Why OTT Matters?
Two years ago, as I was in the process of introducing iNNOV8 Research Center to the world, I conducted a simple query on a search engine, and the name of On Think Tanks (OTT) appeared at the top of the results page. Curious as to what this entity was, I delved deeper and found the "in" I needed in the world of think tanks.
iNNOV8 was a creation of my own imagination, a research center at the heart of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that was independent, neutral, innovative in research methodology, and above all, a platform to generate debate at the researcher level rather than a platform for politicians to deliver their agendas and fancy speeches. Starting with a small idea, backed by an ambitious agenda, iNNOV8 needed to be introduced to the local and international fields.
To my pleasant surprise, the OTT platform was precisely what I needed to let the world of research know that we existed and were ready to collaborate with the global scene. The OTT model appealed to me: a community of think tank professionals, a consultancy for the new kids on the block, and a directory of think tanks and research centers around the world—a proverbial Yellow Pages of think tanks available to all.
Navigating the world of giant, well-established, highly networked names in the think tank field was a daunting task for a newcomer. However, once I found OTT, it felt like finding the compass that was dialed in to take us to the safe shores. My first reach out was to the general e-mail address on the website, with the hope that my introductory e-mail doesn’t get lost in the ether, like most e-mails to “Contact Us” addresses usually do.
I knew I was dealing with a professional body when I received a reply within less than 48 hours. The message was very welcoming; the invitation to submit further information for consideration to be added to the community was extremely encouraging. iNNOV8 was added to the OTT Directory early the following year when the database was updated. The world was about to learn about our existence.
The next practical step was to expand and solidify the network I had built with the help of OTT. I decided to attend the annual OTT conference in 2024 in Barcelona. The conference turned out to be more than just a chance to expand the network; it was an eye-opening, educational, and reinforcing gathering. It really opened my eyes to the challenges and possibilities of running a think tank. It taught me how to manage, what to expect, and what to avoid. It made me feel part of a community facing similar issues, like funding, lack of transparency, and evidence in the Global South. The conference also put me in the same space as the big players in the field.
Today, I can say with confidence that the iNNOV8 Research Center matured faster due to having been connected to the OTT community. We were able to break through the fog of obscurity; we ambitiously applied to and presented a two-hour-long panel discussion at the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit. We have presented in prestigious venues such as the British International Studies Association at the University College London. Our research papers have wide readership throughout the world and have been referenced at high levels of decision-making locally and globally. Major publications tasked our researchers with writing expert papers and opinion pieces. We have expanded the debate field, enhanced evidence-based dialogue, and connected the worlds of research, academia, and policymaking.
It is because of these metrics and achievements that the OTT included iNNOV8 on the “2025 List of 100 Think Tanks to Watch,” and we thank them for their initiative, which will only encourage us to excel.
