Thieme

What Thieme does

Thieme (Georg Thieme Verlag KG) is a 140-year-old, family-owned medical and scientific publishing group headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, with wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States, Brazil, India, and China and approximately 1,000 employees globally. The company serves physicians, surgeons, residents, medical and nursing students, chemistry researchers, pharmacists, hospitals, universities, libraries, medtech and pharmaceutical companies, and patients through a portfolio that spans scientific journals, medical and chemistry books, digital learning platforms, clinical reference tools, and healthcare IT solutions.

The core technology platform is the MedOne family, which delivers specialty-specific clinical reference and e-learning content (MedOne Education, MedOne Neurosurgery, MedOne Radiology, MedOne Plastic Surgery, MedOne Ophthalmology, MedOne Otolaryngology, MedOne ComSci), supplemented by eRef, MyCourse, Thieme Teaching Assistant Anatomy, Science of Synthesis, Pharmaceutical Substances, and continuing education systems (CME, CNE, CNE Altenpflege). Adjacent healthcare IT products include Thieme Compliance (informed consent, patient education), Thieme DokuForm (emergency care documentation), Thieme RECOM (cross-sector clinical documentation), and Thieme TeleCare (telemedical coaching). Most of these solutions are eligible for funding under Germany's Hospital Future Act (KHZG). Content distribution is multi-channel: direct field sales in the Americas and Rest of World, regional subscription agents and booksellers with standardized discounts, a direct-to-consumer webshop, and digital platforms such as Read & Publish agreements, ResearchGate, and Baidu Wenku.

Thieme's revenue is generated through a diversified mix: recurring journal and platform subscriptions (institutional site licenses with print, online+print, or online-only tiers), one-time book and e-book sales, Open Access article processing charges, translation and licensing royalties, healthcare IT subscriptions, and scientific communication services via Thieme Media. Pricing is regionally tiered (Americas 4.5% agency discount; Europe/Africa/Asia 5%; South Asia 4.5% invoiced in INR). The company is privately held by the Hauff family (since 1925, four generations), with Dr. h.c. Albrecht Hauff as CEO since 1990 and a managed generational succession initiated in 2025.

Name

Thieme

Legal name

Georg Thieme Verlag KG

Website

https://thieme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Thieme is a 140-year-old, family-owned medical and scientific publishing group providing journals, books, digital learning platforms, and clinical workflow software to physicians, nurses, students, hospitals, and chemistry researchers across five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical and Scientific Publishing

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical & Clinical Reference (Physicians, Nursing, Allied Health) (EDAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical, Clinical & Biomedical Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAB), Medicine & Allied Health (Clinical) (EDAGABAG)

Keywords

• Medical publishing services
• Clinical reference platforms
• Scientific journal publishing
• Healthcare education software
• Chemistry research databases

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Scientific Journals and E-Journals: Subscription-based access to scientific journals covering medicine and chemistry, available in print and online formats. Journals include flagship titles like SYNTHESIS, SYNLETT, SYNFACTS. Open Access publication options available with Article Processing Charges (APCs). Institutional site licenses available through Thieme-connect platform.
2. Medical and Scientific Books and E-Books: One-time purchase of medical textbooks, clinical references, and educational materials. Books available in print and digital formats. Authors receive sales-related fees or flat fees based on publication size and type.
3. Digital Learning Platforms and Subscriptions: Subscription access to digital platforms including MedOne Education, CME, CNE, eRef, and specialty portals. Institutional licenses for organizations; individual subscriptions available. Access provided via IP recognition for institutions.
4. Translation and Licensing Rights: Thieme licenses content for translation into other languages through its international offices (Stuttgart, New York, Rio, Delhi) or external international publishers. Authors receive preferential pricing on their own publications (34% discount on contributed book, 20% on other Thieme titles).
5. Healthcare IT Solutions: Digital solutions for patient care including Thieme Compliance, Thieme DokuForm, Thieme RECOM, and Thieme TeleCare for telemedical care programs and patient coaching services. Sold to healthcare institutions and insurers.
6. Author Services and Support: Publishing services for authors including manuscript submission, peer review management, and publication production. Revenue from Open Access APCs, institutional funding agreements, and Read & Publish agreements with library consortia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Thieme is a medical and science publisher that develops and sells peer-reviewed scientific journals, medical and scientific books and e-books, and proprietary digital learning and clinical reference platforms (MedOne, eRef, CME, CNE, Science of Synthesis, Pharmaceutical Substances). The company also provides healthcare IT solutions (Thieme Compliance, Thieme DokuForm, Thieme RECOM, Thieme TeleCare) for German hospitals, and offers translation and content licensing rights globally through its international offices.

Product overview

Thieme is a digital healthcare service provider offering a comprehensive platform-plus-modules architecture for medical education, clinical reference, and patient care. The core portfolio includes MedOne Education (multimedia medical learning platform), MedOne (clinical reference collection with specialty modules for neurosurgery, radiology, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and communication sciences), and eRef (comprehensive knowledge platform). Supporting modules include CME/CNE continuing education systems, I care PLUS for nursing education, Pharmaceutical Substances and Science of Synthesis for chemistry research, Thieme Compliance for patient documentation, Thieme RECOM for clinical workflows, Thieme DokuForm for emergency care, Thieme TeleCare for telemedical services, and Thieme Teaching Assistant Anatomy. The company also operates Thieme Chemistry (chemistry publishing), TRIAS (patient education), and Haug (complementary medicine) as sub-brands, alongside e-books/e-journals, VetCenter (veterinary), via medici (medical exam prep), and various German-language solutions including physioLink, ergoLink, Thieme E-Learning, Thieme Hebammen, and Thieme Bilddatenbank Anatomie.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MedOne Education: Multimedia platform for e-learning and clinical medicine covering medical school curriculum.
• MedOne
• MedOne ComSci
• MedOne Neurosurgery
• MedOne Ophthalmology
• MedOne Otolaryngology
• MedOne Plastic Surgery
• MedOne Radiology
• Thieme MyCourse
• Thieme Teaching Assistant Anatomy
• Science of Synthesis
• Pharmaceutical Substances
• Thieme Clinical Collections
• CNE
• CME
• eRef
• I care
• via medici
• VetCenter
• Thieme Compliance
• Thieme RECOM
• TRIAS
• Therapeutics NOW

Products and services

• MedOne Education Comprehensive multimedia platform for e-learning and clinical medicine covering every course in the medical school curriculum for learning, review, and research in medicine and life sciences. Targeted at medical students, residents, and medical school faculty.
• MedOne Clinical Reference Full collection of clinical reference for neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists, and more, serving residents and specialists with cutting edge and up to date clinical reference information. The platform includes specialty modules (MedOne Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, ComSci) tailored to individual medical specialties.
• eRef Comprehensive platform for education and training providing key medical information at the right time. Serves as the best companion for specialist physicians with relevant information across all phases of further training and clinical practice in German-speaking markets.
• Thieme MyCourse Personalized course platform allowing users to access learning content in their preferred way and format. Supports course management and delivery for personalized learning experiences.
• Thieme CME Training portal of Thieme journals enabling healthcare professionals to earn continuing medical education credits with documentation of learning success.
• Thieme CNE Certified nursing education platform providing comprehensive training resources for nursing professionals, including CNE Altenpflege for elderly care nursing specialists and nursing assistants.
• I care PLUS Digital nursing education platform providing the entire knowledge world of nursing education for learners and teachers with comprehensive educational content.
• Science of Synthesis Expert digital reference guide for synthetic chemistry, helping researchers develop new and efficient synthesis methods. Provides evaluated information in synthetic organic and general chemistry for research chemists and advanced students.
• Pharmaceutical Substances Knowledge base for API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) syntheses and applications supporting pharmaceutical research and development.
• Thieme Compliance Digital solutions supporting information, communication and documentation processes relating to anamnesis, admission, and patient education with customized digital workflows for physician-patient communication, informed consent documentation, and patient education.
• Thieme DokuForm Digital solutions supporting information and documentation processes in emergency care, enabling continuous data flow from ambulance to hospital information systems through standardized interfaces.
• Thieme RECOM Digital solutions supporting clinical documentation processes between all professional groups involved in patient care, enabling cross-sector workflows from patient care history through medication management, order processes, and management evaluations using standardized classifications.
• Thieme TeleCare Telemedical care programs and patient coaching services for health insurers and companies, using high-quality Thieme content to support beneficiaries and employees.
• Scientific Journals and E-Journals Subscription-based access to peer-reviewed scientific journals covering medicine and chemistry, including flagship titles SYNTHESIS, SYNLETT, and SYNFACTS. Available in print and online formats with Open Access options and institutional site licenses through Thieme-connect.
• Medical and Scientific Books and E-Books Medical textbooks, clinical references, and educational materials available in print and digital formats, sold through Thieme webshop and agency networks with regional agency discount structures.
• Therapeutics NOW Open access journal focused on evidence-based therapeutic development publishing significant work in gene therapy, immunotherapy, drug discovery, targeted delivery systems, and personalized medicine. All content freely accessible worldwide through Gold Open Access.
• Thieme Chemistry Digital chemistry publishing platform providing highly evaluated information in synthetic organic and general chemistry for research chemists and advanced students.
• TRIAS Healthcare-related content publishing for patients and families, helping people make informed decisions about their health through comprehensive guidebook programs.
• Haug Publishing brand supporting physicians and alternative medicine practitioners in complementary therapies with digital products for holistic patient care.
• VetCenter Digital platform for veterinarians providing comprehensive veterinary medical knowledge and resources.
• via medici Digital learning platform for sustainable medical knowledge preparation and exam training for medical students.
• Thieme Clinical Collections Prime resource for essential clinical e-books providing comprehensive medical reference content.
• Translation and Licensing Rights Thieme licenses content for translation into other languages through its international offices in Stuttgart, New York, Rio, and Delhi, or through external international publishers. Authors receive preferential pricing on their own publications.

Quantifiable outcome

• First peer review decision in less than one week from submission for Therapeutics NOW journal
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• ResearchGatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContent syndication partnership to increase visibility of scientific content. Thieme and ResearchGate launched collaboration enabling broader dissemination of Thieme's scientific publications to ResearchGate's researcher network.
• Baidu WenkuflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst international academic publishing group to cooperate with Baidu Wenku for new content ecological development in international professional copyright. Strategic partnership for content distribution in China market.
• EIDO HealthcareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEIDO Healthcare collaborating with Thieme to enter the Indian market with patient education and informed consent solutions. Thieme serves as distribution partner for EIDO's informed consent content in India.
• IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-awarding body for the Thieme-IUPAC Prize in recognition of pioneering work in synthetic organic and general chemistry. Partnership with editors of SYNTHESIS, SYNLETT, SYNFACTS, and Science of Synthesis journals.
• Library Consortia and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRead & Publish agreements with library consortia and research institutions enabling open access publication and broader content access. Funding agreements covering Article Processing Charges (APCs) for authors at participating institutions.
• Medical Institutions and Professional SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with various medical institutions and professional societies for awards, promotions, and scientific engagement in chemistry, medicine, nursing, and healthcare management fields.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Elsevier: The largest scientific and medical publisher globally and a division of RELX. Overlaps directly with Thieme across medical journals (Lancet family), clinical reference platforms (ClinicalKey), textbooks, and healthcare analytics, though Elsevier's portfolio is far broader.
• Wolters Kluwer Health: Major medical publisher and clinical decision support vendor behind Ovid, Lippincott, and UpToDate. Competes with Thieme in medical journals, clinical reference, nursing education, and increasingly in hospital workflow software.
• Wiley: Major scholarly publisher with deep medical and scientific journal portfolios plus professional learning assets. Competes with Thieme in journals, textbooks, and increasingly in digital learning platforms.
• Taylor & Francis (Informa): Large academic publisher within Informa plc with extensive medical and scientific journal portfolio. Competes with Thieme for institutional subscriptions and OA publishing deals in medicine and chemistry.

Direct peers

• Springer Nature: Direct competitor across scientific, medical, and chemistry publishing, including flagship chemistry journals and Nature Medicine. Springer Nature's Springer Healthcare unit overlaps with Thieme's healthcare IT and medical education businesses.
• Karger Publishers: Family-owned medical and scientific publisher with similar heritage and specialty focus. Closest direct peer to Thieme in medical specialty publishing with overlapping journal portfolios in nephrology, neurology, and oncology.

Emerging players

• SAGE Publications: Independent academic publisher with growing medical and health sciences journal portfolio. Competes in nursing and allied health journals and increasingly in healthcare management content where Thieme's kma-online also plays.
• Oxford University Press: University press with significant medical and life sciences publishing including Oxford Medicine and Oxford Chemistry. Overlaps with Thieme in scholarly publishing and increasingly in online reference platforms.
• Amboss: Digital medical knowledge and clinical decision support platform popular among medical students and physicians. Directly competes with Thieme's MedOne Education, via medici, and CME platforms in the digital medical learning space.
• Lecturio: Digital medical education platform offering video lectures, question banks, and clinical reference for medical students and professionals. Competes with Thieme's MedOne Education and via medici in the e-learning segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ThiemeInternational
• Facebookfacebook.com/thiemepublishers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thieme-publishers
• Instagraminstagram.com/thiemeinternational
• Xx.com/thiemeny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thieme