What Munich Security Conference Foundation does

The Munich Security Conference Foundation (Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz gemeinnützige GmbH) is a Munich-based, German-registered non-profit foundation established in 2018 as the legal entity supporting the Munich Security Conference (MSC), which was founded in 1963. It operates as a policy dialogue and convening organization rather than a technology company; its core function is hosting high-level diplomatic forums and producing research publications on international security policy. Its portfolio centers on the flagship annual Munich Security Conference (62nd edition held in February 2026), Munich Leaders Meetings, Munich Strategy Retreats, MSC Roundtables, European Defense Townhalls, and Core Group Meetings held in cities worldwide including Washington D.C., Beijing, Cairo, Doha, Addis Ababa, and New Delhi. Publications include the Munich Security Report (downloaded over 40,000 times for the 2019 edition), Munich Security Analyses, Briefs, Debriefs, the Transnational Security Report, the European Defense Report (co-produced with McKinsey and the Hertie School), and the Munich Security Index. The Foundation also runs the Munich Young Leaders Program, the MSC Women Parliamentarians Program, the Tech Strategy Initiative, the Food Security Task Force, the Geoeconomics Project, and the Middle East Consultation Group, and produces media including "The Art of Diplomacy" podcast and the MSC Blog.

The Foundation is governed by Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger, Vice-Chairman and CEO Benedikt Franke, and Managing Director Sara-Sumie Yang. It operates with a small core staff (1-10) and depends on corporate and institutional sponsors and partners (including McKinsey, EY, PMI Impact, Atlantic Council, IISS, and the Hertie School of Governance) rather than a commercial product or pricing model. Participation in MSC events is by invitation only and is restricted to heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and security experts, with MSC 2026 convening over 40 heads of state/government, 65+ foreign ministers, 30+ defense ministers, and representatives of 40+ international organizations. Revenue is generated through sponsorships and philanthropic grants, with disclosed grants from the Rockefeller Foundation of $300,000 in 2022 and $55,000 in 2023; the Foundation does not publicly disclose total revenue. American Friends of the MSC exists as a separate affiliated fundraising entity in the United States.

The Foundation does not develop proprietary technology products. Its technology footprint is limited to standard event and content distribution infrastructure, including the securityconference.org website, an online media library (Mediathek), downloadable reports, a registration portal, and an active social media presence across X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, Threads, and WhatsApp. Distribution of publications is global and free of charge; access to events is curated and invitation-only.

Name

Munich Security Conference Foundation

Legal name

Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (gemeinnützige) GmbH

Website

https://securityconference.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Munich Security Conference Foundation is a Munich-based non-profit foundation that hosts the world's leading forum for international security policy debate, convening heads of state, government ministers, and security experts through invitation-only events and publishing authoritative annual reports on global security.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Security Policy Forums

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (9281), International Affairs (928120), International Affairs (92812), National Security and International Affairs (928)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Peace, Security & Arms Control Organizations (BPADAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Diplomacy & Defense Cooperation (Arms Control, Counterterrorism) (BPAIAIAH), Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC), Global Health Security & Pandemic Preparedness Partnerships (HLAJAOAH)

Keywords

• International security policy
• Diplomatic policy forums
• Security policy research
• Strategic dialogue events
• Global security conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships and Partnerships: The Munich Security Conference Foundation operates as a non-profit organization (Stiftung Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (gemeinnützige) GmbH) and generates revenue through partnerships with corporate and institutional sponsors. The organization publishes reports in cooperation with partner organizations and receives support from various sponsors. The Foundation also maintains an American Friends of the MSC affiliated entity for fundraising in the United States.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Munich Security Conference Foundation convenes high-level international security policy dialogue through the annual Munich Security Conference, leader meetings, strategy retreats, roundtables, town halls, and global Core Group Meetings. It also produces research and analysis publications that support bilateral and multilateral discussion of defense, global order, human security, sustainability, and technology.

Product overview

The Munich Security Conference Foundation organizes the world's leading forum for international security policy debates. The portfolio consists primarily of events/conferences (the flagship annual Munich Security Conference, Munich Leaders Meetings, Strategy Retreats, Roundtables, Core Group Meetings) and publications (Munich Security Report, Security Analyses, Briefs, Transnational Security Report, European Defense Report). Key programs include the Munich Young Leaders Program, Women Parliamentarians Program, and the Tech Strategy Initiative. The organization also produces podcasts, maintains a blog, and manages initiatives on food security, geoeconomics, and transnational security threats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Munich Young Leaders Program: Leadership development program for young professionals in security policy
• Women Parliamentarians Program
• Munich Leaders Meetings
• Munich Strategy Retreats
• European Defense Townhall
• Tech Strategy Initiative
• Food Security Task Force
• Geoeconomics Project
• Middle East Consultation Group

Quantifiable outcome

• 62nd annual conference in 2026 with over 40 heads of state/government, 65+ foreign ministers, 30+ defense ministers, and 40+ international organizations in attendance

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

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.

• PMI ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPMI Impact serves as the Knowledge Partner for the Transnational Security Series of the MSC. The partnership supports the MSC's initiative to address transnational security threats including drug, arms, and human trafficking, as well as illicit financial flows. PMI Impact has co-sponsored multiple Transnational Security Roundtables in cities including Minsk (2018), Munich (2019), Cairo (2019), and Abuja (2019).
• Atlantic CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Atlantic Council served as the local partner for the MSC Core Group Meeting in Washington D.C. The Atlantic Council co-hosted a cyber security roundtable during the Washington CGM in 2017.
• Content Partners (Transnational Security Report)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent Partners for the Transnational Security Report include: Africa Center, African Union, CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Global Commission on Drug Policy, Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists), Information is Beautiful, International Crisis Group, Interpol, Megapixels, Rhipto, Science in the News, Sentry, Small Arms Survey, SWAC-OECD, UNODC, West Africa Commission on Drugs, World Customs Organization.
• Knowledge Partners (Transnational Security Report)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEY (Ernst & Young) and PMI Impact are listed as Knowledge Partners for the Transnational Security Report, providing data, analysis, and expertise for the publication.
• Arctic Circle and Wilson CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arctic Circle and the Wilson Center co-hosted the MSC Arctic Security Roundtable during the Core Group Meeting in Washington D.C. in 2017.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcKinsey & Company collaborated with the MSC and the Centre for International Security Policy (CISP) at the Hertie School of Governance on the European Defense Report 'More European, More Connected, More Capable: Building the European Armed Forces of the Future'.
• Hertie School of Governance (Centre for International Security Policy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hertie School of Governance's Centre for International Security Policy (CISP) co-authored the European Defense Report alongside the MSC and McKinsey & Company.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIISS partnered with the MSC for the Munich Security Report 2019, providing research and analysis on security policy topics.
• McKinsey & Co. and Hertie School of GovernancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Defense Report was a joint research project of the MSC, McKinsey & Co., and the Centre for International Security Policy (CISP) at the Hertie School of Governance, serving as discussion material for the MSC European Defence Roundtable.
• Tech Strategy Initiative PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MSC launched the Tech Strategy Initiative, holding its first meeting in Silicon Valley in July 2026. The initiative focuses on technology strategy and security policy intersections, featuring high-profile participants such as Fei-Fei Li (Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, World Labs).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): IISS organizes the Shangri-La Dialogue (Asia's premier security forum) and the Manama Dialogue, operates a global research agenda, and publishes The Military Balance and Strategic Survey; it is the most direct functional peer to MSC as a convening authority for defense and security policy.
• Halifax International Security Forum: Halifax International Security Forum is an invitation-only transatlantic security forum that convenes defense ministers, legislators, and senior officials; it is a direct peer to MSC in convening elite security policy leaders under Chatham House Rule.
• Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (Oslo Forum): The HD Centre organizes the Oslo Forum, a leading venue for Track-1 and Track-2 mediation and peacemaking involving conflict parties; it overlaps directly with MSC's convening of confidential diplomatic dialogue on security challenges.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Council: Atlantic Council hosts multiple high-profile security and foreign-policy events and publishes influential policy reports; it co-hosted the Washington D.C. MSC Core Group Meeting and is a core MSC partner, making it a broad-incumbent peer across convening, publications, and think tank activity.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): Chatham House is a leading international affairs think tank convening heads of state and ministers in London through lectures and Chatham House Rule events; it overlaps with MSC on convening, policy research, and publications in the international security domain.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie is a major global think tank producing influential analysis on international security, democracy, and economics; it operates a multinational convening footprint that parallels MSC's worldwide event cadence and policy publication engine.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a major Washington-based national security and foreign policy think tank with deep convening activity and a wide publication portfolio; it is a content partner on MSC's Transnational Security Report and a broad-incumbent peer in security policy analysis and convening.
• German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF): GMF convenes transatlantic leaders and publishes policy analysis on European, security, and economic issues; it overlaps with MSC on high-level transatlantic convening and policy research around European defense and the rules-based order.
• Council on Foreign Relations (CFR): CFR is a leading U.S. foreign policy membership organization convening heads of state, ministers, and senior officials through its New York and Washington programs; it parallels MSC in curating elite foreign-policy discussions and producing authoritative publications.

Emerging players

• Observer Research Foundation (Raisina Dialogue): ORF organizes the Raisina Dialogue, India's premier geopolitical conference bringing together global leaders on security, foreign policy, and strategy; it competes with MSC for high-level South and Central Asian participation and as an emerging Asia-centred security forum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MunSecConf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIRbGqZ-epWOAk8wWmwDy3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/MunSecConf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/munsecconf
• Instagraminstagram.com/munsecconf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Munich Security Conference Foundation