Since 2006 this report has been examining the role of policy research institutes vis-à-vis governments and civil society.

Amongst others, the decisive criteria for the evaluation of think tanks were quality and outreach of policy recommendations for decision makers, connections into the political realm and expert communities, internet and media presence, as well as the ability to introduce innovative policy recommendations and develop alternative ideas.

As of the past years, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung was ranked among the 10 best think tanks in Western Europe. Coming in at ninth place, it received the best rating among all German political foundations, followed by Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (10th place). On the international scale, the U.S.-based Brookings Institution was top-ranked, and therewith considered the leading think tank worldwide. Brookings was followed by Chatham House (Great Britain) and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (U.S.). In the worldwide ranking, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung received 29th place among the 150 best think tanks.

On that matter, Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung chairman and former president of the European Parliament, states: “We are very pleased that the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung ranks among the ten best think tanks in Western Europe also in 2014, and that our efforts are well received, by experts just as by policy makers. Particularly the distinction of our institution as “Best Think Tank Network” acknowledges our efforts in European and international cooperation. We will take the award as an incentive to carry on with our commitment in a responsible manner.”

Link to the 2014 Global Go To Think Tank report: http://gotothinktank.com/