The role of thin tanks in the socio-economic development of both developed and developing countries has been noticeably increasing in recent years. The main reason for this is the development of new technological innovations for the collection, storage and analysis of Big Data. Today, think tank institutions enhance the process of adopting economic and social policy decisions, and at the same time create regional and international networks. Think tanks help build a bridge between knowledge and policy making in many areas such as globalization, good governance, environmental issues, international peace and security, poverty reduction, healthcare related issues, information and society. The activities of think tanks operating in Azerbaijan in a number of main directions play an important role in data-based strategic management, such as conducting various types of surveys and their analysis, analyzing Big Data created by electronic government, social media monitoring and research, as well as analysis of data generated in connection with the monitoring and evaluation of social and economic reforms.