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Save the Date: Launch of the Global Innovation Index 2022
The Global Innovation Index tracks global innovation trends against the background of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, slowing productivity growth and […]
Read moreGII Academic Network New Member Feature: University of Johannesburg
Earlier this year, Portulans Institute welcomed the University of Johannesburg College of Business and Economics to our GII Academic Network. […]
Read moreImmersive technologies: challenges to user protection in a growing field
Immersive technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality have the potential to transform our lives in the coming […]
Read moreNow accepting applications for our 2022-2023 Fellowship Program
Application deadline: July 22, 2022 Fellowship period: August 2022 – July 2023 Apply here! The Portulans Institute Fellowship Program offers […]
Read moreUNESCO World Higher Education Conference: Building a digitally ready education system with a bioethical framework – the new normal
Portulans Fellow Claudia Fini and Senior Fellow Anil Nair produced a policy brief for the 2022 UNESCO World Higher Education […]
Read moreAcademic Partner Spotlight Series: Universidad de los Andes School of Management
Welcome back to another episode of Portulans Institute’s Academic Partner Spotlight Series. Today we are joined by Dr. Veneta Andonova, […]
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The Portulans Institute Newsletter aims to provide our audience with up-to-date news about our upcoming launches, events and projects. The Newsletter also includes important developments in the world of Innovation, Technology, and Global Talent.
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ABOUT US
Our Mission
Founded in 2019, the Portulans Institute (PI) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational institute based in Washington DC.
- To develop cross-community knowledge and dialogue on how people, technology and innovation contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth.
- To inform policy-makers, by producing independent, rigorous metrics and data-based research.
- To collaborate with private sector leaders in driving a business agenda that invests in people, technology, and innovation for a prosperous common future.
- To host and co-organize events and conferences on the above issues affecting human-centric sustainable economic prosperity.

Where Our Name and Logo Come From

Portulans (or portolans) are ancient nautical maps, first made in the 13th century in the Mediterranean basin and later expanded to include other regions. The word portolan comes from the Italian portulano, meaning “related to ports or harbors”, and which since at least the 17th century designates “a collection of sailing directions”. In these maps, only a few harbors were visible, and much of the coastlines were hypothetical.
This is how we see our mission: in an uncertain world, much is yet to be explored, and many opportunities have yet to be identified. Like the navigators of the 16th century, modern leaders have to make decisions on the basis of imperfect information and incomplete maps.
The Portulans Institute aims at providing them with the best available data and analyses, and the directions that they need. This is why our logo combines a compass, and pi, which is not only a powerful number found in geometry, algebra, physics and arts, but also an infinite series of digits, with no pre-written rule telling us what the next one might be.
PORTULANS
Our Core Values

Thought leadership through our ideas

Innovation and excellence in our activities

Integrity, trust, and diversity in engagement with partners
CONTACT
Get in Touch
Email: info@portulansinstitute.org
Address: 1010 Vermont Ave Ste. 201
NW, Washington, DC 20005
