Gateway House has been ranked among the top think tanks in the categories of Top Think Tanks in China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea (#29 out of 50), Think Tank to Watch (#53 out of 80), Best Use of Social Networks (#32 out of 60), and Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet (#38 out of 40).
This is part of the 2014 global rankings of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania. On 22 January 2015, it released the 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report, the most comprehensive ranking of the world’s top think tanks. Over 20,000 journalists, policymakers, public and private donors, think tanks, and functional and regional area specialists participated in nominations process of which 6,618 think tanks from around the world were a part.
According to the report, India is among the top five countries in the world with the largest number of think tanks. This is reflective of the intellectual power of the country, and presents an opportunity for the government as well as the private sector to benefit from the expertise of such institutions, and to support them robustly. India’s ambitious growth agenda requires the support of home-grown, independent institutions which can incubate ideas to give the country a competitive edge – a concept the West has understood and used to full potential for over a century, with think tanks providing critical policy input and topical expertise.
In India, intellectual institutions have been largely under-funded and under-utilised. However, a positive new trend is emerging. The new government in New Delhi recognises the value of intellectual and expert input – some of the top officials in the government, such as the National Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor, were recruited from think tanks.
Institutions like Gateway House are well-positioned to bridge the gaps in understanding between India and the world, and to incubate ideas for the future. Gateway House was established in 2009 to act as the bridge between business and foreign policy, to debate India’s role in global affairs, and to give India a global voice. Gateway House’s research helps businesses and the public understand international issues which concern or involve India, and use the information to make educated decisions.
In the past five years, we have published research which highlights policy recommendations with business opportunities on issues which are centre-stage today. Some of these are a) economic diplomacy, b) prioritising the development of the North East through the Seven Sisters’ Corridor which links India directly to ASEAN, giving India’s Look East policy a new physical and business dimension, c) prioritising engagement with SAARC countries, and d) setting out an ambitious new agenda (with case studies) with the United States, that can push bilateral trade to $1 trillion by 2030.
As a young, 21st century think tank, Gateway House makes a concerted effort to stay abreast of technological trends. It hosts a dynamic website which is always updated with content that is relevant and timely. It is also distinctive in the space that it occupies on social media. The institution regularly hosts online events with experts from around the world and actively participates on social media platforms – which earned it a leading spot on the Global Go To Think Tank Index for Best Use of Social Networks and Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet.
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