The organizations below produce grey literature that may be relevant to your research. This is a starting point, rather than an exhaustive list.
There are also online databases of NGOs and Think Tanks, which might help you find relevant organizations. Here are some examples:
*** Note on research produced by think tanks***: Think tanks often produce high-quality, impartial research. However, not all think tanks are impartial and in some cases this can lead to biased research. Here are some questions to ask when evaluating a think tank:
For more resources on how to think critically about think tanks, see this 2017 article by David Trilling and the rest of the resources in this guide on Evaluating Think Tanks from Harvard University.
CBS (Statistics Netherlands)
PEW Research Center – U.S.-based non-partisan fact tank which conducts research on a broad range of social science topics.
Clingendael Institute – think tank with focus on international relations
Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) – American bipartisan nonprofit policy research organization, focused on advancing practical ideas to address a broad range of challenges, including climate, geopolitics, human rights, and global health.
International Institute for Sustainable Development – independent think tank with focus on climate, sustainable resources, and economy.
KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) – expertise centre with focus on sustainable development, including topics like global health, gender, economic development and intercultural communication.
OECD iLibrary (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) – works on establishing evidence-based international standards and finding solutions to social, economic, and environmental challenges. Note: this link works only for students and employees of Radboud University; Connection with EduVPN is needed if working off-campus.
United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library – Contains grey literature generated by the UN.
United Nations University – U.N.-linked global think tank which aims to promote human survival, development, and welfare.
World Bank – Source of financial and technical assistance to aid countries with their economic advancement, with goal of reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.
CPB (Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis) – researches the economic impact of current and future government policies; includes themes such as labour, general welfare, and health care.
Drift – Research institute and consulting agency with focus on sustainable transitions, including their social aspects.
SCP (Netherlands Institute for Social Research) – government institute responsible for social science research relevant to policy
Verwey Jonker Institute – researches a broad range of social issues, including poverty, education, neighbourhoods and polarization.
Brookings Institute – U.S.-based non-profit organization conducting research to inform policy across a broad range of social and economic topics.
Centre for European Policy Studies – think tank performing policy research a wide range of areas.
Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) – independent research organization with focus on broad range of topics, largely in Irish context.
Institute for Public Policy Research – U.K.-based progressive think tank, focusing on various social and economic issues.
RAND and RAND Europe – Nonprofit research organization with aim of informing policy; covers a wide range of topics, including education, mental health, and social equity.
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) – think tank with goal of developing policy recommendations for social and political issues.
College voor de Rechten van de Mens (Netherlands Institute for Human Rights) – research and advocacy relating to discrimination, equality, and other human rights issues in the European and Caribbean Netherlands
NSCR (Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement) – fundamental interdisciplinary research on crime and law enforcement; often published in traditional academic journals.
WODC (Research and Documentation Centre) – knowledge centre for Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security
European Forum for Restorative Justice – International network connecting practitioners, academics, and policy makers in Europe and beyond with the goal of increasing access to restorative justice.
Vera – U.S.-based research and advocacy organization with goal of ending overcriminalization and mass incarceration of marginalized people.
International Institute of Social History – KNAW institute with focus on the origins, effects, and consequences of social inequality
KIS (Platform Inclusion & Community) – knowledge platform with focus on issues of integration, migration, and diversity in the Netherlands
Overseas Development Institute (ODI) – Independent global affairs think tank with focus on injustice and inequality
Urban Institute – U.S.-based non-profit research organization with aim of promoting upward mobility and equity.
National Technical Reports Library (NTRL) – Collection of U.S. government-sponsored technical reports
Rathenau Instituut – conducts research on socially-relevant aspects of science and technology. Current themes: digitalization, climate, health, knowledge transition.
TNO – independent research institute, focusing on health, safety, sustainability, and technology, with goal of informing government policy and strengthening the economy
Alan Turing Institute – U.K. national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – Organization aimed at advancing science to serve society, including via increasing diversity in STEM and promoting science-informed policy.
Science and Diplomacy – Publication of AAAS
American Society for Microbiology (ASM) – Organization aimed at promoting and advocating for microbial sciences and science-based policies.
Pharos – National expertise centre researching healthcare inequalities
RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) – broad focus on public health, including topics like infectious disease, healthy living environment, and lifestyle factors.
RVS (Council of Public Health and Society) – Independent advisory body with focus on health care and society
American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASMTH) – Organization aimed at reducing worldwide burden of tropical infectious diseases and improving global health
American Thoracic Society (ATS) – Organization focused on respiratory health via promoting collaboration, education, and advocacy. Focus includes tuberculosis and smoking cessation.
Canada’s Drug and Health Technology Agency (CADTH) – Independent, non-profit organization which provides health-care decision makers with objective evidence about use of drugs and medical devices.
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) – International coalition focused on timely development and accessibility of vaccines.
Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) – Organization focused on empowering universities to improve global health.
The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) – Aims to build evidence that can inform national and international policies relating to non-communicable diseases. Focus on non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries, and in underserved populations within high-income countries.
The Global Fund – Organization with goal of defeating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria
Global Health Council - Organization devoted to advancing global health priorities by bringing together advocates, implementers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The Global Health Network – Includes platform for knowledge sharing across a broad range of health topics.
Global Health Technologies Coalition – Advocacy organization focused on research and development of new global health technologies, to bring healthy lives within reach for all people.
HSRProj – Database of ongoing and recently completed health services research projects, funded by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).
International Diabetes Foundation – Non-profit umbrella organization working to improve and empower the lives of those living with diabetes and prevent diabetes in those at risk. Epidemiology and research conducted, including a diabetes atlas.
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) – Organization aimed at improving health of individuals, communities, and society by focusing on patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) – Independent population health research organization at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Develops evidence about the state of health everywhere with the goal of informing health policy.
International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) – Supports professionals, NGOs, and governments in their work against infectious diseases, with focus on countries with limited resources.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – Organization leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat
The King’s Fund – U.K. independent charitable organization producing reports and analyses with the goal of inspiring improvement in health and care.
NIH RePORTER – Provides access to reports, data, and analyses of research activities by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Nuffield Trust – Independent health think tank, with focus on quality of health care in the U.K.
Pan American Health Organization – International health agency for the Americas
Planetary Health Alliance – Consortium focused on the link between environmental health and human health and wellbeing
World Health Organization (WHO) – UN agency to promote health and well-being of all people.
Kentalis – organization supporting and researching individuals with deafness/hard-of-hearing, deaf-blindness, language development disorder and complex communication difficulties.
Trimbos Institute – independent research institute focusing on mental health and addiction
VHZ – Knowledge platform with research on deafness/hearing disabilities and language development disorder
Emancipator – organization focused on the role of men in achieving gender equality.
Rutgers – expertise centre focusing on sexuality and sexual health
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science – government ministry with goal of ensuring a knowledgeable, skilled, and cultured country.
Centre for Education & Youth (CFEY) – U.K.-based “think and action tank” with focus on education for young people, with emphasis on marginalized people.
Education Policy Institute – U.K.-based independent research institute with focus on promoting high-quality education for all.
Eurydice – Network producing statistics and comparative reports on education systems in the EU.
Mulier Instituut – independent sport research institute with focus on participation, inclusion, and health as well as research on financial/organizational aspects of sport.
NJI (Netherlands Youth Institute) – Knowledge centre with focus on issues that affect children and young people.
Columbia Climate School – Aims to support research and foster climate solutions on a community and planetary scale.