Research Symposium Synthesis Report: Evidence and impact of beneficial ownership transparency

Summary

In February 2026, Open Ownership, the World Bank Group’s Beneficial Ownership Transparency Working Group, and the Centre for the Study of Corruption at the University of Sussex hosted a Research Symposium entitled “Evidence and Impact of Beneficial Ownership Transparency” in the United Kingdom and online. Over two days, attendees heard 27 presentations representing the work of around 40 researchers from governments, universities, civil society, the private sector, and multilaterals on the implementation and impacts of beneficial ownership transparency. This synthesis report summarises the main points of a selection of the Symposium presentations across our three themes: data use and impact measurement; implementation and legal frameworks; and beneficial ownership transparency of assets.