The Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) is an independent non-profit think tank founded in 1996. The main activity fields are applied research, policy analysis, and local and international projects. Our goal is to develop a knowledge-based society by promoting public policy-making in Estonia, the Baltic Sea region, and Europe by providing high-quality socio-economic analysis. Over the years, we have developed strong expertise in five major areas:
We are highly experienced in qualitative research methods, have a long experience in policy evaluation, and we were one of Estonia’s first to implement the foresight methodology. IBS has a vast network of contacts and regularly partners with Estonian municipalities on external projects.
Over the years, we have implemented many development projects in cooperation with the government, academia, businesses, and third sector organizations across Europe, including over twenty projects under the EU’s 5th, 6th, and 7th Framework Programmes and H2020. The IBS network of partners brings together hundreds of experts, organizations, and universities worldwide.
IBS is part of several pan-European and national networks, including:
- Contact point for the European Commission’s integration website EWSI in Estonia
- Member of the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations
- Member of the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation (AKÜ)
- Member of the Estonian national network of migration and asylum organizations
The Institute of Baltic Studies is regularly named one of the leading think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe in the University of Pennsylvania’s annual Global Go To Think Tank Index Report.
In its activities, IBS is guided by the Statutes and the Code of Ethics for NGOs. To ensure gender equality in the organization, IBS has created the Gender Equality Plan (GEP).