CARPO

What CARPO does

CARPO (Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient e.V.) is a Bonn-based, German-registered non-profit research organization founded on December 1, 2014, and operating with a core team of approximately 18 staff from headquarters in Bonn and a Berlin representative office. Its mission centers on producing policy-relevant research, consultancy, and exchange focused on West Asia, North Africa, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and their interrelations with Sub-Saharan Africa. The organization's flagship offerings include a publication portfolio spanning CARPO Briefs, Reports, Studies, Pulse, Sustainability Series, and the WASSAP podcast; event series including the CARPO Research Forum, CARPO Podium, and co-hosted Brussels MENA Briefings (with the Stimson Center) and HOME Institute webinars; and confidential track-2 dialogue facilitation services — most notably the Iran-Saudi Arabia dialogue initiative designed by Co-CEO Adnan Tabatabai since 2015. CARPO also deploys a proprietary NML Nexus (Networkability, Maneuverability, Leveragability) framework for analyzing agency dynamics in West Asia-Africa relations, and has launched art-based science communication products for Yemen via CARPO Kunst.

The business model is grant-funded institutional research rather than commercial revenue: CARPO operates as a registered association (Vereinsregisternummer 9971, Amtsgericht Bonn), with publications offered free of charge and no pricing or commercial products. Revenue flows from project grants and core funding sourced primarily from the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), BMZ, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA/FDHA), Robert Bosch Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Its client base comprises European and international policymakers (EU institutions, African Union, US Department of State, UNESCO-IICBA), regional governments and organizations (Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy), academic and research institutions (Gulf Research Center, University of Aden, Clingendael), and international media seeking expert commentary on MENA and Gulf-Africa affairs. GTM motion is community-led, relying on thought leadership through publications, podcasts, events, and direct engagement with policy networks rather than marketing-driven demand capture.

Name

CARPO

Legal name

CARPO – Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient e.V.

Website

https://carpo-bonn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CARPO is a Bonn-based German non-profit research organization that produces policy analysis, facilitates track-2 dialogues, and runs publication and event series on West Asia, the GCC, and Gulf-Africa relations. It serves European policymakers, regional governments, academic institutions, and media with grant-funded research and expert convening.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Dialogue Facilitation

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPAIAIAC

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Foreign Affairs & Diplomatic Services

Keywords

• Track-2 dialogue facilitation
• Middle East policy research
• Peacebuilding and conflict mediation
• Gulf-Africa interregional analysis
• Government policy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Project Funding: CARPO operates as a non-profit research organization (e.V. - registered association) funded primarily through project grants from government development agencies and foundations. Major funders include German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt), BMZ, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Swiss FDFA (EDA), and German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CARPO is a non-profit applied research and dialogue facilitation organization focused on West Asia, North Africa, and Gulf-Africa interregional relations. Its core offerings include policy research publications (Briefs, Reports, Studies, Pulse, Sustainability Series), Track-2 dialogue facilitation between regional actors, podcasts (WASSAP), recurring public and closed-door events (Research Forum, Podium, Brussels MENA Briefings, HOME webinars), and artistic science-communication products on Yemen.

Product overview

CARPO (Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient) is a Bonn-based research organization offering a unified portfolio of knowledge products and dialogue services rather than a software platform. Its core offerings consist of publication series — CARPO Briefs, CARPO Reports, CARPO Studies, CARPO Pulse, CARPO Sustainability Series, and CARPO Podcasts (including the WASSAP Africa-West Asia podcast) — which together form a knowledge commons covering policy analysis, environmental sustainability, and geopolitical dynamics in West Asia, North Africa, and Gulf-Africa relations. Complementing these are event series (CARPO Research Forum, CARPO Podium, Brussels MENA Briefings co-hosted with the Stimson Center, and the HOME Institute webinar series), Track-2 dialogue facilitation services for regional diplomatic processes, and artistic science-communication products related to Yemen. CARPO does not operate a technology platform or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARPO Research Forum: Research forum featuring expert discussions on CARPO's core topics and global affairs.
• CARPO Podium
• WASSAP: The Africa-West Asia Podcast

Products and services

• CARPO Briefs Short analytical policy briefs covering specific topics on West Asia, North Africa, and Gulf-Africa relations, distributed free as PDF downloads in English and German.
• CARPO Reports In-depth reports providing comprehensive analysis of regional developments, policy dynamics, and cross-regional relations in the WANA and Gulf-Africa space.
• CARPO Studies Extended scholarly studies examining complex geopolitical phenomena such as Gulf-Africa partnerships, agency dynamics, and regional power shifts.
• CARPO Pulse Timely analytical pieces offering rapid assessment of current geopolitical events and trends affecting the MENA region and Gulf-Africa relations.
• CARPO Sustainability Series Publication sub-series focused on environmental sustainability, climate security, and energy cooperation in West Asia and the Arabian Peninsula.
• CARPO Podcasts (WASSAP: The Africa-West Asia Podcast) Audio podcast series presenting research findings on Africa-West Asia relations, covering energy, sports geopolitics, infrastructure corridors, and other topics, funded by Robert Bosch Stiftung.
• Track-2 Dialogue Facilitation Facilitation of multi-track diplomatic dialogues between regional actors in West Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, including Iran-Saudi Arabia dialogue initiatives and broader West Asian security dialogues, delivered to government and institutional clients.
• CARPO Research Forum Annual virtual conference bringing together experts to discuss thematic priorities including multipolarity, dialogue, and mediation in the Middle East.
• CARPO Podium Public events held at CARPO's Bonn office linked to thematic workshops, covering topics such as media dynamics in West Asia.
• CARPO / Stimson Brussels MENA Briefing Bimonthly in-depth roundtable discussions on MENA-region topics co-hosted with the Stimson Center in Brussels.
• CARPO / HOME Institute Webinar Series: The Middle East and Africa in Flux Online webinar series examining interregional relations between the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, including economic, security, and geopolitical dimensions.
• CARPO Artwork (Science Communication for Social Cohesion and Inclusion in Yemen) Artistic works including films, photo series, and comics produced through German-Yemeni exchange projects to communicate themes of social cohesion and inclusion in Yemen.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, historical and minor.

• Gulf Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner in Saudi-Arabien/Genf providing expertise on Gulf affairs. Hubert Kinkoh serves as Non-Resident Fellow at GRC. Collaborates on research outputs and network building.
• Stimson CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Brussels MENA Briefing series, bringing together policy experts on MENA region topics. Partnership includes 13+ joint briefing events held in Brussels on topics including Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and GCC-EU relations.
• HOME Institute (Horn of Africa and Middle East Institute)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint webinar series 'The Middle East and Africa in Flux' examining interregional relations. Co-organized events on mediation, conflict resolution, and geopolitical implications of US/Israel-Iran conflict on Africa.
• Anwar Gargash Diplomatic AcademymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication collaboration including 'Gulf States' Trade and Investment Relations with Sub-Saharan Africa'. Hubert Kinkoh serves as workshop co-director for Gulf Research Meeting 2026 on GCC-Sub-Saharan Africa Economic Relations.
• Clingendael InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint publication 'Drivers and Strategic Puzzles of Saudi Modernization' (2024) combining expertise on Saudi Arabia's socio-economic transformation.
• EastWest InstitutehistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious collaboration on Iran-Saudi Track 2 Dialogue Initiative, producing joint CARPO/EWI Briefs on topics including post-oil economy (Brief 07) and climate change (Brief 08).
• University of AdenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in Yemen for the Science Communication for Social Cohesion and Inclusion in Yemen project, specifically through the Women Research and Training Center.
• DeepRoot ConsultinghistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrevious partner in the 'Rethinking Yemen's Economy' initiative (2017-2025), contributing to economic analysis of Yemen.
• FCDF (Forum Civil Diplomacy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization shown in CARPO's network of supporters and partners.
• Muscat Policy CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in organizing the inaugural session of the 'Middle East and Africa in Flux' webinar series, examining Middle Eastern engagement in mediation and conflict resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbHhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARPO team members (Jan Hanrath, Sina Winkel) previously worked at GIZ before joining CARPO. CARPO staff have collaborated with GIZ on regional programs including 'Cooperation with Arab Donors'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stimson Center: US-based think tank co-hosting the Brussels MENA Briefing series with CARPO. Directly comparable as both organizations run MENA research programs, host Brussels-based policy events, and publish analytical work on Gulf and MENA security affairs.
• Clingendael Institute: Dutch think tank on international affairs co-publishing with CARPO (e.g., 'Drivers and Strategic Puzzles of Saudi Modernization'). Similar size and focus on GCC and MENA policy analysis, with comparable mission of informing European policy debates.
• Gulf Research Center (GRC): Saudi Arabia/Geneva-based research center focused on Gulf affairs where CARPO's Hubert Kinkoh serves as Non-Resident Fellow. Comparable in subject matter (Gulf politics, GCC-Sub-Saharan Africa relations) and joint publications with CARPO.

Broad incumbents

• Middle East Institute (MEI): Washington DC-based think tank covering Middle East policy including Gulf affairs and track-2 dialogues. Comparable in focus on Gulf-Africa interregional dynamics and policy-oriented publications on regional security.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with a dedicated MENA program. Comparable to CARPO through European-focused MENA research, Brussels-based convening, and policy advisory role for EU institutions.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP): German Council on Foreign Relations conducting research on foreign policy issues including MENA. Comparable to CARPO through overlapping MENA research, German policy audience, and grant-funded model; Sebastian Sons previously worked at DGAP's Near East program.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based global affairs think tank covering MENA among many regions. Comparable in policy research delivery model, international funder base, and audience of European policymakers; operates at far larger scale.
• International Crisis Group (ICG): Global conflict prevention think tank with extensive MENA operations, where CARPO Senior Researcher Hubert Kinkoh previously worked. Operates at much larger scale but comparable in its mandate for policy-relevant research and early-warning analysis on regional conflicts (Yemen, Iran-Saudi).
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): Germany's largest foreign policy think tank based in Berlin, providing policy advice on international politics and security to the Bundestag and government. Closely comparable to CARPO in subject matter (MENA, security) and German institutional funder base, but operates at significantly larger scale across all global regions.

Emerging players

• HOME Institute (Horn of Africa and Middle East Institute): Co-organizes the CARPO webinar series 'The Middle East and Africa in Flux'. Closely comparable in niche focus on Middle East-Africa interregional relations and use of webinars and events as primary engagement channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/carpobonn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carpo-%E2%80%93-center-for-applied-research-in-partnership-with-the-orient-e-v
• Instagraminstagram.com/carpo_bonn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CARPO