Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP)

What Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP) does

The Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP) — legal name Institut für Schweizer Wirtschaftspolitik, UID CHE-370.418.501 — is a non-profit academic research institute affiliated with the University of Lucerne, headquartered at Obergrundstrasse 9, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland. Under Managing Director René Scheu (Geschäftsführer), the institute conducts research, teaching, and public discourse on Swiss economic policy, with three declared research priorities: social policy (Sozialpolitik), fiscal policy (Fiskalpolitik), and institutions (Institutionen). Outputs include scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, recurring fact sheets, a monthly Fakten-Newsletter, and events such as public lectures and the annual IWP Prize for Excellent Economic Journalism ceremony.

IWP's core "products" are content artifacts rather than technology: research papers, policy analyses, a Subsidy Report tracking approximately 49 billion CHF of annual federal subsidies across 22,560 identified first-time recipients, and the branded IWP-Preis, a 30,000 CHF journalism award launched in 2024 with recurring annual ceremonies. Distribution is free and direct — publications are downloadable from iwp.swiss, supplemented by a donation channel, newsletters, events, and earned media coverage in outlets such as the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. There is no proprietary technology stack, software product, or API.

The institute's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through university resources, research grants, and donations (Spenden), and does not sell products or services. Its advisory board (Beirat) and foundation governance (Stiftung) draw on Swiss and German academic figures including Prof. Dr. Lars P. Feld of the Walter Eucken Institut, creating informal cross-border academic collaboration. The institute is registered as a non-profit organization in Switzerland with no public listing, no funding rounds, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP)

Legal name

Institut für Schweizer Wirtschaftspolitik

Website

https://iwp.swiss

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP) is a non-profit research institute at the University of Lucerne that produces fact-based publications, analysis, and events on Swiss economic policy, serving the general public, media, and policy-makers free of charge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucerne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Funding & Grants: IWP operates as a research institute affiliated with the University of Lucerne, funded through institutional research grants, university funding, and donations (Spenden).

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IWP is a university-based non-profit research institute that conducts data-driven research and publications on Swiss economic policy, focusing on social policy, fiscal policy, and institutions. It provides the general public and policy-makers with free access to fact sheets, peer-reviewed publications, a monthly facts newsletter, and the annual IWP Subsidy Report, and awards the annual IWP Prize for Excellent Economic Journalism.

Product overview

The Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP) is a research institute at the University of Lucerne focused on economic policy research. Rather than a technology product company, IWP provides economic expertise through publications, research projects, and educational initiatives. Its offerings include scientific publications, a monthly facts newsletter (Fakten-Newsletter), the IWP Prize for excellent economic journalism, and various research projects covering social policy, fiscal policy, and institutions. The institute publishes analyses and studies on Swiss economic policy topics rather than selling software products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IWP-Preis für exzellenten Wirtschaftsjournalismus: Annual award for excellent economic journalism in the German-speaking world, with prize money of 30,000 CHF

Products and services

• Social Policy Research (Sozialpolitik) Data-driven economic research on Swiss social policy topics, made publicly available to inform fact-based public discourse.
• Fiscal Policy Research (Fiskalpolitik) Research and analysis of Swiss fiscal policy based on reliable data, numbers, and facts, aimed at informing public and policy-maker understanding.
• Institutions Research (Institutionen) Economic research on Swiss institutional topics, contributing to evidence-based analysis of how institutions affect economic policy and outcomes.
• Scientific Publications and Research Projects Peer-reviewed publications and ongoing research projects on Swiss economic policy topics, made freely available to the general public through the IWP website.
• IWP Fakten-Newsletter (Facts Newsletter) A free monthly newsletter delivering five compelling facts on Swiss economic policy, providing subscribers with curated, data-backed insights to counter perception-driven discourse.
• IWP-Newsletter The IWP's primary email newsletter, delivering the institute's economic expertise directly to subscribers' inboxes on a regular basis.
• IWP Subsidy Report (IWP-Subventionsreport) Annual report tracking 49 billion CHF in annual Swiss federal subsidies (over 6% of annual economic output), documenting a 22.8% real increase since 2015 and identifying individual first-time subsidy recipients.
• IWP Prize for Excellent Economic Journalism (IWP-Preis für exzellenten Wirtschaftsjournalismus) Annual award (30,000 CHF prize) recognizing outstanding economic journalism that contributes to fact-based public discourse on economic policy. Inaugural 2024 winner: Dr. Katharina Fontana (NZZ). 2025 winner: Dr. Arthur Rutishauser (SonntagsZeitung). Open to journalists from regional and national media in the German-speaking world.

Quantifiable outcome

• IWP Prize for Excellent Economic Journalism attracts 89+ submissions annually from German-speaking media
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of LucernecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWP is the research institute for Swiss economic policy at the University of Lucerne. The institute operates within the university's academic framework and benefits from institutional affiliation.
• Walter Eucken InstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dr. Lars P. Feld serves as both Director of the Walter Eucken Institut and as a member of IWP's advisory board (Beirat), creating informal academic collaboration between the two economic policy institutes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ifo Institut: ifo Institut is one of Europe's largest economic research institutes, producing policy-relevant economic analysis and the famous ifo Business Climate Index. It is comparable to IWP as a policy-oriented economic research body, but operates at substantially larger scale and broader scope.
• RAND Corporation: RAND is a large U.S. research institute producing policy analysis across economics, social policy, and institutions. It is comparable to IWP as a non-profit research body producing evidence-based policy analysis aimed at informing public discourse and decision-making.
• CEPR (Centre for Economic Policy Research): CEPR is a leading international network of academic economists producing policy-relevant research across Europe. It is comparable as a producer of fact-based economic policy analysis aimed at policymakers and public discourse, though at international rather than national scope.
• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a U.S.-based public policy research organization producing rigorous economic and policy analysis. It is comparable to IWP as a non-profit policy research institute combining academic rigor with public-facing commentary, though at substantially larger scale.
• Walter Eucken Institut: Walter Eucken Institut is a Freiburg-based German economic policy research institute focused on ordoliberal economic analysis. It is comparable as an economic policy research body and through its director (Prof. Lars P. Feld) sitting on IWP's advisory board, signaling close academic alignment.

Regional players

• DIW Berlin: DIW Berlin is a German economic research institute producing macroeconomic analysis and policy advice. It is comparable as a European academic economic policy research body, though focused on the German economy rather than Swiss policy.
• CREA Center for Research on Economic Analysis and Forecasting: CREA is an academic economic research center producing macroeconomic analysis and policy research. It is comparable as a university-affiliated economic research institute focused on policy-relevant analysis, though operating in a different European geography.
• ZEW Centre for European Economic Research: ZEW is a German economic research institute producing policy-oriented economic analysis with academic rigor. It is comparable to IWP as a non-university policy economics research body, though operating at a larger scale and broader scope across Germany and Europe.

Direct peers

• Avenir Suisse: Avenir Suisse is a leading Swiss economic policy think tank producing research on Swiss economic policy, fiscal matters, and institutions. It is the most directly comparable domestic peer to IWP, with overlapping focus areas and similar target audiences (policymakers, media, public).
• KOF Swiss Economic Institute: KOF is ETH Zurich's economic research center producing macroeconomic forecasts and policy analysis for Switzerland. It directly competes with IWP in producing authoritative Swiss economic data, analysis, and policy commentary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iwp-swiss

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Institute for Swiss Economic Policy (IWP)