DIE ranked as top Think Tank

Press Release, 23 January 2013

For the fifth consecutive time, the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) has been selected as one of the Top Ten influential think tanks and research institutions in the field of development policy worldwide by the recently released 2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Report. DIE is one of only three European research institutes ranked in this Top Ten list.

“The very good ratings in nine individual categories demonstrate that the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik has put itself on the right track by refocusing its research, consulting, and training activities over the past years”, states DIE-Director Dirk Messner quite pleased.

All in all, DIE improved its visibility in the international context in the current ranking on a wide scale, such as in the categories Top Think Tanks in Western Europe, Top Think Tanks – Worldwide and Best Government Affiliated Think Tanks. Once again, DIE belongs to the Top 20 institutions among the Think Tanks with the Most Innovative Policy Ideas/Proposals. Furthermore, DIE was evaluated in a number of categories for the first time, e.g., within the category Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Research Programs) or in the field of knowledge marketing (Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program). “By expanding our global research and consulting networks, and by engaging in new partnerships I am convinced that we can offer innovative and policy-oriented answers to current questions of global cooperation”, Dirk Messner states. “The ranking confirms that DIE is a place for excellent and creative research and consulting approaches that attracts interest worldwide.”

The Global Go To Think Tanks Report report is annually compiled by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania. By differentiating between various regions and topics and specific categories the report gives an overview of the world's leading think tanks. In 2012, 6,603 think tanks were evaluated by more than 1,100 experts; 1,647 of them were nominated for the ranking.