The Think Tanks are research and analysis organizations whose purpose is to provide information to society to solve current problems. Often, Think Tanks serve as a link between public administration and academia.

It is therefore pertinent to argue that these organizations have a significant influence on public opinion, especially in countries with a high level of development.

Regarding the term, it has its origin in English, due to the high number of these institutions in the US. Although in a strict sense Think Tank means “brain,” the modern concept of the term has military connotations, since during World War II it referred to a place where a group of military personnel and scientists discussed strategic issues related to the development of the war.

In Spain, the term is certainly problematic, giving rise to less precise variants in its definition, the most widespread being that of a Think Tank, that is, places of intellectual production staffed by experts and equipped with the necessary infrastructure to carry out numerous interdisciplinary studies.

Regarding the objectives of these institutions, their primary mission is to raise awareness among individuals of their political responsibility and among politicians of their civic responsibility. In this way, they can serve as a catalyst between citizens and the constant flow of information they receive from a globalized world, providing citizens with the necessary criteria to correctly assimilate this constant flow of information, thereby transforming it into knowledge.

Think Tanks mainly follow two models strongly consolidated by their historical evolution: the American and the British.

The first model has a large number of permanent researchers and collaborators who cover a wide range of topics of interest to the organization itself. The British model, on the other hand, works with a smaller staff, whose work falls primarily to collaborators.

Its members are experts from the academic, political, or business fields whose main objective is to carry out detailed analyses of topics of interest, unraveling reality based on the lines of action established by each institution. Their capacity for influence lies in the power of their ideas, ensuring their prevalence in the collective imagination.

It is for this reason that we must take into account the informative nature of Think Tanks.

These organizations have a variety of channels for disseminating information, although the most common are through new technologies, especially through websites created for this purpose, but also through the creation of large networks such as global forums, debates, or conferences.

However, despite the obvious similarities between these organizations, there are also notable differences, such as the financial support they receive or the nature of their activities, which in turn help define their lines of action.

Regarding the financing of Think Tanks, the most common way is through a Board of Trustees, as well as through its members, who make substantial contributions. However, these often prove insufficient, so the majority of the income often comes from companies or organizations with significant political and economic influence.

An example of this is the way North American Think Tanks are financed, whose sponsorship comes from various companies responsible for funding a specific set of projects. This sponsorship can be internal (from the Board of Trustees itself) or external. It’s also worth mentioning fundraising, a funding method that involves obtaining donations from anyone interested in the organization’s research work. This method is also very common in the United States, where civil society has a significant interest in the federal government’s public policies.

After analyzing the internal mechanisms of these “Think Tanks,” it is pertinent to refer to their origins.

The first Think Tanks emerged at the dawn of the 20th century, and they exhibited a strong academic and research orientation. Considered “universities without students,” they were political research institutes whose objective was to create a true opinion elite. Although they lacked political affiliation, most of them were oriented toward the study of international politics.

Later, after the Second World War, and due to the demands made by the American government regarding foreign policy in the midst of the Cold War, the second generation of Think Tanks emerged. Thus, so-called “government-contracted research institutes” were created, whose purpose was to produce reports for the U.S. executive branch and its affiliated agencies rather than publish academic studies.

Already in the seventies, the third generation of Think Tanks appeared, to which the Advocacy Think Tanks belong, which sought to influence an ideological position. It can be said that it was at this time when the nature of these organizations took on a purely ideological character.

Finally, and after analyzing the context of the global origin of the Think Tanks, it is imperative to refer to the creation of these institutions in our country.

The following years, characterized by the heightened climate of political tension that prevailed in Spain and the long dictatorship that plunged the country into an informational wilderness for almost forty years, meant that it was necessary to wait until the democratic transition for the re-establishment of institutions such as the Círculo de Empresarios (1977), the Instituto de Estudios Económicos (1979), and the CIDOB Foundation (1979). From that moment on, there was a notable proliferation of these organizations in our country, mainly due to the period of democratic opening.

Among the most notable official institutions are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, the Diplomatic School, the Cervantes Institute, and the Carolina Foundation. There are also numerous foundations and friendship associations that promote international relations, such as the Spanish-French Friendship Dialogue Association, the Spain-United States Council Foundation, the Spain-China Council Foundation, the Spain-Japan Council Foundation, the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation, and the Spain-India Council Foundation.

On the other hand, Spain has a wide network of foundations with international activity and Think Tanks that promote analysis and debate in various fields. These include the Juan March Foundation, the Ramón Areces Foundation, the Rafael del Pino Foundation, the Botín Foundation, Caixaforum, the Forum of Renowned Brands of Spain, La Casa Encendida, and the Círculo de Bellas Artes. Also relevant are the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, the Spanish Transition Foundation, the Bertelsmann Foundation, the Citizenship and Values Foundation, the Elcano Royal Institute, the Institute of Political Studies (IEP), the Institute of European Studies, the Institute for Security and Defense Studies (IESED), the Institute for the Study of Democracy and Citizenship, and the Center for Opinion Studies (CEO). In recent years, there has been an intense development of Think Tanks in Spain due, in addition to the already well-known political landscape, to our country’s position on the international stage, which has led to the creation of organizations within the field of international relations and security.

Within this field, the three most important are the Elcano Royal Institute, the Strategic Studies Group (GEES), and the Foundation for International Relations and Foreign Dialogue (FRIDE).

Already in the 21st century, with the impact of new technologies, the creation of Think Tanks that reflect these themes has been implemented, as they touch on numerous aspects of citizens’ lives, demonstrating, once again, the momentum these institutions have long been gaining in our country, thanks to their diverse range of topics.

Think Next-Generation Tanks: Definition and Characteristics

The Think Next-Generation Tanks (Think Tanks) are organizations that evolve beyond the traditional model of research and public policy recommendation, incorporating dynamic, interdisciplinary, and technologically advanced approaches to address complex problems. Unlike classic Think Tanks—focused on influencing governments through reporting and lobbying—these new models integrate:

• Applied innovation: They not only analyze problems but also develop prototypes, technological solutions, and business models in collaboration with companies and startups.
• Neutrality and transparency: They avoid ideological bias or dependence on partisan funding, prioritizing scientific evidence and data.
• Glocal approach: Combines global perspectives (e.g., climate change, digital geopolitics) with local implementations.
• Disruptive technology: They use AI, Big Data, Blockchain, and simulations to model scenarios and policies.
• Open ecosystems: They work in networks with universities, businesses, governments, and civil society under models such as the Triple Helix (academia-industry-state).

ISAAAC establishes itself as a Think Next-Generation Tank, integrating the classic principles of these thought and influence structures, but with a renewed focus. Its distinctive feature is its neutrality, remaining independent of political orientations or partisan interests. With a marked international component, ISAAAC focuses on interdisciplinarity and the search for innovative solutions to complex problems, combining academic rigor with practical market application.

A unique model: academia, industry, and global collaboration.
ISAAAC is an academic-industrial initiative that seeks to build global alliances and an ecosystem of partners across universities, businesses, and governments to design, develop, and commercialize R&D-driven solutions. Inspired by models such as the MIT Auto ID Center (an IoT pioneer in 1999) and the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC, 2014), ISAAAC acts as a structured bridge between diverse actors, fostering recombinant innovation and the digital transformation of value chains.

Its approach is based on:

• Commercially viable solutions, developed in collaboration with industry to ensure real applicability.
• Entrepreneurship and spin-offs, monetizing results through products, services, or startups.
• Key sectors: Defense, Transport and Aviation, Manufacturing and Robotics, Healthcare and HIT, Finance and Fintech, Energy and Agriculture.

Differentiation: Beyond traditional Think Tanks.
Compared to traditional models, ISAAAC stands out for its:

• Practical integration: It not only generates ideas but also brings them to market through alliances with companies and entrepreneurs.
• Political neutrality: Its independence guarantees technical, not ideological, solutions.
• “Systems of systems” approach: It combines academic platforms with business agility to solve complex challenges in real time.

Strategy and collaborations:
As part of its long-term vision, ISAAAC operates on multiple levels:

• Think Tank: Analysis and proposals for technological and regulatory policies.
• Specialized training: Preparing talent for the digital economy.
• Intellectual leadership: Disseminating knowledge in global forums.

Notable collaborations include key advisors at the MIT Auto ID Center and IIC, and an agreement with the University of Salamanca (2025) to work on regulatory compliance, defense technologies, and organized crime under the Triple Helix model (academia-industry-government).

ISAAAC redefines the concept of Think Tank, combining research, market neutrality, and offering not only analysis but also tangible solutions for the digital age. Its collaborative and cross-functional model positions it as a high-value player in the global innovation ecosystem.