Institut Vidocq is an independent research institute dedicated to global security, strategic intelligence and geopolitical risk analysis. Founded by Alexandre Benalla and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Institute publishes in-depth research, hosts expert conferences and provides analytical frameworks for understanding contemporary security challenges.
In a rapidly evolving security landscape where state and non-state actors, cyber threats, geopolitical shifts and asymmetric risks intersect, informed analysis is more valuable than ever. Institut Vidocq exists to produce that analysis and to share it with those who need it most: decision-makers, practitioners and the public.
Our mission rests on three pillars
Research & Analysis
In-depth research papers, analytical notes and strategic assessments on the security issues that matter. From the Sahel to the Gulf, from cybersecurity to economic intelligence — rigorous, independent and actionable.
Expert Discourse
Conferences, roundtables and seminars that bring together practitioners, academics and decision-makers — creating spaces where expertise meets policy and where analysis translates into action.
Public Contribution
Making security expertise accessible beyond specialist circles. Op-eds, media contributions and open publications that inform public debate on the challenges that shape our collective security.
Why the name Vidocq?
Eugène François Vidocq (1775–1857) was a French adventurer, investigator and criminalist widely considered the father of modern criminal investigation and intelligence. A former convict who became the first director of the Sûreté Nationale, he pioneered undercover operations, informant networks and forensic techniques. The Institute bears his name as a tribute to the French tradition of intelligence and investigation, and to the principle that understanding threats requires both intellectual rigour and field experience.