The Stratbase Institute has four programs: Trade, Investment, and the Global Economy; Energy and the Environment; Right Governance and Open Governments; and Security and East Asian Regional Affairs. It is committed to addressing critical issues through its four specialized programs, each designed to foster informed policy advocacy, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and innovative solutions to pressing challenges in the Philippines and the broader Indo-Pacific region. These programs are led by distinguished Filipino academics, whose expertise ensures the delivery of impactful research outputs, policy papers, and thought leadership.

Trade, Investment, and the Global Economy

This program explores the Philippines’ economic integration with countries in the Indo-Pacific, focusing on trade and investment flows critical to economic security. It identifies the country’s most beneficial trading and investment partners and assesses their impact on domestic development. Amid shifting geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics, the program helps shape policies that enhance the Philippines’ competitiveness, strengthen its role in global supply chains, and support its integration into the global economy.

This program centers on strategic sectors that are essential to advancing economic resilience, innovation, and inclusive development. Manufacturing and Advanced Electronics underscore national competitiveness and the Philippines’ expanding role in global supply chains. Banking and Fintech facilitate efficient financial transactions critical to trade and investment. In parallel, Technology Enterprise and Cybersecurity support digital infrastructure, enable secure cross-border activities, and safeguard users in the digital economy. Critical Infrastructure serves as a foundational enabler that ensures that investors can operate efficiently. The Consumer and Retail sector focuses on market behavior and evolving consumption trends that guide business decisions. Lastly, Healthcare and Human Security promote equitable access to health services and strengthen the foundations of human capital development.

Energy Security and the Environment

As climate change continues to pose significant challenges, this program explores the intersection of sustainable energy development and environmental protection. It addresses the urgent need for countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, to balance energy security with environmental stewardship. Through research and stakeholder engagement, the program identifies strategies to promote the use of clean energy, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment over the long term.

To broaden its impact, this program integrates cross-sectoral priorities that align with long-term sustainability and resilience. The Clean Energy Transition and Energy Security sector advances the shift toward renewable energy and promotes the development of low-carbon, climate-resilient systems. Critical Minerals and Sustainability are vital to supporting clean energy technologies and embedding sustainable practices across industries. Agriculture and Food Security promote climate-smart agricultural systems and ensure stability in the food supply chain, which are key to reducing hunger and driving inclusive growth.​

Right Governance and Open Governments

This program emphasizes collaborative governance and a whole-of-society approach in interweaving all-sectoral efforts with economic growth and development. This collaborative approach, which is anchored on the core democratic values of transparency and accountability, responsive public service, and the rule of law, serves as the link between the government, the private sector, and civil society. This program advocates for policies that strengthen democratic institutions, promote inclusive development, and ensure the resilience of working democracies in the region.

Specifically, Critical Infrastructure emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and good governance to ensure the equitable and effective delivery of infrastructure projects. Moreover, Technology Enterprise and Cybersecurity encompass digital tools adopted by the government not only to streamline processes but also to enhance transparency in transactions and prevent the misuse of funds.

National Security and Indo-Pacific Affairs

Security remains a pivotal concern in the Indo-Pacific, where nations grapple with resource competition, maritime disputes, and traditional, non-traditional, and evolving threats. This program seeks to address these challenges by fostering dialogue, collaboration, and innovative solutions. It also explores the confluence of asymmetric security challenges and their impact on the collective security of the Indo-Pacific and adherence to the rules-based international order. Moreover, it evaluates existing regional mechanisms and multilateral institutions, aiming to enhance their effectiveness in addressing traditional and non-traditional security issues.

This program includes Technology Enterprise and Cybersecurity, which advocate for policies that protect critical infrastructure, counter emerging cyber threats, and build technological resilience across the Indo-Pacific.