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OTT PodcastAuthor: On Think Tanks
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Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Strategic debates, independence and the future of policy advice in Germany
Episode 3
Thursday, 16 October, 2025
How has the role of think tanks in Germany and Europe evolved in an era of polarisation, disinformation, and shifting funding models? In this episode, we speak with Dr Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Board Member at the Bertelsmann Foundation, former Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), and founder of the Europe programme at the German Marshall Fund. With more than a decade of leadership experience across different organisations, Daniela offers a unique perspective on the transformations shaping the European think tank landscape.She reflects on how policy debates in Berlin have become more dynamic and contested, how foreign and domestic politics are increasingly intertwined, and why evidence-based analysis remains vital in times of uncertainty. We discuss the growing challenges of independence, credibility, and funding—particularly as foundations shift from grant-making to implementing their own projects, and as governments and donors become more cautious in their support.Daniela also shares lessons from her leadership journey: the importance of team-building, developing new skill sets, and creating practical, forward-looking policy advice in a rapidly changing environment. Finally, she offers candid advice to future thinktankers: diversify your career experiences, remain open to collaboration, and always look ahead to what will matter tomorrow.Join us for this wide-ranging conversation on the evolving role of think tanks in Germany and across Europe.This episode is part of a series, Think tanks in a changing Europe, supported by the Open Society Foundations. To listen to the whole series, visit: https://onthinktanks.org/podcast/podcast-series-think-tanks-in-a-changing-europe/To learn more about Bertelsmann Stiftung, please visit: https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/home ------OTT Talks is a platform for sharing learning among think tanks, funders, and other policy actors on a range of topics, from think tank governance to communicating research. Learn more: https://onthinktanks.org/podcast/ ----About On Think Tanks: On Think Tanks focuses on a range of issues relevant to think tanks, their staff, and supporters. We hope that our initiatives and the articles and resources we publish will support think tanks in making short- and long-term decisions more strategically, resulting in better policy advice and policy outcomes for all. Read more: https://onthinktanks.org/initiative/evidence-generation-and-communication/on-think-tanks-programme/ Support us: https://onthinktanks.org/support/
