Join think tank leaders, funders and policy experts from around the world at OTT Conference 2025, hosted in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the New South Institute (NSI).
On Think Tanks is the leading global source of information, support and community for people working in, with and funding think tanks.
The OTT Conference is the only global space for think tanks that cuts across disciplines, sectors, regions and ideological preferences.
Register your interest
Thank you for your interest in the OTT Conference 2025. Please take a moment to fill out this form with your details.
Upon submitting your interest, we will reach out to you in the next two weeks to confirm whether we can secure your participation. Should we be able to reserve a place for you, you will receive an Eventbrite link to finalise your attendance.
About the conference
OTT conferences are designed to create opportunities for formal and informal interactions, and for participants to create sessions on topics relevant to them.
The programme includes a public event on the first evening, followed by a lineup of keynote addresses, plenary and parallel sessions.
The programme includes extended coffee and lunch breaks for networking, a marketplace of ideas, and fringe events hosted by participating organisations throughout the week.
We invite all participants to use their time in Johannesburg to organise meetings and fringe events with other conference-goers. If you want our support to connect you with other participants from a specific sector or region, reach out.
Watch the sessions from the 2023 conference and 2024 and read about the OTT 2024 Conference!
Past OTT Conferences have featured 1,300+ attendants from 100+ countries.
Think tanks and impact
Think tanks play a vital role in shaping policy. They engage with a diverse range of actors within the policy ecosystem to facilitate dialogues, prepare future generations of analysts and decision-makers, and enhance the capacity of various entities, including political parties and the private sector.
However, understanding their impact requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond direct policy outcomes. This varies based on the institutional strength of the institutional frameworks they operate in, and funding environment. This complexity in balancing sustainability with impactful policy work creates a strain on how think tanks operate.
In situations where policymakers do not adopt the recommendations of think tanks, does this undermine their influence? Is policy impact the only way to measure a think tank’s value?
To gain an in-depth understanding of their contributions, think tanks must also consider how they can benefit society in other ways—by generating and safeguarding ideas, supporting various actors, and building the capacity of organisations like political parties and the private sector. Recognising these diverse contributions not only highlights their broader societal value but also helps think tanks demonstrate their worth to funders, spaces they operate in, and challenges traditional methods of assessment.
With South Africa set to preside over the G20 in 2025, platforms like the T20 exemplify how think tanks can generate and advocate for policy recommendations on a global stage. This context underscores the importance of understanding their multifaceted roles and contributions within both local and international frameworks.
Partnership and sponsorship opportunities
We are grateful for the support of the support of the Hewlett Foundation, Robert Bosch Foundation, the Ford Foundation, Soapbox and Mercator Stiftung.
We are also building a robust coalition of local partners, including the Institute for Security Studies, the Institute for Global Dialogue, NEPAD’s Policy Bridge Tank and Southern Hemisphere.
Get in touch if you would like to sponsor OTT Conference 2025.
Download the Conference Concept Note
Useful resources
If you would like to host a session proposal, please read the guidelines and submit your session.
Our payment guide for more details.
Voices from our community
“It was such a great pleasure to participate in the very thoughtfully designed sessions and the enriching keynotes – my first time at the OTTConference makes me curious for the future – it was a delight to have safe space and to be able to discuss the challenges so freely.”
— Sona Mitra, Director Policy and Research, Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality
“Congratulations 👏👏 On Think Tanks Enrique Mendizabal for organizing this great gathering and for bringing us together. We at PEP – Partnership for Economic Policy are honored to be part of this community. It was an incredible gathering. So much to learn and to share in only 2 days. I can attest that the On Think Tanks 2024
ottconference was a great success.”
— Jane Mariara, Executive Director, Partnership for Economic Policy
“A huge thank you to the excellent On Think Tanks team and Enrique Mendizabal for a terrific conference last week, and to Gabriela Suarez Buitron, Rasheed Draman and Dr. Angela Huston Gold for an exciting session on think tanks and elections. A rare opportunity to take stock and compare notes on shared challenges and opportunities with think tankers from all around the world!”
, Director of Partnerships and Development, Institute for Government
“It was an excellent opportunity to (re)connect, learn and exchange ideas with think tankers, funders and policy experts from around the world. For IIED Europe, it was also a great occasion to explore alliances and partnerships to help us maximise the impact of our work.”
Director, IIED Europe
“I had a truly fantastic time at the On Think Tanks Conference 2024 in Barcelona hosted by Fundació Bofill over the last week. Thank you OTT team for organising such a fantastic event and looking forward to next year’s conference.”
— Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS, Malaysia
