Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)

What Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) does

The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) is an independent, non-profit think tank founded in Berlin in October 2003 that conducts research, provides policy advice, and facilitates international dialogue on global governance. The institute operates without an endowment or core funding, functioning entirely on a project-based revenue model composed of grants from foundations, governments, EU institutions, and UN agencies, supplemented by contractual research and advisory work and individual donations. Its issue areas span economic security and critical technologies, strategic foresight, global order, humanitarian action, migration, peace and security, monitoring and evaluation, and rights and democracy. Work is delivered through policy publications (commentaries, studies, policy briefs, dossiers), evaluation services, and convening programs such as the Germany–South Korea–Japan trilateral dialogue and the ENSURED global-governance research consortium.

GPPi serves four primary customer segments: national governments (notably the German Federal Foreign Office), international organizations (including UN agencies such as UNHCR and WFP, and the International Committee of the Red Cross), philanthropic foundations (Stiftung Mercator, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Open Society Foundations, Bertelsmann Stiftung, and others), and the broader non-profit sector. Go-to-market is direct engagement and competitive grant pursuit rather than commercial sales; pricing is not applicable as the institute does not sell products. The organization is led by a co-founder President (Wolfgang Reinicke) and three Directors (Thorsten Benner, Philipp Rotmann, Julia Steets), supported by a Head of Operations, three additional Heads of thematic practice areas, and a research staff of approximately 79.

GPPi does not develop proprietary technology products, software platforms, or APIs. Its operational infrastructure consists of a website (gppi.net), a five-times-yearly newsletter, and standard communications and publishing workflows. Distribution of research occurs through direct policymaker engagement, the institute's website, and placement in major media outlets such as Foreign Affairs, IP Quarterly, Focus, Tagesspiegel, and Internationale Politik. Partnerships include academic collaborations with institutions such as the Hertie School, Central European University, and Harvard, alongside a global network of non-resident fellows and a Circle of Friends of former colleagues that the institute draws upon for projects.

Name

Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)

Legal name

Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)

Website

https://gppi.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) is an independent, Berlin-based non-profit think tank founded in 2003 that conducts research, policy advice, and international dialogue on global governance, funded by project grants from foundations, governments, EU institutions, and UN agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Project Preparation Facilities & Technical Assistance Windows (BPADAOAI)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Global governance consulting
• Humanitarian policy advice
• Strategic foresight analysis
• Dialogue facilitation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Project Grants: GPPi operates entirely on project-based funding. The institute receives grants for specific research projects from foundations, governments, EU institutions, and UN agencies. As a non-profit, profits from commercial contracts are reinvested into research activities.
2. Contractual Work: GPPi generates revenue through contractual research and advisory services provided to public and non-profit sector clients including international organizations, national governments, and foundations.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and institutions who share GPPi's mission. Contact person for donations is Wade Hoxtell, Head of Operations.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GPPi is an independent, non-profit think tank that conducts policy research, delivers advisory services, and facilitates international dialogue and professional convenings on global governance challenges. Its work covers economic security and critical technologies, humanitarian action, migration, peace and security, global order, strategic foresight, monitoring and evaluation, development, and rights and democracy, serving governments, international organizations, and foundations.

Product overview

GPPi is an independent non-profit think tank based in Berlin that conducts research, provides policy advice, and facilitates international dialogue. The organization does not offer a commercial product or software platform. Its work encompasses research publications, policy analysis, consultation services, dialogue facilitation programs, and evaluation services across issue areas including economic security and critical technologies, strategic foresight, global order, humanitarian action, migration, peace and security, monitoring and evaluation, and rights and democracy. Notable research initiatives include the ENSURED project on global governance effectiveness, the Aid Rebuilt interview series on humanitarian reform, and various projects on Germany and Europe's strategic autonomy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Policy Research and Publications Independent policy research and publishing services covering nine issue areas including economic security and critical technologies, humanitarian action, migration, peace and security, global order, strategic foresight, development, and rights and democracy, delivered as commentaries, studies, policy briefs, and project reports for governments, international organizations, and foundations.
• Strategic Foresight and Advisory Services Strategic foresight, scenario planning, and policy advisory services for governments, international organizations, and foundations, including the ENSURED project on effective global governance of AI, biodiversity, health, gender rights, and global taxation.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Services Independent evaluation and learning services for humanitarian and development programs, including tools and frameworks that promote organizational change and learning, delivered to NGOs, UN agencies, and foundations.
• Global Dialogue Facilitation Programs Facilitated international dialogue programs and convenings that create space for exchanging ideas, developing shared initiatives, and building connections across countries, disciplines, and professional communities, such as the 'United in Shared Vulnerabilities' panel with Germany, South Korea, and Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research published in major international publications including Foreign Affairs, IP Quarterly, and national outlets
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Harvard University and Global Research InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPPi works with leading universities and research institutions around the world for academic collaboration and joint research projects.
• Hertie School of GovernanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for academic collaboration (mentioned in 2019 and 2017 funding sources).
• Central European UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for academic collaboration (mentioned in 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 funding).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): London-based international affairs think tank with a far larger endowment and brand. Competes with GPPi for foundation and government funding across global governance, security, and economic policy.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Long-established global security and international affairs think tank. Overlaps with GPPi on peace and security, humanitarian action, and strategic foresight, with a much larger global footprint and subscription model.
• Körber Foundation: Hamburg-based German foundation running policy research and dialogue programs on international affairs, security, and European cohesion. Comparable to GPPi's mission in independent policy research and international dialogue facilitation.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Major US-based international affairs think tank working on global governance, economic policy, and security. Comparable to GPPi in research-and-advisory model and global funder network, with much larger scale.
• Brookings Institution: One of the largest US-based policy research organizations. Competes with GPPi for foundation funding and government contract work, with a much broader issue mandate and institutional scale.

Direct peers

• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (DGAP): Berlin-based think tank focused on foreign and security policy. Direct peer of GPPi with overlapping programs in transatlantic relations, NATO, and European strategic autonomy, and a similar European funder base.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with offices across EU capitals. Directly comparable in mission (European strategic autonomy, EU-China relations, global governance) and in raising project funds from European foundations and governments.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) — German Institute for International and Security Affairs: Berlin-based policy research institute advising the German government and Bundestag on international and security policy. Directly comparable to GPPi in geography, issue area (security, global governance), and government-funder base.

Others

• Heinrich Böll Foundation: German political foundation affiliated with the Greens and a current GPPi funder. Thematically adjacent as a policy research and dialogue organization providing grants to think tanks active in international affairs, democracy, and sustainability.

Emerging players

• Hertie School of Governance: Berlin-based policy school conducting research and graduate education on European and global governance. Direct overlap with GPPi on Berlin policy ecosystem, governance research, and named as a GPPi academic partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gppi-berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

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 Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)