Tech Policy Design Institute

What Tech Policy Design Institute does

Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) is an independent, non-partisan think tank headquartered in Canberra, Australia, registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission. Founded as the Tech Policy Design Centre at the Australian National University in September 2021, it spun out as an independent entity in January 2025 under co-founders Johanna Weaver (Executive Director, former Australian chief cyber negotiator at the United Nations) and Zoe Hawkins (Co-Founder and lead researcher). TPDi produces evidence-based research, assessment frameworks, and education programs on technology policy and digital regulation for Australian federal, state, and territory governments, alongside industry, civil society, and academic audiences.

Name

Tech Policy Design Institute

Legal name

Tech Policy Design Institute

Website

https://techpolicy.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Tech Policy Design Institute is an independent Canberra-based think tank producing evidence-based research, assessment tools (AI Agency Tool, Tech Policy Atlas), and education programs on technology policy for Australian government, industry, civil society, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Education Programs: Revenue from professional development courses such as the 'Foundations of Tech Policy' 4-day course priced at $6,250, fully catered in Canberra with course materials included.
2. Tech Policy Design Fund (Blind Trust): Funding from a blind trust model where contributors (government, industry, philanthropy) support TPDi activities. Contributors do not direct outputs and all sponsors are publicly disclosed. Platinum sponsors include Commonwealth Bank and Minderoo.
3. Research Grants and Project Funding: TPDi receives funding for specific research projects from government departments and agencies, including the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts for telecommunications resilience work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) is an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces policy research, analysis, and commentary on technology regulation, digital policy, and governance. It develops proprietary assessment methodologies such as the AI Agency Tool and Tech Policy Atlas, and delivers paid professional education programs including the Foundations of Tech Policy course, all under a blind-trust funding model designed to safeguard independence.

Product overview

Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) is an independent think tank offering research publications, assessment tools, educational programs, and policy resources. The core offerings include the AI Agency Tool (a comprehensive assessment methodology for evaluating national AI capabilities across 103 dimensions), the Tech Policy Atlas (global tech regulation repository), research reports such as Earning Trust and Beneath the Surface, the Tech Mirror podcast, education programs including the Foundations of Tech Policy course and Youth Ambassadors Program, and various policy toolkits. Funded through the Tech Policy Design Fund operating on a blind trust basis. The organization collaborates with government, industry, civil society, and academia to shape technology policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AI Agency Tool A structured, repeatable assessment methodology for evaluating national AI maturity, sovereignty, and agency across 103 capabilities in six layers of the AI ecosystem. Built for governments, industry, and researchers assessing AI capability portfolios.
• Tech Policy Atlas An interactive online repository of national tech policy, strategy, legislation, and regulation covering 36 jurisdictions with over 2,000 records. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and available globally for researchers, policymakers, and analysts.
• Foundations of Tech Policy Course A 4-day fully catered professional development course in Canberra covering the 'how' and 'why' of tech policy design and practice, including methodological frameworks and guiding principles. Priced at $6,250 per participant including materials and catering.
• Earning Trust: Unlocking AI Adoption for Australians National research report examining Australians' attitudes toward AI, trust, and government regulation. Identifies four distinct AI personas and quantifies public support for regulatory action.
• Beneath the Surface Report and Cables Futures Toolkit Report and multimedia toolkit exploring three possible 2045 futures for Indo-Pacific undersea cable connectivity, including scenario videos, comic strips, and a facilitator's guide for stakeholder workshops.
• Tech Mirror Podcast Podcast series exploring how technology shapes the world and how humans can shape technology back, featuring episodes on AI sovereignty, trust in AI, and tech policy issues. Available on Apple, Spotify, Audible, and YouTube.
• Tech Policy Youth Ambassadors Program Mentored professional pathway program creating pathways for young people to contribute directly to national and global tech policy conversations. Supported by the LEGO Group.
• Australian Telecommunications Sector Resilience Profile World-first sector-wide telecommunications risk and resilience profile developed in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Includes the Sector Resilience Maturity Model.
• Map of Australian Tech Policy Ecosystem Visual and organizational tool demystifying the complex stakeholders across Australia's tech policy ecosystem, accompanied by an Index of Federal Government tech, digital and cyber responsibilities.
• Taxonomy of Tech Policy Philosophies Framework that identifies and defines 15 distinct tech policy philosophies to help practitioners identify allies, understand sources of disagreement, and discover opportunities for collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Australia holds very high agency in 8 of 103 AI capabilities assessed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LEGO GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation program sponsor for Tech Policy Youth Ambassadors program to increase participation of children and young people in tech policy design.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipation program sponsor supporting civil society participation in TPDi's activities.
• auDA (.au Domain Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and activity partner co-hosting the annual Tech Futures event at Parliament House as the gala event of Parliamentary Friends of Tech Policy.
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and activity partner, notably supporting the undersea cable connectivity project.
• Cable Connectivity and Resilience CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Government body supporting the Beneath the Surface undersea cable connectivity project. Works with governments and industry across Indo-Pacific to support cable development and management.
• ANU National Security College Futures HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on the Cables Futures project, helping policy makers practically investigate the future through strategic futures analysis.
• Tech for Good InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization based in Singapore collaborating on the Beneath the Surface report, focusing on technology and inclusive, equitable, sustainable growth in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI): University-affiliated AI policy research institute producing influential reports on AI governance, capability assessment, and societal impact. Comparable to TPDi as a multi-stakeholder AI/tech policy research body with proprietary assessment frameworks and global policy influence.
• Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI): Australia's leading independent policy think tank focused on strategic and technology policy including cyber, critical technology, and Indo-Pacific security. Comparable to TPDi as a Canberra-based non-partisan policy research organization receiving mixed government and industry funding and producing influential public reports.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Global policy organization with significant technology policy program covering AI, cyber, telecoms, and supply chain resilience. Comparable to TPDi in producing internationally cited reports and convening government, industry, and academic stakeholders around tech policy.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Global policy advisory organization with significant AI and tech policy program advising governments on digital regulation and AI strategy. Comparable to TPDi in advising government on tech policy frameworks and operating across jurisdictions.
• Ada Lovelace Institute: UK-based independent research body focused on AI and data policy, with foundations in civil society and multi-stakeholder governance. Comparable to TPDi in producing rigorous evidence-based AI policy research and operating an independent, non-commercial funding model.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV): Germany-based independent tech policy think tank producing research on AI, platform regulation, and digital governance. Comparable to TPDi as a focused tech policy research organization developing practical frameworks and advising government on regulation.
• AI Now Institute: US-based AI policy research organization producing influential annual reports on AI accountability, regulation, and societal impact. Comparable to TPDi in producing authoritative AI policy research intended to shape government AI regulation.
• Brookings Institution - Center for Technology Innovation: Major US think tank with a dedicated Center for Technology Innovation producing tech policy research on AI, digital economy, and regulation. Comparable to TPDi in operating model (independent non-partisan research influencing government policy) and mission area (evidence-based tech policy).
• Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF): US-based non-partisan think tank focused on technology policy, innovation, and digital economy. Comparable to TPDi in producing proprietary frameworks and policy reports that influence regulation, and in spanning tech industry analysis and policy design.

Emerging players

• Gradient Institute: Australia-based non-profit research organization working on ethical AI and AI governance frameworks. Comparable to TPDi as a domestic Australian AI policy research body, though narrower in scope to ethical/responsible AI rather than full-spectrum tech policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/techpolicydesigninstitute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tech Policy Design Institute