ΤΤ ..On Think Tanks

Dear OTT Community,  We’re reaching out with a reminder to take part in the State of the Think Tank Sector Survey 2026—a global, community-led effort to capture how think tanks are operating, adapting, and responding to change today. If you work in or represent a think tank, your insights are especially valuable, and we warmly invite you to contribute.

ΟΤΤ ΤΗΙΝΚ ΤΑΝΚ

 

Dear Partner, 

As the year draws to a close, many think tank leaders are already refocusing and fine-tuning their priorities for 2026. This makes it a good moment to reassess where you want your organisation to go and what kind of support can help you get there.

The On Think Tanks Advisory Programme offers tailored, one-to-one guidance designed to strengthen your organisation’s strategy, leadership, and long-term sustainability.

General Secretariat of the Council,update

 

Library blog Monday, 15 September 2025

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine   Behind the Kremlin's ill will lies the risk of eternal war; after the Alaska summit, Ukraine seems to be not closer to peace; the interplay of technology and lived experience in the Russia-Ukraine war; sanctions against the Russian science and which are the current results so far; and how Ukraine’s reconstruction is going, how much it costs and who pays are some of the topics featured in the present update.   Read full post

● Eurogroup

15/09/2025 11:35 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Eurogroup meeting of 19 September 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Eurogroup meeting will take place on Wednesday, 17 September at 14.00. The briefing will be "off the record" and will be given by Tuomas Saarenheimo, President of the Eurogroup Working Group. The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. If you haven't registered for one of the previous Eurogroup press events, please use the link below to do so and have the possibility to ask questions remotely. Deadline for registration: Wednesday, 17 September at 13.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Registration page Media accreditation for journalists   Visit the website

ΤΗΙΝΚ ΤΑΝΚ:How are think tanks adapting? Share your insight

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On Think Tanks Monthly

Connect, learn and exchange knowledge

 

Dear On Think Tanks community,

The hard-won gains in human rights, inclusion, and evidence-informed policymaking are increasingly under threat—not only due to shrinking aid budgets but also the alarming global rise in authoritarianism. While civil society and independent media have rightly received support, think tanks often remain overlooked despite their distinct and vital role in shaping public discourse and policy.

Think tanks occupy a unique space within the evidence-to-policy ecosystem. By bridging civil society, academia, political actors, the media, and the private sector, they ensure that knowledge flows where it is most needed. Yet many—particularly across the global South—are under immense pressure to remain relevant and financially sustainable amid shifting political and economic dynamics.

Our ongoing State of the Sector Survey reveals that 71% of think tanks are affected by political polarisation, and 47% expect an increasingly difficult funding landscape. If you're based in Sub-Saharan Africa, MENA, or Central Asia, we urge you to take part. Your insights are essential to ensure the 2025 report reflects the full diversity of think tank experiences worldwide. These findings will also inform bold discussions at the OTT Conference 2025 in Johannesburg, where over 150 think tank leaders and funders will explore new models, funding strategies, and opportunities for

Inside the School for Thinktankers 2025: A Week of Learning, Leadership & Global Connections

 ers 2026

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On Think Tanks Monthly

Connect, learn and exchange knowledge

 

Hello to our On Think Tanks community worldwide,

What a week it has been!

Almost 300 thinktankers have now participated in the School of Thinktankers—with participants from 18 countries attending this year. Read their testimonials here! If you missed out on this year’s enriching experience, early bird applications for the 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers are now open.

Apply for the 2026 School For Thinktankers

We are now getting ready for the 9th Annual OTT Conference in June, where we will meet more than 150 think tank leaders and funders in Johannesburg, South Africa. We’re bringing together some of the most influential voices in the think tank and evidence-informed policy space to tackle the sector’s biggest challenges.​​​​​​

Sign up for the conference to get an invitation

We are starting the 2025 State of the Sector Report cycle. In the coming weeks, the team will design the survey. If you would like to share your ideas regarding questions or topics of interest for the sector that should be considered for the present edition, or if you want to support the On Think Tanks programme and its full range of initiatives for the sector, please get in touch.

Learn more about the On Think Tanks programme initiatives:

• Join the Open Think Tank Directory
• Deep dive into the On Think Tanks State of the Sector Report 2024
• Learn about our Building for the Future initiative — support student think tankers

Best Regards,

Estefanía Terán Valdez
Director, On Think Tanks Programme

On Think Tanks is a public good, a part of OTT’s support to think tanks work stream. Our efforts are currently possible thanks to partnerships with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Mercator Stiftung, Open Society Foundations and the Robert Bosch Foundation.

Would you like bespoke advice and support?
Do you want to support On Think Tanks?

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROGROUP,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 19 February 2025

● Council of the EU   19/02/2025 03:35 | Press release | Council and Parliament agree to reduce food waste and set new rules on waste textile   Today, the Council presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on the targeted revision of the waste framework directive, setting EU targets for food waste reduction by 2030 and measures towards a more sustainable and less waste-producing textile sector. The agreement still needs to be confirmed by both institutions before going through the formal adoption procedure. Less food waste by 2030 The two co-legislators agreed on ambitious yet realistic targets on food waste by 2030: reduction by 10% in processing and manufacturing waste compared to the average amount of food waste generated in these sectors in 2021-2023 reduction by 30% per capita in waste from retail, restaurants, food services and households compared to the average amount of food waste generated in these sectors in 2021-2023 Those targets are the first-ever to be established at EU level. The agreement also provides for the voluntary donation of unsold food that is safe for human consumption as an important aspect of reducing food waste.

THINK TANK,COUNCIL OF THE EU,update

Library blog Friday, 19 April 2024

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine   Strategic futures for Ukraine; the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant taken as a military target and the related legal and technical global challenges; Ukraine warns Russia’s neighbours to prepare for resistance; assessing EU sanctions against Russia two years on; and how the EU should invest in the return of Ukrainian refugees and reconstruction are some of the topics discussed in the present issue.

Press material Thursday, 18 April 2024

● European Council   18/04/2024 18:53 | CONCLUSIONS | European Council conclusions, 17 and 18 April 2024   On 17 and 18 April, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, Türkiye and a new European competitiveness deal. European Council conclusions, 17 and 18 April 2024

European exchange on consumer protection in Brussels 19/04/2024 | Press release European exchange on consumer protection in Brussels European Consumer Protection Ministers met in Brussels on Friday 19 April for an informal meeting under the Belgian Presidency to exchange their views on key issues and new challenges of consumer protection within the Single Market and the digital transition.

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

 

Library blog Wednesday 14 February 2024

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   Assessing the impact of the significant surge in the use of drones for surveillance and strikes in the Russia–Ukraine war and how this is transforming conflict; why digital government is central to resilience for Ukraine; why Ukraine will eventually win; civil-military co-operation in the protection of civilians during the Ukraine war and how to support Ukraine while looking toward Europe’s future are some of the topics featured in the present update.

Think Tank Review - December 2023

 

Library blog Tuesday 19 December 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank Review - December 2023   Current discussions about EU enlargement, the December COP28 meeting, proposals for an Energy Union 2.0. as a strategic goal for the EU, energy security with reasonable prices, AI marketplace and Europe’s position, rearmament efforts by the EU and its member states, the potential and limits of ASEAN–EU cooperation, and the status of US/China relations are some of the topics featured in the December Think Tank Review.

On Think Tanks :" Four ideas to get ahead in 2024"

At OTT we are busy reconciling our 2023 budgets and forecasting our needs for 2024, so we figured you might be doing the same.

Don’t let unspent funds go to waste. And don’t miss out on the chance to get ahead in 2024.

Here are four ideas to inspire you.

Get in touch

 

 

1. Horizon scanning for 2024

Make sure your 2024 priorities are informed by the latest trends, reports and debates. OTT's research support service (RSS) can deliver a horizon or landscape scan. And we can keep you abreast of sector developments throughout the year with a fortnightly or monthly email round up, including from our global community of think tanks.

Send us a message to find out more.

Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine

 

Library blog Monday 18 December 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   The EU military assistance mission for Ukraine as a peace actor who teaches to fight; Europe’s missile gap and how to close it; challenges from a human rights law perspective for forcibly displaced and stateless Ukrainians; how the EU seeks to limit circumvention of the sanctions on Russia; and what European policymakers should learn from global public opinion on the war in Ukraine are some of the topics discussed in the present update.

On Think Tanks:OTT Conference 2024 set for Spain

 The latest articles, podcast and events

Dear OTT Community,

In early 2023, OTT looked at funding for education research in Africa and our analysis revealed a concerning but unsurprising trend: despite African grantees in our sample receiving 45% of the research grants, they only received 19% of the total funding.

I believe it’s time to question and challenge this status quo, redirecting funds and support towards the actors who are best equipped and have the legitimacy to drive transformative change in their own communities.

Read my full article ‘Local research for local problems – who gets the money’ exploring the factors contributing to this funding disparity, the potential consequences and the steps funders can take to bridge this divide.

New content from our community this month include:

• Climate finance accountability and think tanks in the Global South, Patrick Stephenson
• Four policy conversations reflected in Oppenheimer, Stephanie Nicolle
• In conversation with Prasanth Nair: fighting hunger with compassion in Kerala,  Annapoorna Ravichander
• COVID-19 and a Philippine think tank: three enduring changes, Kim Sales & Miguel Manuel Dorotan

Finally, I’m delighted to announce that our 2024 global conference will be held in partnership with Fundació Bofill in Barcelona, Spain. More details coming soon. Register your early interest.

Until next month,

Enrique Mendizabal
Founder & Director - OTT