Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar

What Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar does

The Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) is an independent, non-partisan, non-governmental think tank founded in 2016, currently operating in exile from Chiang Mai, Thailand following the 2021 military coup. The organization produces policy-oriented research, analysis, and data on Myanmar's conflict, peace, security, and China-Myanmar relations, organized across three core programs: Conflict, Peace, and Security; China Studies; and a Research Network engaging local researchers across 110 of Myanmar's 330 townships using an 'observatory method' for systematic socioeconomic data collection.

ISP-Myanmar's product portfolio spans roughly 25 distinct output formats including ISP OnPoint (concise preliminary analyses), ISP Data Matters (data visualizations), ISP Mapping (interactive conflict and China-projects maps), State of Myanmar (annual strategic review), Policy Briefs, Situation Briefs, Surveys, Trackers, Reports, ISP Journal, and the ISP Column platform for youth perspectives. Specialized desks (ISP China Desk, ISP Peace Desk) and educational programs — notably the Bridge Education Program (BEP), a three-month intensive course that has produced 281 alumni across six batches — round out the offering. Distribution channels include a bilingual Burmese/English website, the Gabyin Community members-only platform (17,000+ members), podcasts on Apple and Google, and broad social media reach across Facebook (300,000+ followers), Twitter/X, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Telegram, generating 44 million+ views/reads in 2025.

The business model combines free public access (all publications distributed as free PDF downloads) with a freemium membership layer via the Gabyin Community subscription. The organization is structured into five departments — Research, Capacity Building, Communications, Finance, and HR/Admin — and operates with a lean team of 11 employees. ISP-Myanmar is positioning itself as Myanmar's leading independent policy research voice in exile, with 571 research outputs, 200+ media citations, and 105 ISP Columns produced in 2025 alone.

Name

Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar

Legal name

Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP) – Myanmar

Website

https://ispmyanmar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) is an independent think tank operating in exile from Thailand, producing policy research, data visualizations, and educational programs on Myanmar's conflict, peace, security, and China relations for policymakers, journalists, researchers, and the Myanmar diaspora.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research / Think Tank Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), National Security and International Affairs (928), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Think tank publications
• Conflict studies
• China studies
• Data visualization

Headquarters

HQ city

Chiang Mai

HQ country

Thailand

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ISP-Myanmar is an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces policy-oriented research, analysis, and data-driven publications on Myanmar affairs — including conflict, peace and security, China-Myanmar relations, and socioeconomic issues. It operates a Research Network across 110 townships, a membership community (Gabyin Community), and an educational program (Bridge Education Program), distributing findings through publications, data visualizations, multimedia, podcasts, and events.

Product overview

ISP-Myanmar operates as a policy research think tank offering a comprehensive portfolio of knowledge products and services centered on Myanmar affairs. The core offerings include multiple publication formats (ISP OnPoint, ISP Insight Email, ISP Data Matters, ISP Mapping, ISP Explainer, State of Myanmar, Surveys, Trackers, Policy Briefs, Situation Briefs, Reports, Flash Updates, Recap Memos, and ISP Journal), event series (30 Minutes with the ISP, Briefings, Symposiums), and educational programs (Bridge Education Program). Supporting infrastructure includes the Gabyin Community membership platform, specialized research desks (Peace Desk, China Desk), and interactive visual content. The China Studies Program and Conflict, Peace and Security Program serve as the primary thematic research frameworks. Content is disseminated through text publications, multimedia clips, podcasts, and interactive platforms. ISP-Myanmar does not offer a technology product in the traditional SaaS sense; all offerings are knowledge/research outputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ISP China Desk: Dedicated research initiative examining China Studies, mainstreaming China Studies in Myanmar's community.
• ISP Peace Desk
• Bridge Education Program

Products and services

• Gabyin Community Members-only virtual community platform providing exclusive early access to ISP Insight Email and member-only discussions on Myanmar affairs; flagship membership offering with 17,000+ members by early 2024.
• Bridge Education Program (BEP) University foundation-level intensive three-month course covering conflict and security studies, including Community Conflict Mitigation, Federal Unit Governance, Economic Ways of Thinking, Policy Research, and Introductory Academic Program modules. Has produced 281 alumni across six batches.
• Conflict, Peace and Security Program Research program focusing on conflict studies, peace studies, and security studies with outputs including Data Matters, dashboards, On-Point analyses, interactive Mapping, and Multimedia Clips.
• China Studies Program Research initiative dedicated to China Studies in Myanmar, the only such initiative in the country, supporting stakeholders with informed decisions on Myanmar-China relations.
• Research Network Program Network engaging local researchers across 110 out of 330 townships nationwide using the Observatory Method to investigate socioeconomic challenges at regular intervals.
• ISP Peace Desk Dedicated desk focused on peace-related research and analysis, operating its own sub-site at ispmyanmarpeacedesk.com.
• ISP China Desk Dedicated research initiative examining China Studies, mainstreaming China Studies in Myanmar's community, operating its own sub-site at ispmyanmarchinadesk.com.
• ISP Myanmar Podcast ISP-Myanmar Podcast distributed via Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts covering Myanmar affairs and policy analysis.
• State of Myanmar Annual Review ISP-Myanmar's Annual Strategic Review and Foresight covering defining events, scenario mapping, and strategic trajectories for Myanmar.
• ISP Publications (OnPoint, Policy Brief, Situation Brief, Report, Survey, Tracker, etc.) Comprehensive catalog of policy publications including ISP OnPoint (concise analyses), Policy Briefs, Situation Briefs, Reports, Surveys, Trackers, ISP Explainer, Analysis/Opinion, Flash Updates, ISP Journal, and Outlook — covering conflict, peace, security, China-Myanmar relations, and socioeconomic topics. Free to download in PDF.
• ISP Mapping (Interactive Map) Interactive web-based visual representations of conflicts and China's projects in Myanmar, showcasing both separate and overlapping entities.
• ISP Columns (Youth Op-Ed Platform) Platform for bold, original short perspectives on Myanmar and regional affairs, featuring youth perspectives; 105 ISP Columns published in 2025.
• ISP Data Gallery and Data Matters Web-based data presentations and dashboards covering Myanmar's political and socioeconomic landscape, including visualizations on conflicts, China's projects, climate shocks, and blockages.
• ISP Events (Briefings, Talkshows, Symposiums, 30 Minutes with ISP) Premier gatherings for research and policy dialogues, including Talkshows, Myanmar Quarterly Symposiums, ISP Briefings, and the 30 Minutes with ISP series featuring research presentations and discussions.
• ISP Insight Email (Newsletter) Bi-weekly concise and focused emails delivering key takeaways and insights into recent affairs in Myanmar; a cornerstone of the Gabyin Community offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44+ million views and reads on social media platforms in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Crisis Group: Global independent think tank producing reports and briefings on conflict and international affairs, with a long-running Myanmar coverage track. Highly comparable as a policy research organization targeting policymakers, donors, and media with English-language analysis on Myanmar's conflict.
• The Asia Foundation: International development organization running governance, rule of law, and civil society programs across Asia, including Myanmar. Comparable to ISP-Myanmar in producing independent research and capacity-building for democratic governance in conflict-affected Asian states.
• Lowy Institute: Australia-based think tank producing analysis on international affairs with strong Southeast Asia and China coverage. Comparable as an independent policy research outfit using multilingual publishing, interactive data, and media engagement to influence policy and public debate.
• ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute: Singapore-based think tank conducting research on Southeast Asia politics, security, and economy, with significant Myanmar and China-Southeast Asia coverage. Directly comparable as a regional policy research institute producing English-language commentary, surveys, and journals used by policymakers.
• Frontier Myanmar: Independent news and analysis outlet covering Myanmar politics, conflict, and economy. Comparable as a Myanmar-focused English-language information provider producing in-depth reports cited by international media and policymakers, though commercial rather than think-tank oriented.

Emerging players

• Stimson Center: Washington-based policy research center covering security, governance, and natural resources in Asia, including Myanmar's conflict economy and rare earths. Comparable thematic focus on conflict, China, and resource governance in Myanmar, with a comparable mix of policy briefs and tracker outputs.
• China-Myanmar Studies Center (Yunnan University): Academic research initiative examining Myanmar-China relations from a Chinese institutional perspective. Comparable as the closest cross-border counterpart to ISP-Myanmar's ISP China Desk, providing alternative China-Myanmar analysis often cited alongside ISP-Myanmar's work.

Regional players

• Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD): Bangladesh-based independent think tank producing policy research, surveys, and dialogue on governance and economy. Comparable as a Southern think tank using surveys, publications, and events to influence policy, though operating in Bangladesh rather than Myanmar.

Broad incumbents

• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): U.S. federal institution producing research and training on conflict prevention and peacebuilding worldwide, including Myanmar. Overlaps with ISP-Myanmar's Conflict, Peace and Security Program and Bridge Education Program in thematic focus and audience, while operating at much larger scale.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global think tank with programs on Asia, democracy, and conflict, including Myanmar analysis. Directly comparable as a producer of long-form policy research, op-eds, and regional expertise targeting policymakers and engaged publics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ispmyanmar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiTtQC5kx6uQsApT1O_uZDw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISPMyanmarpage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ispmyanmar
• TikToktiktok.com/@isp_myanmar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Institute for Strategy and Policy – Myanmar