Institut Open Diplomacy

What Institut Open Diplomacy does

Institut Open Diplomacy is a French non-profit think tank (association loi 1901, recognized as an organization of general interest) founded in 2010 by Thomas Friang and headquartered at 141 Avenue de Wagram, Paris. It operates the official French Y20 and Y7 youth engagement groups of the G20 and G7 summits — a mandate it has held continuously since 2011, organizing 15 consecutive annual promotions of Young Leaders and producing policy communiqués delivered to heads of state and government. The institute also convenes the annual Rencontres du Développement Durable under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, produces the polycrisis research framework (geopolitical, ecological, economic, and political crises analyzed as mutually amplifying), and publishes studies, expert interviews, and policy papers disseminated through its website, weekly newsletter, and media partnerships with Les Echos, France Culture, Le JDD, and others.

Its core products are intellectual rather than technological: the polycrisis study (with 30+ experts and 10 co-authors, presented at the French Senate on 31 October 2025), the Y7 and Y20 youth leadership programs, the Parlementaires pour la Paix advocacy network (co-founded 2020), and the Global Forest Summit (co-founded 2021 with Reforest'Action). The underlying technology is policy research conducted through expert interviews, multi-stakeholder consultations, and annual summit processes; the institute's digital presence runs on the Strikingly low-code platform and does not offer APIs, SDKs, or proprietary software products.

Its business model is multi-source grant and sponsorship funding rather than commercial revenue. The institute is funded by institutional partnerships (French ministries for Europe/Foreign Affairs, Ecological Transition, Economy, Gender Equality; European Commission; OECD; UNESCO; ILO; UNDP; AFD; CIRAD; Région Normandie), corporate sponsors (EDF, Schneider Electric, L'Oréal, Natixis, BNP Paribas, PwC France & Maghreb, Axa, Reforest'Action, Citéo, SparkNews, Max Havelaar France, Assystems), and university partnerships (ESCP Business School, ENA, CentraleSupélec, ENSAM, EDHEC, Audencia, INSA, HEIP, Kedge, BSB, MBS, Aix Marseille Université). Programs are offered free of charge to participants; the institute does not sell products, subscriptions, or services and does not publicly disclose revenue or budget. It serves French youth (under 30) selected competitively for the Y20/Y7 delegations, French and European policy makers, a network of 60+ Fellows and 135+ alumni, civil society participants in the SDG convenings, and the broader public through media and publications.

Name

Institut Open Diplomacy

Legal name

Institut Open Diplomacy

Website

https://open-diplomacy.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Institut Open Diplomacy is a French non-profit think tank founded in 2010 that operates the official French Y20 and Y7 youth engagement groups at G20 and G7 summits, trains young French leaders, and produces policy research on the global polycrisis for governments and civil society.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research / Think Tank Services

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Political Organizations (813940)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Model UN & Parliamentary Procedure Programs (Oratory-Focused) (EDAMAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Government, Public Policy & Regulatory Congresses (THAHAJAF), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA), Donor Coordination & Aid Effectiveness (BPADAOAA)

Keywords

• Diplomacy think tank
• Youth leadership programs
• Policy research services
• International affairs research
• G7 G20 engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional funding: Partnerships with French ministries (Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ecological Transition, Economy, Gender Equality), the European Commission, OECD, UNESCO, ILO, UNDP, and regional governments (Normandy), and the French Development Agency (AFD) and CIRAD, providing operational and programmatic funding since 2010.
2. Corporate sponsorship: Corporate patrons including EDF, Schneider Electric, L'Oréal, Natixis, BNP Paribas, PwC France & Maghreb, Axa, Reforest'Action, Citéo, SparkNews, Max Havelaar France, and Assystems provide financial support as corporate sponsors since 2010.
3. University partnerships: Collaborations with higher education institutions including ESCP Business School, ENA, CentraleSupélec, ENSAM, EDHEC, Audencia, INSA Group, HEIP, Kedge Business School, Burgundy School of Business, MBS, and Aix Marseille Université, providing in-kind support, talent pipelines, and joint research.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Institut Open Diplomacy recruits, trains, and accompanies young French leaders (under 30) selected to represent France at the official Y20 and Y7 engagement groups of the G20 and G7 summits, and produces prospective policy research, studies, expert interviews, and annual reports on the "polycrisis" (the mutual amplification of geopolitical, ecological, economic, and political crises). It also convenes the Rencontres du Développement Durable, an annual civil-society forum held under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, and operates the Parlementaires pour la Paix parliamentary advocacy network.

Product overview

Institut Open Diplomacy is a think tank (association loi 1901 recognized as being of general interest) that operates as a research and civic education organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of intellectual products including the Polycrise Study (a comprehensive research framework analyzing the interconnection of geopolitical, ecological, economic, and political crises), youth engagement programs (Y7 and Y20 that place young leaders in official G7/G20 engagement groups), annual events (Rencontres du Développement Durable), advocacy networks (Parlementaires pour la Paix), and educational programs (Global Leadership Masterclasses). The organization focuses on prospective analysis and leadership development to understand and combat the polycrisis affecting the international order.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Y7 Youth Engagement Program The Y7 is the official youth engagement group of the G7, operated by Institut Open Diplomacy on behalf of France. Each year, 9 young French leaders are recruited, trained, and accompanied to attend the Y7 summit in the lead-up to the leaders' G7 summit and produce a communiqué of policy recommendations submitted directly to heads of state and government.
• Y20 Youth Engagement Program The Y20 is the official youth engagement group of the G20, operated by Institut Open Diplomacy on behalf of France. Each year, 9 young French leaders are recruited, trained, and accompanied to attend the Y20 summit in the lead-up to the leaders' G20 summit and produce a communiqué of policy recommendations submitted directly to heads of state and government.
• Comprendre la Polycrise Study A comprehensive prospective research study analyzing the "polycrisis" — the mutual amplification of four systemic crises (geopolitical, ecological, economic, and political). The study, presented at the French Senate on 31 October 2025, is the institute's flagship intellectual framework and includes expert interviews across geopolitics, climate, economics, AI, defense, and international relations.
• Rencontres du Développement Durable Annual civil-society convening on sustainable development, organized under the high patronage of the President of the Republic. It gathers civil society, government, and expert stakeholders to produce recommendations contributing to France's review of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Parlementaires pour la Paix A transnational and cross-party network of parliamentarians that strengthens the voice of young delegates at G20 and G7 and reflects on a potential post-2030 UN Agenda. Co-founded with Initiative Normandie pour la Paix.
• Global Leadership Masterclasses

Quantifiable outcome

• 116 proposals formulated by the Y7 2019 under French presidency, submitted to the President of the Republic
• +4 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

42 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangèrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing institutional partner since 2010. The ministry provides institutional support and collaboration for the institute's international diplomacy activities, including the Y20 and Y7 programs that feed into G20 and G7 summits.
• Commission EuropéennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. The European Commission collaborates with the institute on policy research related to EU affairs, sustainable development, and international relations.
• Organisation pour la Coopération et le Développement Economiques (OCDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. OECD collaborates with the institute on economic analysis and policy recommendations, notably through the Young Leaders program and the polycrisis study.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. UNESCO collaborates on international development and cultural/political topics addressed in the institute's research programs.
• Organisation Internationale du Travail (OIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. The ILO works with the institute on labor, social, and economic policy topics included in the Y20/Y7 policy agenda.
• Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. UNDP collaborates with the institute on sustainable development goals and international development policy.
• Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoirescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. The ministry supports the institute's work on ecological transition, climate policy, and sustainable development integrated into the polycrisis framework.
• Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances, de la Souveraineté industrielle et numériquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. The ministry collaborates on economic policy, digital sovereignty, and industrial strategy topics addressed by the institute.
• Ministère de l'EgalitéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010, collaborating on gender equality policies within the institute's policy agenda.
• Région NormandieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010, collaborating on regional development and peace initiatives through the Normandie pour la Paix Forum.
• AFD - Agence Française de DéveloppementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. AFD supports the institute's work on international development and sustainable finance.
• CIRAD - Centre de Coopération Internationale pour la Recherche Agronomique et le DéveloppementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner since 2010. CIRAD collaborates on agricultural development and environmental sustainability research.
• ESCP Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010. ESCP Business School is notably the alma mater of Thomas Friang (founder) and provides academic collaboration, talent pipelines, and joint research on international affairs and economics.
• Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010. ENA (now INSP) provides academic collaboration and connects high-level civil servant alumni to the institute's programs.
• CentraleSupéleccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010. CentraleSupélec collaborates on technology, economics, and international affairs research. The institute's co-president Xavier Timbeau teaches climate economics there.
• EDHECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010. EDHEC provides talent and academic collaboration.
• AudenciaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010. Audencia provides talent and academic collaboration.
• Groupe INSA (INSA Lyon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010, notably through INSA Lyon and its Institut Gaston Berger, where Dr. Sonia Béchet serves as director.
• MBS (Montpellier Business School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner since 2010.
• EDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010, providing financial sponsorship and collaboration on energy and climate topics.
• Schneider ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010, supporting the institute's work on energy transition and sustainable development.
• L'OréalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010.
• BNP ParibasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010, supporting the institute's economic and financial policy research.
• PwC France & MaghrebminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010, supporting economic analysis and policy research.
• AxaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate patron since 2010.
• Institut Jacques Delors - Notre EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. Co-director Pascal Lamy is Vice-President of the Forum de Paris sur la Paix. Joint activities include policy papers on EU affairs, peace, and international governance.
• IFRI - Institut Français des Relations InternationalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. IFRI collaborates on international relations and geopolitics research.
• Institut MontaignecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. Collaborates on economic policy and public reform research.
• IDDRI - Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations InternationalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. IDDRI (led by Dr. Sébastien Treyer) collaborates on sustainable development and international relations research.
• Fondation Jean-JaurèsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010.
• FRS - Fondation pour la Recherche StratégiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010, collaborating on defense and strategic research.
• OFCE - Observatoire Français des Conjonctures EconomiquescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. OFCE (led by co-president Xavier Timbeau) collaborates on macroeconomic analysis and climate economics.
• German Marshall Fund of the USminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010. GMF collaborates on transatlantic relations, with Thomas Friang having been an auditor of its Young Leaders program in 2016.
• Confrontations EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThink tank partner since 2010, chaired by Michel Derdevet.
• Internet SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association since 2010, represented by Constance Bommelaer de Leusse, Vice-President.
• Les EchosminorOthersMedia partner since 2010. Provides media coverage and editorial collaboration.
• France CultureminorOthersMedia partner since 2010. Provides radio coverage and editorial collaboration.
• Le JDDminorOthersMedia partner since 2010. Provides press coverage and editorial collaboration.
• Société d'Encouragement pour l'Industrie NationaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association since 2010.
• Plan International FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner association since 2010, led by Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert.
• Initiative Normandie pour la PaixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded the Parlementaires pour la Paix network in 2020 and co-organized the Global Forest Summit.
• Reforest'ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded the Global Forest Summit with Reforest'Action in 2021.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institut Montaigne: One of France's largest independent policy think tanks. Direct peer in economic and public-policy research, corporate patronage model, and Paris-based operations serving French ministries and EU institutions.
• Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI): France's leading foreign-policy think tank. IFRI is a direct peer as both organizations produce policy research on geopolitics, international governance, and EU affairs, and compete for the same French ministerial, EU, and corporate sponsorship pool.
• Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS): A French defense and strategic-studies think tank. Listed as an institute partner; comparable because both produce prospective analysis on geopolitics and security, and compete for French ministerial funding.
• Institut Jacques Delors – Notre Europe: A Paris-based think tank focused on European integration and international governance. Direct peer given overlapping policy agenda, shared French institutional partners, and joint activities (Pascal Lamy serves as vice-president of the Forum de Paris sur la Paix alongside the institute's work).
• IDDRI – Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales: A French think tank on sustainable development and international relations. Direct peer because both organizations run SDG-focused policy research and convening, and IDDRI's director Sébastien Treyer is listed as an institute partner.
• OFCE – Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Économiques: A leading French macroeconomic research center whose director Xavier Timbeau is the institute's co-president. Comparable as a French economic-policy producer co-led by the same individuals, with overlapping policy and SDG research streams.

Emerging players

• German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF): Transatlantic policy institute and operator of a flagship Young Leaders program (which founder Thomas Friang attended). Comparable because it runs the international reference youth-leadership program and shares the G7/G20 policy space, though it is a larger, US-based organization.
• EuropaNova: A Paris-based think tank on European policy where Thomas Friang previously worked (2009-2012). Comparable given overlapping focus on EU affairs, youth engagement, and the same institutional partner ecosystem.
• Aspen Institute France: The French chapter of the Aspen Institute and the body that awarded founder Thomas Friang the Young Leader Engagé designation in 2024. Comparable as a leadership-development and policy convening organization with overlapping French elite networks.
• Confrontations Europe: A Franco-European think tank chaired by Michel Derdevet and listed as an institute partner. Comparable because both organizations bridge French and EU policy audiences and convene on European integration and economic issues.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/strikingly
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4I-TRQbiWfEdDvldAXg5ew
• Facebookfacebook.com/strikingly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-diplomacy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut Open Diplomacy