Denkfabrik R21

What Denkfabrik R21 does

Denkfabrik R21 is the brand of REPUBLIK21 e.V., a German registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in November 2021 and headquartered in Munich with a secondary office in Berlin (Hauptstadtbüro). The organization describes itself as an 'Ideenschmiede' (intellectual forge) whose mission is to develop, strengthen, and justify a new bourgeois (bürgerlich) political agenda for Germany and Europe. It is governed by a board (Vorstand) led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Rödder and including Dr. Kristina Schröder and Dr. Harald Mosler, with an extended ecosystem of founding members (Susanne Schröter, Ahmad Mansour, Jörg Hackeschmidt, Jan F. Kallmorgen), an advisory Beirat, and an Expertenrat für Klima und Energie chaired by Prof. Dr. Joachim Weimann.

The think tank's operating model is content- and event-driven, organized around six thematic verticals: Staat & Gesellschaft (State & Society), Migration & Integration, Klima & Energie (Climate & Energy), Europa & Die Welt (Europe & The World), Medien & Öffentlichkeit (Media & the Public), and Wirtschaft & Finanzen (Economy & Finance). Product surfaces include two podcasts — 'Frei heraus' and 'Der Preis ist heiss' (the climate podcast) — distributed via the website and YouTube; written articles, position papers, and policy frameworks (notably 'Eckpfeiler bürgerlicher Politik' and 'Rote Linien bürgerlicher Politik'); a recurring 'Gramsci des Monats' column; recurring conferences (e.g., R21-Konferenz on freedom of expression); a Nachwuchsförderung (youth development) program; and an email newsletter. Distribution combines owned digital channels (WordPress site, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, YouTube) with earned media placements in outlets such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, Handelsblatt, NZZ, Tagesspiegel, and ZDF.

Commercially, R21 is a non-profit funded by recurring Fördermitgliedschaften (supporting memberships — currently 703 against a goal of 1,000), one-off Spenden (donations, tax-deductible under German law), and supporter contributions. No public pricing exists; membership benefits include access to publications, prioritized event registration, and twice-yearly closed meetings with the board. The customer base is primarily politically engaged German citizens — described in segmentation as bourgeois-liberal persona — with secondary influence into CDU/CSU and FDP policy circles. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Denkfabrik R21

Legal name

REPUBLIK21 e.V. Denkfabrik für neue bürgerliche Politik

Website

https://denkfabrik-r21.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Denkfabrik R21 is a German non-profit political think tank (REPUBLIK21 e.V.), founded in 2021 in Munich, that publishes policy research, podcasts, and conferences on bourgeois-liberal positions across six thematic areas for politically engaged citizens and CDU/CSU/FDP-aligned circles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)

Keywords

• Policy research think tank
• Bourgeois political discourse
• Policy analysis publications
• Political commentary conferences
• Nonprofit political foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fördermitgliedschaft (Supporting Membership): Recurring membership fees from supporting members who receive access to publications, advance information about events, prioritized event registration, and twice-yearly exclusive meetings with the board and founding circle. The organization had 703 supporting members as of the latest count with a goal of 1,000.
2. Spenden (Donations): One-time donations from supporters. The association is non-profit (gemeinnützig), making donations and membership fees tax-deductible. Donations up to 300 EUR can be proven via bank statement; higher amounts receive a donation receipt (Zuwendungsbescheinigung).

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Denkfabrik R21 is a German nonprofit think tank that produces policy research, position papers, podcasts, conferences, and a youth talent program covering six bourgeois-liberal policy areas: State & Society, Migration & Integration, Climate & Energy, Europe & The World, Media & Public, and Economy & Finance. Its core "product" is the ongoing flow of independent, critical intellectual content and convenings, financed through supporting memberships (Fördermitgliedschaft) and tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

Denkfabrik R21 is a German political think tank organized as a non-profit association (REPUBLIK21 e.V.) focused on developing and strengthening new bourgeois/bourgeois-liberal politics in Germany and Europe. The organization operates as a multi-platform content publisher offering podcasts (R21-Podcast 'Frei heraus' and R21-Klimapodcast 'Der Preis ist heiß'), conferences, publications, and educational programs. Key products include policy framework papers (Eckpfeiler bürgerlicher Politik), the 'Gramsci des Monats' monthly column, and youth promotion programs. The organization covers six main thematic areas: State & Society, Migration & Integration, Climate & Energy, Europe & The World, Media & Publicity, and Economy & Finance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• R21-Podcast (Frei heraus): The main podcast of the organization, titled 'Frei heraus' (Freely Forthright).
• R21-Klimapodcast (Der Preis ist heiß)
• Gramsci des Monats

Products and services

• R21-Podcast 'Frei heraus' The main podcast of Denkfabrik R21 featuring discussions on political topics, expert interviews, and analysis of current German and European affairs, distributed via the website and the @denkfabrikr21 YouTube channel for a bourgeois-liberal listening audience.
• R21-Klimapodcast 'Der Preis ist heiß' A specialized climate and energy policy podcast from Denkfabrik R21 featuring expert discussions on emissions trading, climate policy, and energy economics, for policy professionals, students, and intellectually curious listeners.
• R21-Konferenzen Conference and event series organized by Denkfabrik R21 covering key political themes such as freedom of expression and climate policy, bringing together experts, members, and the public for in-person deliberation.
• Eckpfeiler bürgerlicher Politik A standing policy framework program from Denkfabrik R21 that articulates the foundational pillars of a renewed bourgeois politics in Germany, including structured positions on migration, climate, and European policy, intended for political actors, journalists, and engaged citizens.
• Nachwuchsförderung (Youth Talent Program) A structured youth talent promotion program by Denkfabrik R21 supporting emerging voices and next-generation contributors to bourgeois political discourse in Germany.
• Publikationen und Artikel (Articles and Analyses) Written publications including articles, analysis pieces, and position papers published by Denkfabrik R21 across six thematic areas (State & Society, Migration & Integration, Climate & Energy, Europe & The World, Media & Public, Economy & Finance) for the general politically interested public.
• Fördermitgliedschaft (Supporting Membership) Recurring supporting membership (Fördermitgliedschaft) of Denkfabrik R21 that grants access to publications, advance event information, prioritized event registration, and twice-yearly exclusive meetings with the board and founding circle, intended for individual supporters of independent bourgeois policy thinking in Germany.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: Green-affiliated political foundation running a similar model of policy research, publications, and events tied to a political family. Illustrative of the German 'Stiftungen' model R21 operates within, but on the opposite end of the political spectrum.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: SPD-affiliated political foundation with a similar think-tank-plus-convening model. Relevant as a structurally similar peer to R21 in non-profit policy research, even though the political alignment is different.
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung: CDU-affiliated political foundation and the most prominent center-right think tank in Germany. Highly comparable to R21 in mission (bourgeois-conservative policy research), thematic focus, and outputs (publications, conferences, expert networks), but operates at vastly larger scale and budget.
• Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit: FDP-affiliated liberal foundation with similar policy research, education, and event programming targeting bourgeois-liberal audiences. Closely aligned ideologically with R21's 'bürgerlich-liberal' positioning and shares the talent overlap (e.g., former R21 Managing Director Martin Hagen moved to FDP).
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP): Independent German foreign policy think tank producing analysis, policy papers, and convening events on European and international affairs. Comparable to R21 on the 'Europe & Die Welt' thematic pillar and in operating a non-party-affiliated expert voice in German policy debates.
• Körber-Stiftung: Independent German foundation active in policy research, international dialogue, and civic education. Comparable to R21 as a non-party-affiliated policy voice producing publications and events across multiple thematic areas in Germany.
• Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW Köln): Employer-association-affiliated economic policy research institute producing influential analysis and publications. Directly comparable to R21's 'Wirtschaft & Finanzen' pillar and its model of policy-relevant economic research and expert commentary.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of the largest private foundations in Germany with extensive policy research, publications, and program work across education, economy, and society. Operates as a much larger-scale broad incumbent in the same policy-research space R21 occupies.
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): Government agency promoting civic education and political discourse in Germany. Overlaps with R21 on themes of state, society, and democratic discourse, though operating as a publicly funded incumbent at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with a multi-country office network. Comparable to R21 as a policy voice on European affairs, but with a stronger pan-European footprint and a more established Council format.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Denkfabrik_R21
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@denkfabrikr21
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/denkfabrikr21

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Denkfabrik R21