What Rusi Europe does

RUSI Europe is the Brussels office of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an international, Belgian-registered not-for-profit organisation established in 2015 as RUSI's European hub. It conducts evidence-based research and convenes high-level events across seven research groups spanning cyber and tech, defence industries, finance and security, terrorism and conflict, and climate, energy and defence. Its core products are research publications, policy roundtables and thematic summits (including the SIFMANet Sanctions Summit, NATO 75th anniversary conference, and joint RAND Europe Women, Peace and Security roundtable), and membership programmes (Individual, Organisational, and RUSI NextGen). Flagship research initiatives include Euro SIFMANet (sanctions and illicit finance monitoring), Project SMURF (Ukraine reconstruction fund oversight), the SAFA Taskforce (Secure Access to Frontier AI), the Maritime Sanctions Taskforce, and the Extremism and Gaming Research Network.

The organisation's business model combines research grants and project funding (including EU-funded projects and support from corporate partners such as Google) with recurring membership subscriptions and event convening. Its customers are primarily EU and NATO policymakers, Brussels-based officials and businesses, and a network of European think-tanks seeking access to UK and international defence and security expertise. Marketing channels centre on events, research publications, newsletters, LinkedIn, and earned media coverage. The Brussels office does not disclose pricing publicly and operates within the consolidated digital infrastructure of parent RUSI (rusi.org), with the standalone rusieurope.eu domain having been retired.

Revenue, funding totals, and headcount growth metrics are not publicly disclosed; the organisation operates as a sub-entity within the larger RUSI charity (England and Wales charity number 210639), independent of government and without traditional equity ownership.

Name

Rusi Europe

Legal name

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies

Website

https://rusieurope.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RUSI Europe is the Brussels-based not-for-profit office of the UK's Royal United Services Institute, conducting evidence-based research and convening high-level events on defence, security, and international affairs for EU and NATO policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defence and Security Policy Research

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), International Affairs (928120), National Security (928110)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• Defence research
• Security policy
• Think tank
• Policy advisory
• Geopolitical analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Project Funding: RUSI Europe generates revenue through research grants and funded projects, including EU-funded projects and support from organizations such as Google for specific research initiatives.
2. Membership: The organization offers Individual Membership, Organisational Membership, and RUSI NextGen membership programs, providing revenue through annual subscriptions.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RUSI Europe conducts evidence-based research on defence, security, and international affairs across seven research groups covering cyber and tech, defence industries, and finance and security. It convenes high-level conferences, policy roundtables, and thematic summits that connect EU, NATO, and member state officials with UK and international defence expertise. The organisation also runs flagship research initiatives such as Euro SIFMANet, Project SMURF, the SAFA Taskforce, and the Maritime Sanctions Taskforce, complemented by Individual, Organisational, and RUSI NextGen membership programs.

Product overview

RUSI Europe operates as a defence and security think tank offering a portfolio of research publications, policy events, and specialized research initiatives rather than a commercial product platform. The organization connects policymakers across the EU, NATO and member states with UK and international defence expertise through seven research groups covering cyber and tech, defence industries, and finance and security. Their core offerings include evidence-based research publications, high-level roundtables and conferences, and membership programs. Key flagship projects include Euro SIFMANet for sanctions monitoring, Project SMURF for Ukraine reconstruction oversight, the SAFA Taskforce for frontier AI security, the Maritime Sanctions Taskforce, and the Extremism and Gaming Research Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Publications Evidence-based research publications on defence, security, and international affairs produced by RUSI Europe's seven research groups, distributed to EU, NATO, UK government officials, diplomats, and the wider policy community.
• Events and Roundtables High-level conferences, policy roundtables, and thematic summits (including NATO anniversary events, SIFMANet Sanctions Summit, and WPS roundtables with RAND Europe) convening EU, NATO, and member state officials with UK and international defence and security expertise.
• Membership Programs Three membership tiers (Individual Membership, Organisational Membership, and RUSI NextGen) providing annual access to RUSI research, events, and professional networks for individuals, organisations, and next-generation policy professionals.
• Euro SIFMANet (European Sanctions and Illicit Finance Monitoring and Analysis Network) Flagship sanctions and illicit finance monitoring and analysis project hosted by RUSI Europe, covering policy analysis, monitoring frameworks, and convening of European sanctions stakeholders.
• Project SMURF (Supervising and Monitoring Ukraine's Reconstruction Funds) Flagship research project examining the supervision and monitoring of Ukraine's reconstruction funding, addressing illicit finance risks linked to post-conflict reconstruction.
• SAFA Taskforce (Secure Access to Frontier AI) Research taskforce producing a framework paper establishing secure access standards for frontier AI models in the defence and security sector, addressing cybersecurity, information security, and model-level risks.
• Maritime Sanctions Taskforce Research taskforce analysing maritime sanctions evasion, particularly shadow fleet activity, and recommending flag state reform and embedding registry oversight into FATF evaluation frameworks.
• Extremism and Gaming Research Network (EGRN) Research network coordinated by RUSI Europe that studies radicalisation in online gaming spaces and broader extremism trends, producing research on P/CVE, malign foreign funding, and mis-/disinformation.
• CFS Europe (Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies) Brussels-based activities of RUSI's Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, focused on the intersection of illicit finance and security in the EU and its neighbourhood, hosting Euro SIFMANet and Project SMURF.

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 flagship, core and minor.

• RAND EuropeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025RUSI Europe held a joint policy roundtable with RAND Europe in January 2025 focusing on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) policies and best practices, convening diplomats, NATO and EU officials.
• SIFMANet (European Sanctions and Illicit Finance Monitoring and Analysis Network)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024RUSI Europe hosts the Euro SIFMANet project, a flagship initiative focused on sanctions and illicit finance monitoring and analysis across Europe.
• UK Joint Delegation to NATOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024RUSI Europe organized a high-level event with the UK Joint Delegation to NATO on the occasion of NATO's 75th anniversary in April 2024, featuring a keynote from the UK Foreign Secretary.
• NATO Centre of Excellence Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Joana de Deus Pereira serves as certified lecturer and instructor at NATO COE-DAT, teaching Border Security, Border Technology and Human Trafficking courses.
• Kyiv School of Economics (KSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPetras Katinas is a non-resident Research Fellow at KSE's Energy Sanctions Group, working on Russia sanctions analysis and presenting research to G7, NB8, and European Commission.
• International Centre for Policing and Security (USW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Joana de Deus Pereira is Senior Research Fellow at ICPS-USW, co-managing activities of the first Jean Monnet Network on EU Counter-Terrorism.
• WindwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWindward previewed participation at London International Shipping Week 2025, with Windward Academy forum bringing together experts from OFAC, OFSI, HFW, RUSI, and other organizations to discuss maritime compliance challenges.
• Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies (CFCS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Kinga Redlowska leads CFS Europe activities at RUSI Europe, focusing on the intersection of illicit finance and security in the EU and neighbourhood, including Euro SIFMANet and Project SMURF.
• EU InstitutionscoreOthersRUSI Europe brings together experts from EU institutions for roundtable discussions on internal security threats, illicit finance, and defence policy, contributing to ProtectEU and EU AML/CTF package discussions.
• UK GovernmentcoreOthersRUSI Europe engages with UK government officials and decision-makers, helping Brussels-based officials access and engage with UK perspectives on security and defence issues.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): Chatham House is the UK's preeminent international affairs think tank, offering comparable research publications, membership programmes, and convening events focused on international affairs and security policy.
• RAND Europe: RAND Europe is a Brussels-based policy research organisation covering defence, security, and international affairs with similar research-publication and convening models; RUSI Europe has even co-hosted roundtables with RAND Europe on Women, Peace and Security.
• Carnegie Europe: Carnegie Europe is the Brussels-based European arm of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, conducting policy research and convening on European security, defence, and transatlantic relations in direct overlap with RUSI Europe.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): IISS is a UK-anchored global think tank on defence and security with a Brussels office, producing research publications, convening events, and member networks covering the same transatlantic security topics as RUSI Europe.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): ECFR is a pan-European foreign-policy think tank headquartered in London with major offices across EU capitals, conducting policy research and high-level convening that directly competes with RUSI Europe's EU/NATO policy offering.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): CEPS is a leading Brussels-based think tank producing policy research on EU economic, security, and foreign-policy issues, serving the same Brussels policymaker audience as RUSI Europe.

Others

• Bruegel: Bruegel is a Brussels-based economic policy think tank whose work on sanctions, economic security, and EU industrial policy intersects thematically with RUSI Europe's finance-and-security research, though its primary lens is economic rather than defence.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: Atlantic Council is a large US-headquartered think tank with a Brussels presence, working on transatlantic security, defence industry, and sanctions policy — overlapping with RUSI Europe's portfolio but with a much broader global footprint.

Regional players

• Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS): FRS is a French defence and security research foundation producing policy analysis on strategic, military, and security issues, addressing overlapping topics to RUSI Europe but serving primarily French and francophone European audiences.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): SWP is the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, providing policy advice and research on European and global security issues comparable to RUSI Europe's work, but anchored in Berlin rather than Brussels.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rusieurope

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rusi Europe