We are excited to launch the 3rd Cycle of the Building for the Future Initiative. The Building for the Future Initiative aims to strengthen student-led think tanks and enrich and broaden the perspectives that inform public policy recommendations in Europe. With support from the Open Society Foundations, OTT offers grants to selected student-led think tanks in Europe to enhance their leadership capabilities and foster new perspectives on European policy issues and research questions.
What to expect
OTT is working with student-led think tanks across Europe, offering them a grant to:
- Be part of a learning community, engaging in regular opportunities for exchange, collaboration, and visibility with other student-led think tanks and the wider OTT network.
- Design and implement multi-regional events that integrate diverse perspectives and voices from different regions on key European policy issues,
- Join the School for Thinktankers, and
- Participate in the OTT Conference.
Who can join?
If you are a student-led think tank based in Europe, we would love to hear from you.
We are looking for student-led think tanks with the following qualities:
- Conducts research and publishes findings on public policy issues in Europe.
- Has experience in hosting events on public policy issues.
- Is motivated to include diverse voices from different regions in policy discussions across Europe.
- Show interest in interacting and collaborating with other student-led think tanks through the School for Thinktankers, the OTT Conference, and the global community of practice (e.g., peer exchange, joint visibility opportunities).
- Have identified areas for improvement or institutional strengthening that they would like to work on during the programme.
- Is committed to undertaking all activities under the Building for the Future Initiative from November 2025 to October 2026
If you do not meet all the criteria, we would still welcome your application! If you’re unsure whether you meet the requirements or have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with [email protected]
Key dates
- Applications open October 1st, 2025
- Applications close October 31st, 2025
- Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received.
- Decisions will be announced in mid-November.
Testimonies
The best thing I learned during the Building for the Future Initiative was how tThe Building for the Future initiative is an amazing project to build the capacity of our team to produce better-informed research and to promote that research through events.
— Generation for Rights over the World (GROW)
This initiative helped us open doors to many more opportunities in the future.
— Warwick Think Tank
During the School for Thinktankers, we received a lot of help in understanding how to shape our own very young and growing student think tank better. The experience helped us clarify our vision and lay the foundations for future growth.
— Epis Think Tank
The multi-regional event fostered invaluable networking opportunities, enabling us to engage in meaningful conversations and connect with a diverse range of stakeholders.
— York Student Think Tank
The OTT conference provided me – and, by extension, the other student thinktankers in my society – with insights into the research and strategies of professional think tanks and allowed us to connect with professionals.
— The Wilberforce Society
Partner with us
Are you a funder interested in the work of student-led think tanks? Are you a university looking to set up a student-led think tank? We would love to hear from you. Please get in touch: [email protected]