OTT Conference 2027 - Think tanks and people

Join a global community of thinktankers, funders and policy experts to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and strengthen partnerships.
About this Event

Join a global community of thinktankers, funders and policy experts to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and strengthen partnerships.

The 2027 Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain, in partnership with .

OTT Conferences are attended by think tank leaders, funders, policy experts and think tank scholars from across the world. They are designed to create opportunities for formal and informal interactions, and for participants to create sessions on topics that are relevant and important to them. The 2027 Conference will include a mix of:

• Public event and networkiong cocktail on the evening on the 11th
• Keynote addresses
• Plenary sessions
• Parallel sessions, which are co-created by participants to explore an issue in more depth.
• Regional interactions to foster geographical coordination and conversations
• Extended coffee and lunch breaks to allow for more informal interaction and relationship-building
• And fringe meetings, workshops and networking events before and after the main Conference

This year's topic: Think tanks and people

The main theme emerged organically from discussion in Rabat, early findings from the 2026 State of the Sector Report and conversations we have with think tanks. The theme allows us to look both inside (staff, leaders, boards, students) and outside (audiences, communities, funders, policymakers) think tanks, and it speaks to the rise of AI and the question of what remains distinctly human.

Key dates

The main Conference will take place from the evening of thr 11th May to evening og the 13th May 2027.

However, we expect events, workshops and networking opportunities to take place in the days before and after the main Conference.

Consider this when booking your flights.

Keynote speakers

Keynote speakers help set the scene and frame discussions for the Conference. In 2027 our keynote speakers are:

• Ana Patricia Muñoz - International Budget Partnership
• Pol Morillas - CIDOB
• Samir Saran - Observer Research Foundation
• Fiona Moajes - Mawazo Institute

The agenda

The Conference agenda is being developed with the help of participants themselves.

for an up-to-date version of the keynote speakers' line-up, parallel sessions, and more!

Please register as soon as possible. Please note we limit participation to maximum to members of the same organisation, including leadership staff. If you wish to join as a group please contact us directly.

Registration fee categories

We have three different registration fee categories (which appear on Eventbrite as ticket categories) to support conference sustainability and diversity:

• Group A - Full fee for selected countries: 225 GBP
• Group B - Reduced fee for selected countries: 125 GBP
• Group C - Fee for UK participants: 225 GBP + 20% VAT, as OTT is a UK-registered organisation.

Please read our to determine which category applies to you and for more details.

If you are a funder or employed by a think tank headquartered in Group A countries please consider using Group A prices. Registration fees go a long way towards our support to young thinktankers and participants from small organisations and low income countries.

Participant Data and Media Disclaimer

By registering for and/or attending the On Think Tank Conference 2027 (the Conference), you acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. Sharing of attendee information with other participants
You understand that certain personal information you provide during registration (including, but not limited to, your name, email address, WhatsApp number, LinkedIn profile, photograph, professional biography, organisation, and job position) may be shared with other registered attendees of the Conference. This information may be distributed via attendee lists, networking platforms, applications, or other tools used to facilitate interaction among participants.

2. Voluntary participation and media consent
Your participation in the Conference is voluntary. By registering for and attending the Conference, you acknowledge that photography, audio recording, and/or video recording may take place during the Conference, and you consent to your image, voice, and participation being captured and used by On Think Tanks and/or Conference partners in promotional materials, reports, websites, social media, newsletters, and other public communications related to the Conference and its activities. These materials may be shared with the general public and may remain accessible indefinitely.

3. Session recordings
In addition to general event photography, some Conference sessions may be recorded in full and published following the event, including on the OTT website, YouTube, and social media channels. By participating in or attending a recorded session, you consent to your voice, image, and any questions or comments you make being included in these recordings and made publicly available.

Parallel sessions are usually held under Chatham House Rule and recordings are used to generate session summaries without attribution. AI may be used in the generation of summaries.

4. No compensation and release of claims
You understand that you will not receive any compensation for the use of your image, voice, or participation as described above. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge the On Think Tanks Conference organisers, partners, sponsors, and their respective officers, employees, and agents from any claims arising out of the use of your image, voice, or participation in accordance with this disclaimer.

We are grateful for the support of the Hewlett Foundation, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Mercator Stiftung and Soapbox for their support for the 2027 Conference.

If you would like to learn more about how to support the Conference, please feel free to contact Enrique Mendizabal at enrique @ onthinktanks. org.