Supply chain analytics for the common good
The Challenge:
A World Economy Under Strain
The era of seamless globalization is giving way to mounting friction points.
Geopolitical tension is driving the United States and its allies toward unprecedented steps to cut rivals like Russia and China’s access to global supply chains and high technologies. This new Cold War could fracture the world economy, forcing countries to realign trade routes or forge new regional blocs.
Climate breakdown threatens to sever global lifelines of goods and resources, and efforts to stem this avalanche have set off a scramble for essential materials.
Minor events like a grounded cargo vessel or botched software update, we have seen, can paralyze global commerce at any moment. Major events like armed conflict or financial crises could damage it permanently.
Companies view these disruptive forces mainly as supply chain risks to be managed to protect their profits and operations. Governments see them as national security risks to guard against, and potential vulnerabilities of opponents to exploit. We believe that a wider public debate is crucial to address the full scope of these transformative pressures.
Another world, it appears, is not only possible but already emerging—though far from the progressive vision that many have long struggled for. Join us in mapping the new forces of globalization. Together we can help steer them towards a fairer, more sustainable, and peaceful future.
The Gap:
Taking a Firm Focus
The future shape of globalization isn’t decided by governments alone; it hinges on the actions of the world’s leading corporations. These large-scale, market-dominating organizations have built today’s interconnected world economy. Faced with multiple, escalating crises, their business decisions will remake or break it, with vast consequences for people and the planet.
Despite their outsized influence, however, we know surprisingly little about these corporations and the complex networks they’ve created over the past four decades. The reason is simple: our current data on the global economy tells an incomplete story. Official statistics provide a broad view of how countries or industries trade with one another. But they miss crucial details and do not reveal where companies buy from, invest, set up shop, or sell their products, and how they link up as customers and suppliers.
Companies themselves often do not have comprehensive supply chain maps, or hesitate to share this information with competitors, regulators, or the public. Meanwhile, advocacy groups fighting environmental destruction or labor exploitation have sought to bring greater transparency to corporate supply chains. Economists have long known about these blind spots, but while globalization kept advancing, it didn’t seem to matter much.
Times have changed and the need for better maps of the global economy has become urgent. Some governments and corporations have started to acquire more detailed information, but it remains inaccessible to the public. Without insight into how companies actually operate and connect across borders, we can’t truly understand how they are responding to today’s economic and political challenges, or how states are enlisting them in national projects—for better or worse.
In a world that appears to be fragmenting, the price for such ignorance has never been higher. It’s time to illuminate these corporate networks and democratize this critical knowledge.
Our Mission:
Illuminating Global Networks
At Friction Point Research (FPR), we analyze the commercial links between firms that structure the global economy.
Our goal is to provide clear, data-driven, and usable insights into the power dynamics and dependencies embedded in these relationships.
We believe this vital information should be accessible to everyone. As university researchers, we are committed to offering these findings as a public good, so that we can make informed and independent choices about the world we want to live in.
Our Approach:
Leveraging Cutting-Edge Data
Our team harnesses large-scale and experimental datasets to build a comprehensive picture of global business networks.
This includes tracking company ownership, mapping supply chains, following investment flows, and locating facilities worldwide. We use both public records and hard-to-access proprietary data, combining them with our in-house metrics to create reliable maps of inter-firm linkages.
Our goal is to turn intricate firm-level data into clear insights into the fragile links, pressure points, risky practices and bad actors within global supply chains.
Working with visualization experts, we transform this complex information into accessible, interactive graphics. These visuals, freely available on our website, allow anyone to explore and understand our findings..
Our Impact:
Mapping for a Better Future
At FPR, we actively work to improve the global networks we map. We partner with a diverse range of experts and advocates—scientists, journalists, parliamentarians, labor activists, and environmentalists—to focus on three critical areas:
Geopolitical Vulnerabilities: We uncover little-known chokepoints controlled by key firms, which risk being weaponized in the emerging new Cold War. By identifying these vulnerabilities, we seek to broaden the debate on building more resilient networks without exacerbating geopolitical tensions.
Green and Fair Transitions: We shine a light on the complex supply chains driving “net zero” initiatives, industrial strategies, and national security agendas. Our work examines labor practices, environmental impacts, and end-use responsibilities of companies across entire supply chains—from raw materials to final products.
Corporate Behavior and Compliance: We track how businesses respond to shifting government priorities, including pressures to reshore manufacturing, diversify suppliers, and restrict sensitive technology exports. This monitoring reveals how companies navigate complex regulatory landscapes and geopolitical tensions, providing crucial insights into the trajectory of globalization.
Through these collaborative efforts, we seek to contribute to a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient global economy that benefits all.