. Donations are tax-deductible up to 10% of declared income, with a maximum of 70,000 euros per year. The institute also receives funds through the Italian 5 per mille (5x1000) mechanism.
2. Book and publication sales (IBL Libri): IBL Libri publishes books across multiple collections (Mercato, Diritto, Libertà; Policy; Classici contemporanei; Liberalismi eccentrici; Classici della libertà; Liberismi Italiani; Report; Fuori collana; Opera omnia di Bruno Leoni). Books are sold online at prices ranging from approximately 10 to 24 euros. The Book Club membership (249 euros/year; 199 euros for under-30) provides all publications over 12 months plus exclusive events. The institute also sells books at events and through its e-commerce platform.
3. Project-specific grants and sponsorships: IBL receives funding for specific initiatives such as research projects, events, or publications. For example, webinars were organized with support from UPS Italia and BAT Italia, studies were supported by TeamSystem, Confindustria Dispositivi Medici, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, and others. The Dinamismo Imprenditoriale project was supported by a group of sponsors including Gianfelice Rocca, Fondazione Cariplo, Compagnia di San Paolo, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Fondazione Aristide Merloni, Confcommercio, and Confartigianato.
4. 5 per mille (tax designation): Italian taxpayers can designate 5 per mille of their IRPEF tax to IBL by entering its tax code (97741100016) in their tax return, at no additional cost to the donor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Istituto Bruno Leoni is a non-profit Italian think tank that produces, publishes and disseminates free-market policy research, books, podcasts, online courses and educational programs aimed at influencing public debate and policy in Italy. Its commercial outputs include the IBL Libri publishing house (book sales and an annual Book Club subscription), a portfolio of public events (Discorso Bruno Leoni, Premio Bruno Leoni, seminars), free research publications (Briefing/Occasional/Focus papers), analytical indices, and the IBL nelle scuole high-school education program.

Product overview

Istituto Bruno Leoni is a non-profit think tank that promotes free market ideas through research, publications, education, and public events. Its core offerings include IBL Libri (publishing house producing books on liberal economics through multiple series), Ricerche (research publications including Briefing Papers and Occasional Papers), Eventi (public events such as the annual Discorso Bruno Leoni conference and Premio Bruno Leoni award), Corsi Online (online educational courses), IBL nelle Scuole (high school educational outreach), Podcast Series (audio content on liberal thought and current affairs), and analytical tools including the Indice delle liberalizzazioni, Superindice IBL, Barometro delle libertà, and Contatore del debito pubblico. The Book Club subscription provides all publications plus exclusive event access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IBL Libri: Publishing house that publishes the Institute's research and translations of important works from the English-speaking world
• Leoni Blog
• Lisander

Products and services

• IBL Libri Publishing House Publishing house producing books on free-market economics, liberal thought, and policy analysis across nine collections (Mercato, Diritto, Libertà; Policy; Classici contemporanei; Liberalismi eccentrici; Classici della libertà; Liberismi Italiani; Report; Fuori collana; Opera omnia di Bruno Leoni). Books are sold individually at 10–24 euros.
• IBL Book Club Subscription

Quantifiable outcome

• Social media follower growth: Facebook +20%, Instagram +38%, Twitter +11%, LinkedIn +50% in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• UPS ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021UPS Italia sponsored a webinar series organized by IBL in 2021 on the topic of e-commerce and pandemic resilience.
• BAT ItaliaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021BAT Italia sponsored a webinar series organized by IBL in 2021 on the topic of innovation and investment attraction.
• TeamSystemminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021TeamSystem supported an IBL study on digital transition and incentives for small and medium enterprises (PMIs).
• Confindustria Dispositivi MediciminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Confindustria Dispositivi Medici supported an IBL study on the payback mechanism for medical devices.
• Atlas NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBL is a member of Atlas Network, a global network of over 500 free-market think tanks. Atlas provides networking, funding, and cross-promotion. IBL has participated in Atlas initiatives and received grants including the Templeton Freedom Award Grant and Dorian & Anthony Fisher Venture Grant through Atlas.
• EpicentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBL is a co-founder of Epicenter, a European policy network of free-market think tanks that coordinates research and advocacy on European policy issues. IBL co-authored EU budget analysis with Epicenter.
• Friends of IBL (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends of IBL is a US-based 501(c)(3) organization that promotes liberal ideas and the work of IBL in the United States.
• Università di Verona (Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dipartimento di Scienze Giuridiche dell'Università di Verona contributed to the publication of 'Libertates. Stato, politica e diritto alla prova delle libertà individuali' edited by Carlo Lottieri and Daniele Velo Dalbrenta.
• e-Media InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBL collaborated with e-Media Institute on the annual 'Il sistema audiovisivo: evoluzione e dimensioni economiche' report (Report collection, 2025).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA): London-based classical liberal think tank. Comparable to IBL in editorial depth (books, journals, papers), donor-funded model, ideological positioning, and Atlas Network affiliation.
• Adam Smith Institute: UK-based free-market think tank and Atlas Network member. Comparable to IBL in mission, policy focus (deregulation, taxation, public services), community-led GTM, and revenue mix (donations, events, publications).
• Centro Einaudi: Turin-based Italian research center focused on liberal, free-market, and civil society analysis. Closely comparable to IBL in mission (classical liberalism, Italian policy debate), geographic scope, and reliance on donations and publications.
• Istituto Cattaneo: Bologna-based Italian policy research institute focused on political, economic, and social analysis. Comparable to IBL as an Italian research organization producing policy studies, indicator projects, and accessible publications for an informed public audience.
• Fondazione Luigi Einaudi: Rome-based classical liberal research foundation promoting market economy and individual liberty in Italy. Highly comparable to IBL in ideological orientation, target audience (policymakers, academics, public), and operational format (research, events, publications).

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Foundation: Large US-based conservative policy institute. Comparable to IBL in policy research depth, Washington-style think tank influence on legislation, and donor cultivation model, though operating at much greater scale and with US-centric focus.
• Cato Institute: Large US-based libertarian think tank. Comparable in classical liberal philosophy, breadth of policy research, and donor-funded model, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader geographic reach than IBL.
• Bruegel: Brussels-based European economic policy think tank. Comparable to IBL in producing economic policy research and indicator projects, but operates at significantly larger scale with a pan-European membership-funded model.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based think tank producing policy research on EU integration, economic governance, and regulation. Comparable to IBL in publishing model and policy engagement, though with much larger budget and broader institutional footprint.

Others

• Atlas Network: Global network of more than 500 free-market partner organizations. IBL is a member; Atlas provides cross-promotion, training, and grant funding (Templeton, Fisher Venture grants) that materially shape IBL's operational capacity and reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IstitutoBrunoLeoni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/istituto-bruno-leoni

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Istituto Bruno Leoni