Tankesmien Agenda

What Tankesmien Agenda does

Tankesmien Agenda is a politically independent (partipolitisk uavhengig) Norwegian think tank founded in 2014 on the initiative of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), headquartered in Oslo at Youngs gate 7–9. The organization produces knowledge-based policy analysis and progressive policy development targeted at the center-left of Norwegian politics. Its portfolio centers on four product lines: Agenda-notater (freely published policy research notes covering 25+ topics including inequality, labor, EU/EEA, welfare, integration, populism, and foreign affairs), public events and debates held across Norway (including recurring Arendalsuka participation), a portfolio of podcast series (Noen har snakket sammen, Sykt mange meninger, Ut i verden, Agenda-debatt, plus affiliated shows), and structured educational programs (Agenda-akademiet for young adults 20–35, Digitalt akademi, Europaseminaret in Brussels/Paris, and kurs og foredrag lectures).

The organization sits within a broader Agenda ecosystem comprising three related brands: Agenda Rådgivning (a strategy and communications consulting arm that generates commercial fee revenue), Res Publica (an affiliated publishing house), and Agenda Magasin (an online political magazine). Tankesmien Agenda itself is a non-profit with approximately 15 staff organized across executive leadership, communications, subject-matter advisors, and administrative functions. Its go-to-market is event-driven and content-led: the organization distributes free research via its website, runs public events across multiple Norwegian cities, and engages audiences through newsletters and four major social media platforms including TikTok. Revenue derives primarily from LO institutional backing, supplemented by modest program fees (e.g., Agenda-akademiet at 1,500 kr per participant; Europaseminaret at 47,000 kr per participant) and Agenda Rådgivning consulting income. No revenue figures, funding rounds, or grants are publicly disclosed.

Name

Tankesmien Agenda

Legal name

Tankesmien Agenda

Website

https://tankesmienagenda.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tankesmien Agenda is an Oslo-based independent Norwegian think tank founded in 2014 by the LO trade union confederation, producing policy research, public debates, podcasts, and educational programs on center-left issues for Norwegian political actors, the labor movement, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Think tank analysis
• Political education programs
• Public debate events
• Social policy publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research grants and commissioned policy analysis: Tankesmien Agenda produces policy research, analyses, and reports (notater) that are publicly available. The organization was established on the initiative of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and operates as an independent think tank. Revenue is implied to derive from organizational funding, grants, and possibly commissioned analysis. No explicit revenue figures are disclosed.
2. Agenda Rådgivning (consulting services): Agenda Rådgivning is a consulting environment affiliated with Tankesmien Agenda, providing strategy and communications advisory services to societal actors. This represents a commercial revenue stream for the broader organizational ecosystem.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tankesmien Agenda produces and disseminates policy research notes (Agenda-notater), hosts public debates and events, publishes podcasts and an online magazine, and runs educational programs (Agenda-akademiet, Digitalt akademi, Europaseminaret, kurs og foredrag) aimed at strengthening public discourse and center-left policy development in Norway.

Product overview

Tankesmien Agenda is a politically independent think tank offering a portfolio of knowledge products and educational programs. Its core offerings include Agenda-notater (policy research reports), Arrangements (public events and debates), multiple Podkaster (podcast series), and educational programs (Kurs og foredrag, Agenda-akademiet, Digitalt akademi, Europaseminaret). The organization also encompasses related brands including Agenda Rådgivning (consulting), Res Publica (publishing), and Agenda Magasin (online magazine). These offerings work together to strengthen public discourse through knowledge dissemination, policy analysis, and progressive politics development for the center-left in Norwegian politics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Agenda-akademiet: Annual program for politically engaged young people aged 20-35 featuring three weekend gatherings
• Digitalt akademi
• Europaseminaret
• Noen har snakket sammen
• Sykt mange meninger
• Ut i verden
• Agenda-debatt

Products and services

• Notater (Agenda-notater) Policy research reports and analysis documents presenting factual background, analyses, and policy recommendations on more than 25 societal issues including welfare, economy, labor, immigration, integration, populism, foreign affairs, climate, EU/EEA, and democracy. Intended for the Norwegian public, media, politicians, labor movement, and civil society.
• Arrangementer (Public Events and Debates) Public events including debates, panel discussions, meetings, book launches, film screenings, and breakfast meetings hosted throughout Norway, including Arendalsuka. Intended for the general public, media, politicians, and civil society.
• Podkaster (Podcast Series) Multiple podcast series covering politics, society, development policy, news, pop culture, and current affairs, distributed via Spotify and other podcast platforms. Targets Norwegian listeners interested in political and societal debate.
• Kurs og foredrag (Courses and Lectures) Educational courses and lectures delivered by Tankesmien Agenda advisors on welfare, digitization, economics, inequality, integration, democracy, and preparedness. Fees are arranged individually upon request. Targeted at organizations and groups seeking expert-led policy training.
• Agenda-akademiet Annual three-weekend political education program for society-engaged young people aged 20-35, covering Norwegian model, democracy, inequality, labor movement, ideology, foreign policy, climate, and economics. Participation fee is NOK 1,500 for three sessions. Application-based.
• Digitalt akademi Digital training forum enabling young people to participate in online political debate through lectures, discussions, and guidance. Targeted at younger audiences seeking digital political education.
• Europaseminaret Five-day study seminar in Brussels and Paris for professionals in politics, journalism, labor movement, and business, focusing on European political development, energy, security, labor, and industry. Participation fee is NOK 47,000 per participant, including accommodation, meals, and program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Published a major joint report on global inequality with LO, Norsk Folkehjelp, and Oxfam, recommending inequality reduction as the core objective of Norway's development policy.
• +1 more outcomes

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Landsorganisasjonen i Norge (LO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTankesmien Agenda was established on the initiative of LO (Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions) in 2014. LO is the founding patron and primary organizational backer of the think tank. The relationship is foundational — Tankesmien Agenda contributes to policy development for the center-left, closely aligned with the labor movement's values and priorities. Several joint publications (e.g., the inequality report with LO, Norsk Folkehjelp, and Oxfam) demonstrate ongoing co-development.
• Agenda RådgivningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgenda Rådgivning is an affiliated consulting environment that works with strategy and communications. It operates as a separate entity (agendaradgivning.no) but is part of the broader Tankesmien/Agenda ecosystem. The two organizations share branding and collaborate on events and programs (e.g., Europaseminaret contact person Una Pasovic is from Agenda Rådgivning).
• Res Publica (forlag)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRes Publica is a publishing house associated with Tankesmien Agenda. Several staff members of Tankesmien have published books through Res Publica, and the publishing house is presented as a related entity on the main website.
• Agenda MagasincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgenda Magasin (agendamagasin.no) is an online political magazine also associated with Tankesmien Agenda. It is presented as a related entity and shares branding. The magazine publishes background and analysis pieces in Norwegian political debate.
• DagsavisenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDagsavisen is a Norwegian newspaper. The 'Politisk pub' podcast is a collaboration between Dagsavisen, Tankesmien Agenda, and Grünerløkka Arbeiderparti. This is a content co-production partnership.
• Manifest AnalyseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManifest Analyse is a Norwegian political analysis organization. Tankesmien Agenda collaborated with Manifest Analyse and 'For velferdsstaten' on the 'Rødgrønn debatt' (Red-green debate) series in spring 2025, organizing meetings across nine Norwegian cities.
• For velferdsstatenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor velferdsstaten is a Norwegian advocacy organization. Tankesmien Agenda collaborated with Manifest Analyse and For velferdsstaten on the 'Rødgrønn debatt' series.
• Grünerløkka ArbeiderpartiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrünerløkka Arbeiderparti co-produces the 'Politisk pub' podcast together with Dagsavisen and Tankesmien Agenda.
• OxfamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTankesmien Agenda collaborated with LO, Norsk Folkehjelp, and Oxfam on a major policy report titled 'Ny utviklingspolitikk: Norge kan redusere ulikheten' (New development policy: Norway can reduce inequality). This is a joint international development policy report.
• Norsk FolkehjelpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorsk Folkehjelp (Norwegian People's Aid) co-authored the joint inequality and development policy report with Tankesmien Agenda, LO, and Oxfam.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Norsk Utenrikspolitisk Institutt (NUPI): Norwegian Institute of International Affairs producing research on foreign policy, development, security, and European affairs. Directly overlaps Tankesmien Agenda's Ut i verden podcast, Europaseminaret, and EU/EØS research portfolio.
• Studieförbundet Medborgarskolan (SNS): Swedish centre-right study group producing economic and policy analysis, convening seminars, and publishing reports. Directly comparable to Tankesmien Agenda as a Nordic ideologically-aligned policy research and convening organization.
• Friedrich Ebert Stiftung: German social democratic foundation and think tank closely affiliated with the SPD. Directly comparable as a labor-movement-linked center-left policy institute producing research, convening events, and running political education programs across multiple countries.
• CEPOS: Danish libertarian/conservative think tank publishing policy analyses and hosting debates on welfare, taxation, and regulation. Direct Nordic peer to Tankesmien Agenda in scale, format, and policy-debate function.
• Civita: Norwegian center-right think tank that mirrors Tankesmien Agenda's role for the political right. Both produce policy notes, host public events, run podcasts, and seek to shape Norwegian public debate from ideologically aligned positions.
• Fafo: Norwegian Institute for Labour and Social Research. Closely tied to the labor movement (LO is a key funder) and produces applied research on working life, welfare, and integration — directly overlapping Tankesmien Agenda's labor and inequality remit.
• Timbro: Swedish free-market/center-right think tank publishing policy reports, hosting debates, and operating educational programs. Directly comparable in format and Nordic policy-debate role to Tankesmien Agenda, but with the opposing ideological orientation.
• Manifest Analyse: Norwegian political analysis organization that co-produced the 'Rødgrønn debatt' series with Tankesmien Agenda in 2025. Closely comparable in mission, size, and Norwegian political-debate positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung: German conservative foundation affiliated with the CDU. Comparable to Tankesmien Agenda's center-left institutional model — a large, well-resourced political-foundation think tank with research, events, education, and international programming spanning many countries.
• Chatham House: UK-based international affairs think tank publishing research, hosting high-profile events, and running leadership programs. Comparable in mission and content format to Tankesmien Agenda's foreign affairs, EU, and development policy work, though at far greater scale and global reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tankesmienagenda
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tankesmien-agenda
• Instagraminstagram.com/tankesmien_agenda
• TikToktiktok.com/@tankesmien.agenda?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Tankesmien Agenda