Indus International Research Foundation

What Indus International Research Foundation does

Indus International Research Foundation (IIRF) is a non-profit policy research foundation established in 2020 and headquartered in Noida, India (Delhi NCR), with a regional USA office in Dallas/Prosper, Texas and a Bangalore operational office. The Foundation produces research and analysis across international relations, security studies, military doctrine and strategy, political economy, science and technology, and Indian heritage, serving governments and policymakers, academics and students, industries and practitioners, military veterans, and civil society. Its content portfolio includes an annual Strategic Yearbook (published in 2023, 2024, and 2025), recurring commentaries, issue briefs, research papers, monographs, journal articles, and books, authored by a contributor network that includes former Lt Generals, Air Marshals, Brigadiers, Commodores, Ambassadors, and academic experts.

The Foundation's core publishing platform runs on a WordPress-based website (indusresearch.in) organized around thematic category pages (Land/Maritime/Aerospace Security, Nuclear, Geopolitics, Defence Technology, Indo-Pacific, QUAD, BRI, SAARC, etc.) and distributed across LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest. Distribution extends to Amazon, Flipkart, and the Sabre & Quill press site for the Strategic Yearbooks, while engagement is reinforced through the Indo-US Forum, the IIRF Creativity Zone, an associate membership program (effective June 1, 2021), webinars, and physical events such as the Bangalore Conclave at Taj Yeshwantpur and the US-India Business Connect 2025.

Its business model is non-profit, with revenue streams limited to retail book sales, associate membership fees (where applicable), and event-driven income; no funding rounds, grants, sponsorships, or institutional investors are disclosed in the input data. Strategic partnerships include World Trade Center Utah (India Trade Mission 2024, US-India Business Connect 2025), CENJOWS, JISS, The India Future (TIF), and an informal network of peer think tanks such as IDSA, USI, ORF, Brookings India, and Carnegie India. With only 7 employees, IIRF operates as a lean publishing and convening platform that relies heavily on its unpaid senior contributor network to sustain content output.

Name

Indus International Research Foundation

Legal name

Indus International Research Foundation

Website

https://indusresearch.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Indus International Research Foundation is a non-profit policy think tank publishing strategic analysis on international relations, security, defence, and Indian heritage for governments, academics, industries, and veterans via annual yearbooks, commentaries, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Strategic Analysis

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAO

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPADAMAJ

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Trade & Economic Development

Keywords

• Policy research
• Defense studies
• International relations
• Geopolitical analysis
• Strategic publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Noida

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Indus International Research Foundation is a non-profit policy research think tank that publishes strategic analysis on international relations, security studies, political economy, and Indian heritage. It sells annual Strategic Yearbooks (2023, 2024, 2025) through Amazon, Flipkart, and Sabre & Quill Press, and offers commentaries, issue briefs, research papers, monographs, journal articles, books, webinars, an associate membership program, and the Indo-US Forum. Content is authored by a global network of scholars, retired military officers, and policy veterans.

Product overview

IIRF operates as a think tank publishing platform offering a portfolio of research publications including annual Strategic Yearbooks, Commentaries, Issue Briefs, Research Papers, Journal Articles, Monographs, and Books. The organization also provides membership programs and hosts the Indo-US Forum for bilateral collaboration. Content covers international relations, security studies, defense technology, military doctrine, and geopolitical analysis, authored by veterans, scholars, and policy experts. Distribution is through Amazon, Flipkart, Sabre & Quill press, and direct sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IIRF Strategic Yearbook Annual strategic publication providing fresh analysis of global trends, international relations, security studies, political economy, and India's role as an emerging world leader. Published annually and distributed through Amazon, Flipkart, and Sabre & Quill Press for governments, policymakers, academics, and researchers.
• Commentaries Timely analytical pieces on current geopolitical developments, security issues, and international relations authored by veterans, scholars, and policy experts. Published on indusresearch.in and accessible to governments, academics, and the broader policy community.
• Issue Briefs Focused analytical briefs addressing specific policy issues, defense matters, and strategic concerns relevant to India's national security and international positioning. Targeted at defense ministries, policymakers, and security professionals.
• Research Papers In-depth academic research papers on international relations, security studies, defense technology, and geopolitical analysis. Used by academic researchers, graduate students, and policy institutions.
• Journal Articles Scholarly articles published in the foundation's journal covering military doctrine, strategy, and security affairs. Targeted at academic researchers and policy institutions.
• Monographs Comprehensive single-topic studies on defense, strategy, and international relations authored by domain experts. Targeted at defense analysts, scholars, and policy institutions.
• Books Published book volumes covering strategic studies, military history, and geopolitical analysis. Targeted at academics, researchers, and informed public readers.
• Associate Membership Program Membership program for scholars, professionals, and veterans in India and abroad, providing access to publications, events, and engagement with the Foundation's research community. Effective from 01 June 2021.
• Recorded Webinars and Videos Recorded panel discussions, talks, and webinars featuring defense experts, veterans, and policymakers on topics including Indo-US collaboration, defense technology, aerospace, and trade. Hosted on indusresearch.in/videos.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IDSA (Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses)minorOthersListed among Indian strategic and security think tanks as part of IIRF's linked organization network. Both organizations focus on defence and strategic studies in India.
• USI (United Service Institution of India)minorOthersListed among Indian strategic and security think tanks as part of IIRF's linked organization network.
• CENJOWS (Centre for Land Warfare)minorOthersIIRF conducts talks and publishes content through CENJOWS. An IIRF contributor (Gp Capt Raj Shekhar Mehta) delivered a talk on BRI implications at CENJOWS in December 2024.
• World Trade Center UtahcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIIRF collaborated with World Trade Center Utah to organize the India Trade Mission to India, 26th February to 6th March 2024. The collaboration resulted in the US-India Business Connect 2025 event and ongoing Indo-US business engagement activities.
• ORF (Observer Research Foundation)minorOthersListed among Indian strategic and security think tanks as part of IIRF's linked organization network.
• Brookings IndiaminorOthersListed among foreign strategic and security think tanks as part of IIRF's linked organization network.
• Carnegie IndiaminorOthersListed among foreign strategic and security think tanks as part of IIRF's linked organization network.
• The Jerusalem Institute of Strategy and Security (JISS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIRF conducted a joint panel discussion on Recent Developments in the Middle East – Israeli & Indian Perspective together with The India Future (TIF) and JISS, reflecting a trilateral strategic engagement.
• The India Future (TIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIRF co-hosted a panel discussion on Recent Developments in the Middle East – Israeli & Indian Perspective alongside JISS and TIF.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Observer Research Foundation (ORF): One of India's leading policy think tanks focused on international relations, economics, security, and governance. ORF is directly comparable to IIRF because both operate as India-based, non-profit research organizations producing commentaries, issue briefs, monographs, and strategic reports on geopolitics and security, and both are explicitly listed in IIRF's linked think tank network.
• Brookings India: Brookings India is the India arm of the Brookings Institution producing research on Indian economic policy, governance, and international relations. It is a direct peer to IIRF in the India-focused policy research space and is listed in IIRF's network of foreign strategic think tanks.
• Gateway House: Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations is a Mumbai-based foreign policy think tank producing research on geopolitics, trade, and international relations. It is a direct peer to IIRF as both are India-based policy research organizations producing strategic analysis with similar target audiences of policymakers, industry, and academia.
• Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF): VIF is a New Delhi-based think tank focused on national security, foreign policy, and international relations, with strong engagement from retired military and civilian officials. It is a direct peer to IIRF given the closely overlapping thematic focus and the similar model of veteran-led research and policy analysis in India.
• Carnegie India: Carnegie India is part of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and is one of the most prominent foreign policy think tanks in India, publishing research on Indian and global security, technology, and political economy. It is a direct peer to IIRF given the overlapping thematic coverage and is listed in IIRF's network of foreign strategic and security think tanks.
• Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA): IDSA is a premier Indian defense and security studies think tank producing research, journals, and policy briefs on strategic affairs. It is a direct peer to IIRF given the overlapping focus on India's national security, military doctrine, and international relations, and IIRF explicitly lists IDSA as a peer organization.
• Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CENJOWS): CENJOWS is an Indian defense think tank focused on land warfare, military doctrine, and strategic studies. It is a direct peer to IIRF given the shared focus on military doctrine and security studies, and IIRF contributors have delivered talks at CENJOWS, indicating active engagement between the two.
• United Service Institution of India (USI): USI is one of India's oldest defense and security studies institutions, with a focus on military history, doctrine, and strategic studies. It is a direct peer to IIRF given the overlap in military doctrine, defense studies, and strategic affairs content, and is listed in IIRF's network.

Emerging players

• The India Forum: India Forum is a digital platform publishing analysis on politics, society, and international affairs by scholars and practitioners. It is an emerging peer to IIRF given the overlap in publishing commentary and analysis on Indian policy and international relations for an academic and informed public readership.

Regional players

• The Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS): JISS is an Israeli national security and foreign policy think tank that produces strategic analysis and policy briefs. It is a peer to IIRF given the joint panel discussion on the Middle East, and the comparable role each plays in shaping national security discourse in its respective country.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indus-international-research-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Indus International Research Foundation