Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)

What Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) does

The Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank founded in 1972 and headquartered in Montreal, with a secondary office in Ottawa. Its core activity is evidence-based policy research and analysis across Canadian social and economic issues, including affordability, housing, skills and training, climate transition, Indigenous governance, trade diversification, public-sector capacity, and federalism. Research outputs are disseminated through Policy Options (a bilingual digital magazine), the biweekly Futureproofing Canada podcast, an affiliated Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation, dedicated research initiatives such as the Affordability Action Council and the Community Transformations Project, and a stream of policy briefs, commentaries, and peer-style studies, all distributed primarily through free digital channels and Creative Commons republishing.

IRPP's revenue model is non-commercial and structured around an endowment fund established in the early 1970s that underwrites institutional independence, supplemented by general donations, foundation grants (e.g., Max Bell, Metcalf, Future Skills Centre), and unconditional government funding. Donors may not steer the research agenda or influence conclusions, and the organization is certified under Imagine Canada's Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code. Its products are largely free at point of use, with a small IRPP Store for physical merchandise and publications. The downstream user base is horizontal: federal and provincial policymakers, academic researchers, journalists, and engaged citizens, with no single dominant customer.

IRPP's most recent technical initiative is the Sovereign Impact Assessment Agent (SIAA), an autonomous AI system that uses fragmented government datasets to pre-populate impact assessment applications and surface information gaps, marking a shift from purely publishing-style outputs toward operational tooling for regulators. A postdoctoral fellowship program targeting Indigenous, Black, and racialized scholars, plus multiple publishing awards (Canadian Online Publishing Awards 2017-2023, Digital Publishing Awards 2017-2018, Charles Lynch Prize 2015) round out the institutional profile. The organization does not disclose revenue, fundraising totals, or its full balance sheet.

Name

Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)

Legal name

Institute for Research on Public Policy

Website

https://irpp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) is an independent, endowment-funded Canadian think tank founded in 1972 that produces evidence-based research, the Policy Options magazine, and the Futureproofing Canada podcast for federal and provincial policymakers, academics, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Endowment Fund: The Institute maintains independence through an endowment fund established in the early 1970s, which provides a stable financial foundation for operations.
2. General Sponsorships and Donations: The IRPP accepts general sponsorships and financial donations while ensuring they do not compromise its credibility as an independent organization. Donors cannot steer the agenda or influence research process.
3. Government Funding: Accepts unconditional government funding. The IRPP invests its own resources in all projects and seeks a diversity of donors.
4. Policy Options Digital Magazine: IRPP publishes Policy Options, a digital magazine that publishes articles on public policy. Revenue may come from advertising and subscriptions.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IRPP is an independent, non-partisan Canadian think tank that conducts evidence-based public policy research and disseminates findings through studies, policy briefs, a digital magazine (Policy Options), a podcast (Futureproofing Canada), and dedicated research centres such as the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation. It also operates research initiatives including the Community Transformations Project and the Affordability Action Council, and runs the IRPP Store for print publications.

Product overview

IRPP operates as a policy research think tank offering a unified portfolio of research products and knowledge mobilization services. The core offerings include the Policy Options digital magazine (providing a public forum for policy discourse), the Futureproofing Canada podcast series (biweekly discussions on Canada's future), and the Centre of Excellence (analyzing federation issues). These are complemented by the Community Transformations Project and Affordability Action Council as dedicated research initiatives, alongside a broader suite of research studies and publications covering affordability, skills development, trade policy, Indigenous relations, and public sector modernization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation: A research initiative focused on Canadian federal governance and intergovernmental relations.
• Policy Options
• Futureproofing Canada

Products and services

• Policy Options Magazine A digital magazine publishing commentary, opinion pieces, and policy analysis by IRPP researchers and external contributors for Canadian policymakers, journalists, academics, and the engaged public.
• Futureproofing Canada Podcast A podcast series hosted by IRPP researchers and guests that explores major policy issues affecting Canada's future, aimed at policymakers, academics, journalists, and informed citizens.
• Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation A research centre within IRPP that produces studies, policy briefs, and convenings on federalism, intergovernmental relations, and the structure of the Canadian federation, targeted at federal and provincial policy audiences.
• IRPP Research Studies and Policy Briefs Original peer-style research studies, policy briefs, and reports on Canadian social and economic policy issues, distributed online (open access) and via the IRPP Store, for governments, academics, media, and the public.
• IRPP Store An online retail channel for purchasing printed editions of IRPP books, reports, and select publications, serving individual readers and institutional libraries.
• Community Transformations Project A research initiative studying local-level social and economic transformations across Canadian communities, producing findings for policy actors and community organizations.
• Affordability Action Council An initiative dedicated to research and policy advice on affordability, cost of living, and economic security issues facing Canadian households, aimed at policymakers and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• CGEB research influenced federal policy on income support expansion
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Future Skills CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership on place-based skills development and net-zero transition workforce training. The collaboration reviews international experiences with net-zero transitions applicable to Canada, examining initiatives from Australia, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, and US.
• Affordability Action CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between policy experts and community leaders addressing affordability challenges. IRPP serves as the research lead, producing analysis on housing, food security, income supports, and transportation policy.
• Centre of Excellence on the Canadian FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRPP's internal Centre of Excellence producing research on Canadian federalism and intergovernmental relations, including provincial resentments within the federation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Canada 2020: Canadian progressive think tank focused on economic and social policy research. Comparable to IRPP in its research publications, podcast, and event programming aimed at Canadian policymakers and engaged citizens.
• Canada West Foundation: Western Canadian policy think tank producing research on economic, social, and public policy issues. Directly comparable to IRPP in its non-partisan stance, research publication model, and focus on informing Canadian public policy debate.
• MacDonald-Laurier Institute: Canadian public policy think tank producing research on economic, foreign policy, and social issues. Comparable to IRPP in its non-partisan positioning, research depth, and influence on federal policy debates.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Canadian progressive policy research institute. Comparable to IRPP in its research publication model, alternative policy framing, and engagement with federal and provincial policy debates.
• Public Policy Forum: Canadian non-profit focused on improving government outcomes through research, dialogue, and convening. Closely comparable to IRPP in its role as an independent convener and producer of policy research serving Canadian public-sector stakeholders.
• Fraser Institute: Major Canadian public policy think tank with an extensive research publication program. Comparable to IRPP in scale and breadth of policy research outputs, though ideologically distinct, making it a key competitive alternative for media attention and donor funding.
• C.D. Howe Institute: One of Canada's most prominent policy research think tanks, focused on economic and public policy issues. Closely comparable to IRPP as a non-partisan, research-driven organization producing influential policy briefs, commentaries, and reports for Canadian federal and provincial decision-makers.
• Institute on Governance: Canadian non-profit focused on governance and public administration research. Comparable to IRPP in its focus on government capacity, public sector reform, and convening of senior public servants.
• Broadbent Institute: Canadian progressive policy think tank producing research and hosting events on public policy. Comparable to IRPP as a Canada-focused, ideologically-positioned think tank with research publication and convening functions.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: One of the largest and most influential U.S.-based public policy research organizations. Comparable to IRPP as an established think tank with a non-partisan approach, deep research publication archive, and significant influence on government policy, though at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irpp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IRPP1972
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-for-research-on-public-policy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)