Civil society research outfits
Organizations conducting academic-level research from positions outside of academia, such as at nonprofit organizations.
Democratic Erosion Consortium (DEC)
The Democratic Erosion Consortium (DEC) is a nonpartisan, collaborative effort to address the global challenge of democratic erosion through research, teaching, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Data Center Watch
We’re a boutique research firm tracking the growing opposition to data center development
CIVICUS
CIVICUS is a global alliance that champions the power of civil society to create positive change.
The Society for Technological Advancement (SoTA)
The Society for Technological Advancement (SoTA) is a new venture designed to cultivate optimism about technoscientific development and build capacity for it to happen, forming a cross-disciplinary co...
EquiLabs
EquiLabs is a digital rights laboratory driving a future where data and AI serve people and the planet, putting human rights, fairness, and accountability first.
XOF Research
OSINT research organization focused on political technology
Youth Political Participation: Literature and Policy Review 1980–2023
The aim of this research was to conduct a literature review of landmark research pieces and major policies in the field of youth political participation to support the design of EPD programmes.
Global Citizens' Assembly Network (GloCAN)
The Global Citizens’ Assembly Network (GloCAN) is a research collective that generates actionable insights to inform policymakers, funders, process designers, advocates and the wider community of prac...
Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi)
The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) is an independent non-profit think tank based in Berlin. We conduct research, offer ideas and advice and facilitate dialogue, seeking to contribute to a world...
Data & Technology Politics at GPPi
Research division focused on new digital technologies and politics
Local Policy Lab Action Lab
The LPL Action Lab is a think tank and civic lab, rolled into one, combining theory and practice to generate ground-breaking, actionable ideas for cities.
Expanding Our Understanding of Evidence for Meaningful Participation
There is a widely held belief that participatory grant-making can democratise philanthropy and transform power dynamics, but the evidence supporting these claims needs to be bolstered. That's why Port...
The State of Independent Technology Research 2025
A report on the struggle to keep public-interest technology research alive—and the growing Coalition working to protect it. DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS)
The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a nonpartisan think tank that engages experts across the U.S., allied, and partner nations to deliver concrete, technically sound policy research.
AFL-CIO Tech Institute
The AFL-CIO Tech Institute works at the intersection of technological innovation in the workplace, centering worker knowledge, expertise, and interests in our modern innovation-based economy with the...
New Local
We are home to over 50 councils and partners, united in a drive to create sustainable, inclusive and community-powered public services.
Institute for the Future of Work
Aláfia Lab
Laboratório de pesquisa independente e multidisciplinar de polÃtica digital
Atlantic Council Democracy + Tech Initiative
The Digital Forensic Research Lab’s Democracy + Tech Initiative centers human rights and democracy in technology and policy debates.
Tech Global Institute
Promoting equity for the Global South on the open Internet
GovTech Intelligence Hub
Connecting governments, technology, and academia with GovTech intelligence to enhance public service delivery.
EU System for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society (EU SEE)
The EU System for an Enabling Environment is designed to document changes and shed light on critical trends in the enabling environment for civil society across 86 countries in Africa, the Middle East...
AISA Policy Lab
Our Southeast Asia Policy Observatory (SEA Observatory) provides a comprehensive overview of the state of AI policy and governance in the region.
Instituto Procomum
Inventar, ativar e participar de redes cujo foco é promover acordos de convivência e modelos de colaboração para a transformação social, contribuindo de forma criativa e inovadora para a construção...
Good Jobs First
Good Jobs First is a national policy resource center that promotes corporate and government accountability in economic development.
ParticipationAI
ParticipationAI explores the intersection of public participation and Artificial Intelligence (AI),focusing on integrating diverse civil society perspectives into the public procurement process.
Clever Together
We help forward-thinking leaders to embed evidence, expertise, and lived experiences into the heart of decision-making.
Centro de Pensamiento y Acción
Los centros de pensamiento son «asociaciones de investigadores, de áreas diversas del saber, que, mediante la investigación, el debate académico, la producción de documentos y la relación con sectores...
Alexander von Humboldt Institut für Internet und Gesellschaft (HIIG)
Impulsgeber für die digitale Gesellschaft
United Nations University Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV)
As a forward-thinking policy-oriented entity, we lead innovation, actively exploring and advocating emerging technologies to transform public service delivery on a worldwide scale.
Digital Government Assessment Programme
This project aims to conduct a comprehensive study of the relevant and available literature and present research findings that will assist the Digital Government Authority (DGA) in enhancing the onlin...
Rhetorical Labs
We are a research collective dedicated to providing public communication campaigns with rigorous, state-of-the-art tools for message development. Our methodology combines machine learning, crowdsourci...
One Project
We’re building tools for participatory funding connecting resources directly to community-controlled funds on Common, our digital platform that connects people, organizations, and resources to coordin...
Careful Industries
Careful Industries gives good advice to leaders navigating the intersections of social justice and technology.
Social Change Lab
Using social movement research to tackle the world's most pressing problems
Beloved
Beloved Community offers a number of consulting services to support organizations and communities to drive change within organizations by providing teams with custom coaching and the necessary thought...
Project Liberty
Project Liberty is advancing responsible development of the internet, designed and governed for the common good.
Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP)
Building spaces to grow the global conversation on environmental data access and use
SHARE LAB
Research & Data Investigation Lab - Where indie data punk, meets media theory pop to investigate digital rights blues
User Research Library
A library of local-gov focused research in the UK
Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP)
"The Center for AI and Digital Policy aims to promote a better society, more fair, more just — a world where technology promotes broad social inclusion based on fundamental rights, democratic institu...
Africa Digital Rights Hub
Promoting research & capacity building on digital rights in Africa
Center for News, Technology & Innovation
The Center for News, Technology & Innovation will provide issue primers with research and legislative activity from around the world and host deliberative discussions among thought leaders in journali...
JUST AI
JUST AI is an independent network of researchers and practitioners committed to understanding the social and ethical value of data and AI
Research ICT Africa
African think tank that has operated for over a decade to fill a strategic gap in the development of a sustainable information society and network knowledge economy.
Responsible Technology Initiative
A platform to evaluate the most complex of India's technology policy conundrums
Future of Work in the Global South
FOWIGS is a network of Think Tanks from southern regions which brings data and knowledge together to build evidence-based narratives on the Future of Work. At FOWIGS, we contribute to the policy frame...
Digital Futures Lab
Digital Futures Lab is a multidisciplinary research network that examines the complex interactions between technology and society in the global south.
Data for Development Network
Advancing the ethical and responsible use of data to address critical development challenges both globally and locally
Coalition for Independent Technology Research
Our mission is to advance, defend, and sustain the right to ethically study the impact of technology on society.