Finnish Institute of International Affairs

What Finnish Institute of International Affairs does

The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA, Finnish: Ulkopoliittinen instituutti, UPI) is an independent research institute operating in connection with the Finnish Parliament, established by law in 2006 (Law 29.6.2006/544) and tracing its origins to a 1961 foundation. Its core function is producing research, analysis, and convening on Finnish foreign policy, international politics, the global economy, and EU affairs, organized into four programs: Finland and Northern European Security; European Union and Strategic Competition; Russia, Eastern Europe and Eurasia; and Global Security and Governance. Outputs include the FIIA publication series (Comment, Briefing Paper, Research Paper, Report), the Helsinki Security Forum annual conference launched in 2022, the Ulkopoditiikkaa podcast launched in 2026, the UPI Live livestream platform, and a special research library holding over 24,600 volumes and approximately 200 journals.

FIIA serves three primary audiences: government policymakers (the Finnish Parliament and ministries such as Foreign Affairs and Defence, plus EU and Nordic-Baltic peers), the academic IR community, and media and the general public. All research outputs and events are provided free of charge; there is no commercial pricing model. The institute is led by Director Hiski Haukkala (appointed autumn 2024) and governed by a Board chaired by Ambassador Klaus Korhonen with cross-representation from Members of Parliament, university professors, and the State Secretary for EU Affairs.

Revenue is entirely grant-funded, with base funding from the Finnish Parliament and project funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Business Finland, Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland, Defence Science Delegation (MATINE), Horizon Europe, and the National Emergency Supply Centre. The institute employs approximately 70 staff at its Helsinki headquarters (Arkadiankatu 23 B, 00100 Helsinki) and plans to relocate into Parliament's premises in 2027.

Name

Finnish Institute of International Affairs

Legal name

Ulkopoliittinen instituutti

Website

https://fiia.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) is an independent research institute operating under the Finnish Parliament, producing analysis on foreign policy, EU affairs, and international security for policymakers, academics, and the public since 1961.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research

NAICS

Public Administration (92)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAD

Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPAIAAAH

Public Communications, Transparency & Open Government

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

Keywords

• Policy research institute
• Foreign policy analysis
• International relations
• Security policy research
• EU affairs research

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Parliamentary base funding: Base funding from the Finnish Parliament (Riksdagen) as an independent research institute operating under parliamentary oversight.
2. Research project funding: External funding from multiple sources including Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, Business Finland, Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland, Defence Science Delegation (MATINE), and Horizon Europe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FIIA is an independent research institute operating in connection with the Finnish Parliament, conducting research on Finnish foreign policy, international politics, global economic relations, EU affairs, and security policy. The institute produces peer-reviewed research publications (FIIA Comment, Briefing Paper, Research Paper, Report), hosts events including the flagship Helsinki Security Forum, and operates media channels including the Ulkopoditiikkaa podcast, UPI Live streaming platform, and Ulkopolitiikka online publication to inform policymakers, academics, and the public.

Product overview

Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) is an independent research institute operating in connection with the Parliament of Finland. The organization offers a portfolio of research publications, conferences, and media products including FIIA publications (Research Papers, Briefing Papers, Reports, Comments), the Helsinki Security Forum flagship conference, the Ulkopolitiikka online magazine, and the Ulkopoditiikkaa podcast. The institute conducts research organized into four programs: Finland and Northern European Security, European Union and Strategic Competition, Russia Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and Global Security and Governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Helsinki Security Forum (HSF): The flagship annual international security conference of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, bringing over 350 decision-makers, experts, and influencers from around the world to Helsinki to discuss foreign and security policy issues.
• Ulkopolitiikka (UP)

Products and services

• Helsinki Security Forum (HSF) Annual international security conference bringing together over 350 decision-makers, experts, and influencers to discuss foreign and security policy challenges, issues, and future prospects with annually changing themes.
• FIIA Publications Institute publications including FIIA Comment, FIIA Briefing Paper, FIIA Research Paper, and FIIA Report covering Finnish foreign policy, international politics, global economy, and EU affairs.
• Ulkopoditiikkaa Podcast

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Finnish ParliamentcoreOthersBase funding provider. FIIA operates as an independent research institute under the Finnish Parliament, which also provides oversight and governance through a board appointed by Parliament.
• Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) networkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network producing joint policy briefs on security, resilience, and critical infrastructure in the Nordic-Baltic region.
• Finnish Government (State Treasury Center)coreOthersProcesses FIIA's purchase invoices. FIIA is a government entity under parliamentary administration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based independent foreign policy think tank producing research, publications, and high-level convening events on international affairs. Directly comparable to FIIA as a national parliamentary-linked IR research institute with a global convening mandate.
• Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI): Norway's leading IR research institute conducting policy-oriented research and hosting events. Comparable as a Nordic, publicly supported, publication- and event-driven think tank serving government and academia.
• Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI): Sweden's main foreign policy research institute producing analysis, publications, and events. A close Nordic peer with similar mandate of independent IR research for policymakers and the public.
• Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS): Danish publicly funded research institute working on international affairs, security, and development. Comparable in funding model, Nordic positioning, and policy-research output to FIIA.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: US-based foreign policy think tank with a strong convening and publication agenda on transatlantic and global security. Comparable to FIIA in its research/event output model, though operating at much larger scale and different funding base.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): Global think tank producing strategic analysis, the Strategic Survey, and high-profile security conferences (e.g., Shangri-La Dialogue). Comparable to FIIA's flagship Helsinki Security Forum model at a much larger international scale.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global, independently funded foreign policy research network producing analysis on international affairs and governance. Comparable to FIIA as a research-and-publication-driven, non-partisan IR institution, though globally distributed and substantially larger.
• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Germany's leading foreign and security policy think tank advising the Bundestag and federal government. Comparable as a parliament-affiliated, government-funded IR research institute, but materially larger in scale.

Regional players

• Estonian Foreign Policy Institute (EFPI / ICDS): Estonia-based international centre for defence and security producing IR research and convening events. Comparable as a small Northern European foreign policy institute with government-linked funding.

Others

• Finnish Institute for Foreign Affairs / IFRI equivalent: Note: French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) is one of Europe's largest independent foreign policy research centers; while not a Nordic peer, it is thematically analogous as a state-supported, publication- and event-driven IR think tank.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fiia_fi
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FIIA_fi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finnish-institute-of-international-affairs
• Instagraminstagram.com/fiia_upi
• Facebookfacebook.com/upifiia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Finnish Institute of International Affairs