Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP)

What Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) does

The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) is a non-profit academic research center founded in 2022 and headquartered at the University of Sussex Business School in Brighton, UK. It operates as the first Centre dedicated to trade policy to be funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). CITP's research focuses on trade policy, Brexit implications, UK-EU relations, devolution and regulatory autonomy, industrial policy, digital trade, and climate-trade linkages. Its primary constituents are UK Government policymakers, the UK Parliament (House of Lords and House of Commons), UK Devolved Administrations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), international organizations (World Bank, IADB, UN ESCAP, WTO), and academic researchers.

CITP's primary outputs include peer-reviewed academic publications, working papers, briefing papers, blog posts, and a UK International Agreements Database covering over 250 international agreements from 2017–2024 with analysis of overlap with devolved competences. The center also offers a paid Online Diploma in International Trade Policy and produces trade policy animations. The research team is distributed across multiple UK universities (University of Sussex, University of Nottingham, Queen's University Belfast, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh) and international institutions (LUISS University Rome, European University Institute, University of San Andrés), drawing on trade economists, legal scholars, and political scientists.

CITP's revenue model is built on ESRC research grant funding via UKRI, with research outputs published freely via the CITP website. The center has a small team of 9 employees and a wider affiliated researcher network, with leadership comprising Deputy Director Emily Lydgate and Advisory Board Chair Andrew Lang. Distribution channels include the CITP website, academic journal publications, parliamentary evidence submissions, policy briefings, and the paid Online Diploma program. The center operates as a community-led policy research organization with no venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP)

Legal name

Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy

Website

https://citp.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CITP is the first ESRC-funded Centre dedicated to trade policy, hosted at the University of Sussex Business School. It produces evidence-based research, a UK International Agreements Database, and an Online Diploma, serving UK Parliament, devolved administrations, and international organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Policy Research

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interagency/International Information Exchange & Cooperation (BPAIADAN)

Keywords

• Trade policy research
• International trade economics
• Policy analysis
• Regulatory cooperation
• Brexit impact studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. ESRC Research Grant Funding: Core funding provided by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), for conducting trade policy research and building scholarly capacity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CITP conducts academic research and analysis on international trade policy, with a focus on inclusive trade policy formulation and outcomes. It produces working papers, briefing papers, academic journal articles, and blog posts on topics such as Brexit, devolved government involvement in trade policy, regulatory cooperation, digital trade, and climate-trade linkages. The center also delivers an online educational diploma in international trade policy and maintains a UK International Agreements Database tracking treaty provisions and devolved competences.

Product overview

The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) is an academic research center funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, focused on trade policy research and analysis. Rather than a unified software product, CITP offers a portfolio of research services and educational offerings including: the Online Diploma in International Trade Policy (an educational course), Trade Policy Animations (animated explanatory videos), the UK International Agreements Database (a novel research database tracking over 250 UK treaties), and various publications including working papers, briefing papers, academic papers, and blog posts. CITP's research covers topics such as devolved government involvement in UK trade policy, gene-editing regulations, data centre infrastructure implications for digital sovereignty, trade disruptions, and export/import dynamics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Created comprehensive UK International Agreements Database covering 250+ agreements from 2017-2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• University of Sussex Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for CITP; provides office space, administrative support, and academic infrastructure at the Jubilee Building
• Queen's University BelfastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution where Professor Billy Melo Araujo is Professor of European and International Economic Law; research collaboration on trade law
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution where Professor Facundo Albornoz is based; research collaboration on trade and development
• LUISS University RomesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution where Professor Maria Savona is Professor of Applied Economics
• European University InstitutesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution where Professor Bernard Hoekman is based; research collaboration on trade policy and WTO
• UK Parliament (House of Lords, House of Commons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides evidence submissions, expert testimony, and policy briefings to parliamentary committees on trade policy matters
• UK Devolved Administrations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on devolved administration involvement in post-Brexit UK trade policy

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Resolution Foundation: A UK think tank focused on economic policy and living standards with strong engagement in Whitehall and Westminster. Comparable to CITP in its evidence-based approach and influential role in UK policy debates.
• Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House): A leading UK-based international affairs institute with substantial research on trade policy, global governance, and international law. Comparable to CITP in international policy reach and in commissioning evidence used by governments.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): A UK-based global affairs think tank working on trade, development, and international economic policy. Comparable to CITP in delivering research and advisory services to international organisations such as the World Bank and UN ESCAP.
• Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS): A high-credibility UK microeconomic research institute with strong parliamentary engagement. Comparable to CITP in its evidence-led approach, although IFS focuses more on domestic fiscal policy than trade.
• National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR): One of the UK's oldest economic research institutes, producing macroeconomic and trade-related analysis. Comparable to CITP in its role as a provider of independent, evidence-based research used by UK government and Parliament.

Others

• International Trade Centre (ITC): A joint UN/WTO agency supporting trade policy and export development for developing countries. Comparable to CITP in its trade policy focus and its collaboration with international organisations, although it is a multilateral body rather than an academic research centre.

Direct peers

• UK Trade Policy Observatory (UKTPO): Also based at the University of Sussex and focused on UK trade policy analysis, UKTPO is the most direct comparator. It shares overlapping research themes, audiences, and institutional roots with CITP, although its funding model and structure differ.
• European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE): A Europe-based trade policy think tank producing research on international trade, digital trade, and regulatory cooperation. Highly comparable to CITP in research themes and audience, with overlap of several CITP-affiliated researchers in its network.
• UK in a Changing Europe: A UK-based research initiative focused on the UK's relationship with the European Union, with strong parliamentary engagement. Comparable to CITP in post-Brexit policy research focus and audience.
• Centre for Economic Performance (CEP), LSE: A leading UK economic research centre producing peer-reviewed research on trade, labour markets, and productivity. Comparable to CITP in academic rigour, policy influence, and use of micro-data, and a former employer of several CITP-affiliated researchers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-inclusive-trade-policy-citp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP)