UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies

What UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies does

The UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies (IIS) is a multidisciplinary Organized Research Unit (ORU) within the University of California, Berkeley, founded in 1955 and headquartered at 215 Moses Hall (with a listed contact address at 215 Philosophy Hall) on the Berkeley campus. IIS operates as an interdisciplinary academic hub distinct from area studies, focused on the analysis of connective and systemic dynamics in global politics and economics, including cross-border flows of people, ideas, money, goods, diseases, pollution, and information, as well as international institutions, law, migration, civil war, democracy, authoritarianism, humanitarian crises, human rights abuses, globalization, and climate change. Its core offerings include the long-running 'Conversations with History' video and podcast series, multiple speaker series (MIRTH, Endowed Elberg, Global History Seminar, Global Security Policy Seminar, IIS Faculty Seminar, Robert Powell Political Economy Seminar), undergraduate and graduate fellowships, the International Policy Research Discovery (IPRD) student research program, a Senior Fellows Program, and a 49-seat conference room at 223 Philosophy Hall available for rental.

IIS serves four primary stakeholder groups: UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students (through fellowships and the IPRD program), academic scholars and faculty (through convening and publication opportunities), the general public (through free public lectures, the 'Conversations with History' archive, and podcasts on UC-TV and Apple Podcasts), and policymakers and practitioners (through research outputs and event programming). The institute is led by Faculty Co-Directors Susan Hyde and Daniel Sargent, with Executive Director Jessica Olney (appointed January 2026). It operates with a small core staff of approximately 7 people, supplemented by faculty affiliates, graduate student affiliates, and visiting scholars.

As a nonprofit academic unit governed by the UC Regents, IIS does not sell commercial products or services. Its funding derives from UC Berkeley institutional allocations, grants, and private donations channeled through the university's giving platform. Distribution is conducted through in-person campus events, digital content (podcasts, video, website), social media (Twitter/X, LinkedIn), and a Mailchimp mailing list. Strategic partnerships span PAEMA, ISEEES, IES, GIAS, the UC Berkeley Department of Political Science, the Center for African Studies, the Alexander Hamilton Society (Berkeley Chapter), Berkeley Risk and Security Lab, Berkeley Liberty Initiative, and the Commonwealth Club of California.

Name

UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies

Legal name

The Regents of the University of California

Website

https://iis.berkeley.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies is a multidisciplinary Organized Research Unit that convenes scholars, students, and policymakers through speaker series, fellowships, and the 'Conversations with History' program, producing research and convening on global politics, security, and economics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

Keywords

• International studies research
• Academic policy analysis
• Global affairs programming
• University fellowship programs
• Higher education research

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. University Funding: As a multidisciplinary Organized Research Unit (ORU) at UC Berkeley, IIS receives institutional funding from the university. The institute also accepts donations through the UC Berkeley giving platform and may receive grant funding for specific research programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Institute of International Studies (IIS) is a multidisciplinary Organized Research Unit (ORU) at UC Berkeley that conducts academic research and convenes programming on global politics, international relations, and transnational issues. It delivers its mission through speaker series, seminars, public lectures, a long-running video/podcast archive ("Conversations with History"), student fellowships, and research programs such as the International Policy Research Discovery (IPRD) program.

Product overview

The Institute of International Studies (IIS) at UC Berkeley is a multidisciplinary research unit that does not offer commercial technology products. Instead, it provides academic programs and services including: the Conversations with History video/podcast series featuring interviews with global affairs experts; multiple speaker series (MIRTH, Endowed Elberg Series, Global History Seminar, Global Security Policy); the International Policy Research Discovery (IPRD) student research program; undergraduate and graduate fellowships; and a conference room facility available for rental at 223 Philosophy Hall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conversations with History

Quantifiable outcome

• Ten Berkeley students placed in inaugural IPRD cohort conducting research for human rights organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PAEMA (Preventing And Ending Mass Atrocities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026IIS partners with PAEMA for the International Policy Research Discovery (IPRD) program. Ten Berkeley students conduct summer research on conflicts in Sudan, Myanmar, and Democratic Republic of Congo, producing research deliverables including literature reviews, policy briefs, and conflict news monitors. These pieces are used internally by PAEMA and shared with international policymakers working to protect civilians in protracted conflict settings.
• Institute of Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ISEEES)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of events including the April 2026 Hungarian Parliamentary Elections analysis with Professor Jason Wittenberg. Joint programming on European and Eurasian affairs.
• Institute of European StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of events on European affairs, governance, and democracy topics including Hungarian elections and Mexican democracy.
• Global, International & Area Studies (GIAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of events related to global governance, international relations, and area studies.
• UC Berkeley Department of Political SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to IIS Faculty Co-Director Susan Hyde; collaboration on political economy seminars, faculty-led initiatives, and joint events.
• Center for African StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of events including book talks such as Professor Chipo Dendere's presentation on African electoral politics.
• Alexander Hamilton Society (Berkeley Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led organization that co-hosts events with IIS including film screenings and speaker events on US-China competition and Taiwan.
• Berkeley Risk and Security LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated Berkeley entity that shares events of interest with IIS community, including webinars on military AI governance.
• Berkeley Liberty InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkeley institute that co-hosts events with IIS on topics including free speech in global context.
• Commonwealth Club of CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilip Yun, IIS Senior Fellow, serves as President of the Commonwealth Club, facilitating connections between IIS and Bay Area public affairs programming.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foreign Relations: A long-established foreign policy think tank publishing research, hosting events, and convening global affairs practitioners. Shares IIS's convening role on international affairs but at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Brookings Institution: A major Washington-based think tank covering international affairs, economics, and governance with a much larger footprint than IIS. Overlaps in policy research output and convening function but operates independently of a university host.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A global think tank producing policy research on international affairs, with offices in multiple regions. Comparable as an international affairs research and convening organization, though larger and more applied than a university institute.

Direct peers

• Stanford Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies: Stanford University's dedicated international studies research institute, with parallel structure and mission to IIS Berkeley. Both are university-based multidisciplinary hubs for international research, policy analysis, and student fellowship programs.
• Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs: Yale's global affairs research and teaching institute offering graduate programs, faculty research, and policy engagement on international issues. Directly comparable as a university-based international affairs unit.
• Columbia Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies: Columbia University's international security and policy research institute, with faculty affiliates, seminars, and student programming on international affairs. Directly comparable mission and structure to IIS.
• Georgetown Walsh School of Foreign Service: Georgetown's flagship international affairs school combining academic programs, research centers, and policy practitioner engagement. Closely parallels IIS's mission of convening academics, students, and practitioners around international affairs.
• Princeton School of Public and International Affairs: Princeton's academic unit covering international affairs, public policy, and politics, with research centers, graduate programs, and policy engagement. Highly comparable as a university-based international affairs institute.
• Harvard Weatherhead Center for International Affairs: Harvard's primary international affairs research center, convening faculty affiliates, hosting seminars, and supporting student fellowships. Directly comparable as a peer university-based international studies hub.

Regional players

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): The UK-based leading international affairs think tank, hosting research, events, and publications on global governance. Comparable mission to IIS but operates from London with a primarily UK and European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/berkeleyiis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uc-berkeley-institute-of-international-studies

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 UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies