Valdai Discussion Club

What Valdai Discussion Club does

Valdai Discussion Club is a Moscow-based non-profit think tank and international discussion forum founded in 2004, operating through the Valdai Club Foundation. Its core function is to convene high-level expert dialogue on global politics, geopolitics, economics, and security, hosting annual conferences (the 22nd Annual Meeting was held in Sochi in 2025 and featured Russian President Vladimir Putin), regional conferences (Middle East at 15 editions, Central Asia at 6 editions, Baltic dialogues), and expert roundtables. The club produces a portfolio of intellectual outputs including Valdai Papers (analytical reports), Valdai Talks (video discussions), the Valdai Club Award, and the New Generation youth program, all distributed free of charge through valdaiclub.com and supporting social media channels.

The product and program portfolio spans analytical publications, multimedia content, awards, and youth engagement, with thematic programs covering multipolarity, Eurasian security, economic statecraft, and global governance. Content is produced by a lean permanent team of 17 employees, supplemented by a network of expert contributors from over 100 countries and partner institutions including East China Normal University, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MGIMO, HSE, RIAC, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. There is no proprietary technology stack; the organization's "platform" is its convening capability, editorial brand, and institutional relationships.

The business model is non-commercial: all content, publications, and most events are provided free of charge, with revenue sourced from foundation and governmental support via the Valdai Club Foundation. The customer/user base is diversified across international relations academics, government officials, policymakers, and young scholars, with a stated geographic reach across Russia, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, the Middle East, and broader Europe and Asia.

Name

Valdai Discussion Club

Legal name

Valdai Club Foundation

Website

https://valdaiclub.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Valdai Discussion Club is a Moscow-based non-profit think tank founded in 2004 that convenes annual conferences, regional summits, and expert dialogues on global politics, geopolitics, and economics, publishing reports and multimedia content for an international community of academics, policymakers, and young scholars.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation funding: The Valdai Discussion Club is operated by the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club (as referenced by Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board). Revenue appears to come from foundation/governmental support rather than commercial operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Valdai Discussion Club is a non-profit international think tank that convenes high-level expert dialogue on global politics and produces analytical publications. Its core offerings are the annual conference programme, regional conferences (Middle East, Central Asia, Baltic, Russia-China), and a suite of research outputs including Valdai Papers, expert reports, Valdai Talks videos, and thematic projects on multipolarity, Eurasian security, and global governance. All content and event access is provided free of charge to participants and the public.

Product overview

Valdai Discussion Club is a think tank organization offering a portfolio of intellectual platforms and publications focused on international affairs, geopolitics, and global economics. The core offerings include Valdai Papers (analytical reports), Valdai Talks (multimedia video content), the Valdai Club Award (recognition programme), and the Valdai – New Generation youth engagement programme. Additional initiatives include the Think Tank research platform, Economic Statecraft programme, Politics and Climate project, and The Eastern Perspective project. The organization hosts annual conferences and expert discussions featuring international scholars, diplomats, and policymakers. The portfolio functions as an integrated suite of intellectual platforms for research, dialogue, and analysis on multipolar world order, Eurasian security, and global governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Valdai – New Generation: Youth program bringing together young researchers from Russia and partner countries for collaborative research and intellectual exchange.
• Valdai Papers
• Valdai Talks
• Valdai Club Award
• Think Tank
• The Eastern Perspective
• Economic Statecraft

Products and services

• Valdai Papers

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Partnership for expert dialogue series held in Kaliningrad. The collaboration includes multiple sessions on topics such as the Eurasian security system, civilization-state concepts, contemporary media and dialogue of civilizations.
• East China Normal University (ECNU) - Centre for Russian StudiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2026Flagship annual partnership for joint Russian-Chinese conferences. ECNU serves as the Valdai Club's primary partner in China, bringing together qualified experts closely involved in decision-making mechanisms. The annual conferences have become key events in Russian-Chinese academic and expert dialogue, attracting media attention in both countries.
• Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Long-standing partnership for the annual Middle East Conference series. The 15th Valdai Club Middle East Conference was held in February 2026 in partnership with this institute. Provides academic expertise and research support for discussions on Middle Eastern geopolitics, conflicts, and regional dynamics.
• Sasakawa Peace FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025Japanese think tank with which Valdai Club signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation in September 2025. Represents expansion of Valdai's partnership network to include Japanese expertise in peace and security studies.
• Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Russian research institution that participates in Valdai Club events and conferences. Provides expert analysis on global economy and international relations.
• Institute of China and Modern Asia (RAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian Academy of Sciences institute specializing in China and Asia studies. Contributes experts and research to Valdai Club discussions on Eurasian affairs.
• National Research University Higher School of Economics (NRU HSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Russian university that provides experts and research fellows for Valdai Club activities, including participants in the Valdai New Generation project.
• Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian think tank focused on international affairs. Participates in Valdai Club conferences and expert discussions on global politics.
• Diplomatic Academy of ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina's primary diplomatic training and research institution. Contributes experts to Valdai Club events on Chinese foreign policy and international relations.
• Chinese Academy of Social SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Chinese research institution providing scholars for Valdai Club events and discussions on China-related topics.
• Shanghai Academy of International StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShanghai-based international relations research institution participating in Valdai Club China-related programming.
• Fudan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Chinese university contributing academic experts to Valdai Club discussions on international relations and geopolitics.
• Higher School of Economics (HSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian university partner contributing researchers and experts to Valdai Club activities, including those involved in the Valdai New Generation project.
• MGIMO University (Moscow State Institute of International Relations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Russian diplomatic academy contributing experts to Valdai Club events. Multiple MGIMO researchers are listed as contributors to Valdai publications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: International affairs think tank focused on global governance, security, and economics. Comparable in producing substantive reports, hosting high-profile events, and engaging expert networks on multilateral issues.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): Long-established US foreign policy think tank with a comparable convening model: bringing together experts, former officials, and academics to discuss global affairs. Comparable in mission around international dialogue and policy research.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): One of the world's leading international affairs think tanks, headquartered in London. Comparable in convening governments, producing policy reports, and hosting expert discussion on global governance and geopolitics.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Major global think tank producing research and convening networks on international affairs, with a comparable focus on geopolitics, security, and global governance. Comparable in research output, expert convening, and policy engagement.
• Brookings Institution: Major US think tank producing research and policy analysis across global economics, security, and international relations. Comparable in publishing model (reports, papers) and convening of senior experts.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): US-based international affairs think tank producing research and analysis on global security, economics, and policy. Comparable in publishing reports, hosting high-profile convenings, and engaging senior policymakers and scholars.

Direct peers

• China Institute of International Studies (CIIS): Premier Chinese foreign-affairs research institute. Comparable as a state-affiliated think tank focused on international relations, policy research, and expert convening with international partners.
• Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC): Russia's primary foreign policy think tank, also based in Moscow and focused on international relations. RIAC is a direct partner of Valdai and operates in the same geopolitical discourse space with overlapping expert networks.
• Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS): Major Chinese government-affiliated think tank on international relations and foreign policy. Comparable as a state-affiliated international-relations research platform with conference programming and expert publishing.
• Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO): Leading Russian academic research institute on world economy and international relations. A direct partner of Valdai, with comparable research output and expert network in global politics and economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/valdaiclub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@valdaiclub
• Facebookfacebook.com/valdaiclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/valdai-discussion-club
• Instagraminstagram.com/valdaiclub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Valdai Discussion Club