KNX Association
KNX Association is a Belgian non-profit cooperative that governs the KNX international standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation, serving installers, device manufacturers, training centres, and building owners worldwide through its ETS configuration software, certified device ecosystem, and global training and partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersDiegem, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What KNX Association does
KNX Association (legal entity: KNX Association cvba) is a Belgian cooperative, non-profit standards body founded in 1990 and headquartered in Diegem (Brussels), Belgium, that owns and governs the KNX international standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation. The organization serves four primary constituencies: certified installers and integrators who design and commission projects, device manufacturers producing KNX-certified products, training centres and educational institutes delivering KNX-certified courses, and end home and building owners. The technology stack centres on ETS (Engineering Tool Software), the proprietary configuration and commissioning tool used across the entire ecosystem, and supports multiple transmission media — KNX TP (twisted pair), KNX RF (sub-GHz wireless), KNXnet/IP (IPv4), and the newer KNX IoT (IPv6 with Thread/Wi-Fi/Ethernet) — with KNX Secure providing encrypted, authenticated communication.
KNX Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KNX Association
- Legal name
- KNX Association cvba
- Website
- https://knx.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KNX Association is a Belgian non-profit cooperative that governs the KNX international standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation, serving installers, device manufacturers, training centres, and building owners worldwide through its ETS configuration software, certified device ecosystem, and global training and partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KNX Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Building Automation Software & Protocol
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Verification IP (VIP) & Protocol Compliance Suites (HDAHAFAG), Engineering & Technical Standards (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical; Codes & Standards) (EDAGAGAC)
Keywords
Where KNX Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Diegem
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
KNX Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- ETS Software Licenses: ETS planning and configuration software is sold as a license through the MyKNX Store. Multiple license tiers exist with varying project size limits, from entry-level training versions to professional unlimited licenses. A free trial/demo version is available.
- KNX Manufacturer Membership Fees: Manufacturers pay a one-time joining fee and an annual membership fee to be part of the KNX ecosystem. Licensee fees are also charged based on the number of KNX devices produced or sold, funding the continued development of KNX technology and certification infrastructure.
- KNX Device Licensing Royalties: KNX licensees pay royalties based on the number of KNX-certified devices manufactured or sold, ensuring revenue proportional to ecosystem adoption.
- ETS App Sales: ETS Apps that extend the ETS workflow for documentation, commissioning, and diagnostics are sold through the MyKNX Store, with KNX taking a commission on third-party app sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free trial/demo version with limited project size |
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level ETS license for small installations and training |
| Subscription | Annual | Professional ETS license with unlimited project size |
| Other | Multi-year contract | KNX Manufacturer membership (one-time joining fee + annual fee) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
KNX Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KNX Association develops and maintains the KNX international standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation. It sells ETS (Engineering Tool Software) licenses, certifies KNX-compatible devices from 500+ member manufacturers, runs a global installer certification program across 140K+ professionals, and licenses the KNX communication protocols (KNX TP, RF, IP, and IoT).
Product overview
KNX Association offers a comprehensive smart home and building automation ecosystem built around the KNX international standard. The core product is ETS (Engineering Tool Software), the official planning and configuration tool that connects 8,000+ certified devices from 500+ manufacturers. The portfolio includes ETS Apps (extensions for specialized workflows), KNX Virtual (software simulator for training), KNX IoT (IPv6-based protocol extension), and communication mediums including KNX TP (twisted pair wiring), KNX RF (wireless), and KNXnet/IP. Security is provided through KNX Secure. Additional offerings include the KNX Startup Program for emerging companies and eCampus for free online training. The system supports building types from single homes to large commercial projects including hotels, hospitals, airports, and educational facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ETS (Engineering Tool Software) Official planning, configuration, and commissioning software for KNX projects. Enables certified installers and integrators to design, import product data, set parameters, define group addresses, commission, and diagnose multi-vendor KNX installations across any project size. Sold via the MyKNX Store with tiered licenses.
- ETS Apps Modular add-on applications extending the ETS workflow with focused tools for documentation, commissioning, and diagnostics. Sold through the MyKNX Store with KNX taking a commission on third-party app sales.
- KNX Virtual PC-based KNX installation simulator that replicates a real KNX environment. Lets users practice ETS configuration, add devices, set parameters, create group addresses, and commission projects in a virtual house without physical hardware. Available as a free download.
- eCampus (Free Online Training) Free web-based training platform delivering self-paced KNX and ETS fundamentals, designed as preparation for certified KNX Partner courses at training centres.
- KNX Startup Program Free incubator program giving startups developing KNX IoT-based devices access to development tools, technical mentoring, certification guidance, and visibility within the KNX manufacturer ecosystem.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ years of deployment history as an established international standard
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use KNX Association
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
KNX Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability1 record
Feature8 records
KNX Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Smart Home Expo 2026coreKNX Association serves as Technology Partner for Smart Home Expo 2026, India's leading smart home technology trade show held 28-30 April at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. The expo expects 450+ exhibitors across 15,000 sqm and features a dedicated KNX Pavilion, positioning KNX prominently in India's rapidly growing smart home market projected to reach USD 24.1 billion by 2031.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KNX Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Connectivity Standards Alliance (Zigbee / Matter): The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is the standards body behind Zigbee and Matter, the most direct competitive alternative to KNX in interoperable smart home and building automation. Like KNX, CSA operates a multi-vendor certification scheme, royalty model, and global member ecosystem, but with significantly larger backing from Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and other consumer-tech platforms.
- Z-Wave Alliance: The Z-Wave Alliance is an industry consortium that develops and certifies the Z-Wave wireless protocol for smart home and building automation. It mirrors KNX's structure as a standards body with a member-driven certification programme, comparable scope in residential automation, and similar positioning as a vendor-neutral interoperability layer.
- DALI Alliance: The DALI Alliance governs the DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) standard for professional lighting control. It is a comparable standards body model to KNX, focused on a vertical slice (lighting) of building automation, with similar member-driven certification, training, and royalty structures.
- Thread Group: The Thread Group is the industry consortium behind the Thread low-power mesh networking protocol, which KNX IoT explicitly integrates. It is comparable to KNX as a standards organisation with a member certification programme, and competes indirectly as the underlying networking layer for next-generation building automation.
- BACnet International: BACnet International is the standards body behind BACnet (ASHRAE/ANSI standard) for commercial building automation. It is the most direct competitor to KNX in large commercial building automation (HVAC, lighting, security), with a similar association-based governance, certification, and member-driven model.
- LonMark International: LonMark International is the industry association promoting the LonWorks platform for interoperable building automation. It is a direct standards-body peer to KNX, with overlapping scope in commercial building control and a comparable member-driven certification and interoperability programme.
- EnOcean Alliance: The EnOcean Alliance promotes energy-harvesting wireless standards for building automation. It is comparable to KNX as a member-driven standards body focused on interoperable building devices, particularly in retrofit and battery-free wireless applications that overlap with KNX RF.
- Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF): The Open Connectivity Foundation is a standards body driving IoT interoperability specifications across consumer and industrial IoT. It is comparable to KNX as a multi-vendor IoT standards organisation, although its scope is broader (IoT generally) and its adoption in building automation is more limited.
Broad incumbents
- Modbus Organization: The Modbus Organization is a long-established industry association promoting the Modbus industrial communication protocol. It is comparable to KNX as a member-driven standards body in industrial/building connectivity, but operates in a broader industrial automation scope rather than KNX's smart-building focus.
Emerging players
- Matter (as a competing standard under CSA): Matter is the emerging cross-ecosystem smart home/building standard backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and others under the CSA umbrella. While housed within CSA, it is rapidly establishing itself as the most credible alternative to KNX for residential and increasingly commercial interoperability, supported by major retail channels and consumer-device manufacturers.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KNX Association social profiles
Digital presenceKNX Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KNX Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KNX Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
KNX Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KNX Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KNX Association
What does KNX Association do?
KNX Association develops and maintains the KNX international standard (ISO/IEC 14543) for home and building automation. It sells ETS (Engineering Tool Software) licenses, certifies KNX-compatible devices from 500+ member manufacturers, runs a global installer certification program across 140K+ professionals, and licenses the KNX communication protocols (KNX TP, RF, IP, and IoT).
Is KNX Association a public or private company?
KNX Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KNX Association founded?
KNX Association was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KNX Association based?
KNX Association is headquartered in Diegem, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does KNX Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. ETS Software Licenses are the primary driver. The others are KNX Manufacturer Membership Fees, KNX Device Licensing Royalties and ETS App Sales.
Who are KNX Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Connectivity Standards Alliance (Zigbee / Matter), Z-Wave Alliance, DALI Alliance, Thread Group, BACnet International, LonMark International, EnOcean Alliance and Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF). Modbus Organization is listed as a broad incumbent. Matter (as a competing standard under CSA) is listed as an emerging player.
Does KNX Association have an API?
Yes. The KNX IoT API Server uses the KNX Information Model, natively exported by ETS6, to provide a standardized API for third parties to communicate with KNX installations. Certified KNX IoT API Servers are tested against KNX specifications and are compliant with the standard API model. Third parties can develop clients that work seamlessly with KNX IoT API Servers regardless of manufacturer. The KNX IoT API Client (Application) is also available as part of the KNX IoT framework. The KNX IoT Point API enables device-level integration over IPv6 networks. Developer documentation is at buildwithknxiot.knx.org/public-projects/knx-iot-docs.
What industry is KNX Association in?
KNX Association's product category is Building Automation Software & Protocol. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAL, Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services, with a secondary code of HDAHAFAG, Verification IP (VIP) & Protocol Compliance Suites. Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 3823.