Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions

What Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions does

Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (Nürnberg Institut für Marktentscheidungen e.V., NIM) is a German non-profit research institute organized as a registered association (eingetragener Verein) under German law, headquartered at Steinstr. 21 in Nuremberg. The institute traces its institutional lineage to the original GfK Verein founded in 1934 and was formally re-established as NIM in October 2023 to continue that mission. NIM's core product is the GfK Konsumklima consumer climate indicator — a monthly measurement of German consumer sentiment covering income expectations, purchasing propensity, and saving propensity — collected since 1974 and published regularly each month since 1980. NIM also produces an applied research portfolio including NIMpulse topical studies, Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow reports in collaboration with the St. Gallen Symposium, NIM Research Reports and Working Papers, the biannual NIM Marketing Intelligence Review journal, and the NIM INSIGHTS Research Magazine, alongside an event series (Konsumklima Summit, Market Decisions Day, NIMCon, Distinguished Speakers, Workshops, Insights Lunch). The underlying technology stack combines consumer climate measurement methodology, behavioral science research methods, agent-based market simulation models built on the GfK BrandSimulator approach, conjoint analysis methods, and survey research executed via NIQ/GfK eBUS consumer panels.

NIM serves four primary segments: corporate clients seeking consumer behavior and market decision research (retail/consumer goods firms such as Procter & Gamble, automotive manufacturers), German federal policymakers and economic advisors using the Konsumklima as a leading indicator, academic researchers collaborating on behavioral science, and individual/organizational association members. Revenue is generated through association membership fees (recurring) and the publication/distribution of research studies and reports (professional services model); pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is event- and content-driven, relying on the institute's website (nim.org), the monthly NIM Dialog newsletter, the annual Konsumklima Summit (which drew approximately 150 participants in 2025), academic publications, and press relations, with research outputs distributed primarily as free downloads from the institute's own storefront. NIM maintains a core strategic partnership with GfK/NIQ for the Konsumklima research and, as of October 2023, jointly evaluates and publishes the indicator; from April 2026 NIM will assume full communication responsibility for the study.

Name

Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions

Legal name

Nürnberg Institut für Marktentscheidungen e.V.

Website

https://www.nim.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions is a non-profit institute that offers research on consumers for decision-makers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Market Research

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral & Neuroscience Research (Biometrics, Eye-Tracking, Neuromarketing) (MPAAALAN)

Keywords

• Consumer market research
• Behavioral economics research
• Consumer sentiment analysis
• Applied behavioral science
• Market decision research

Headquarters

HQ city

Weißenburg In Bayern

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The institute operates as a registered association (e.V.) and generates revenue through membership contributions from individuals and organizations interested in market decision research
2. Research Publications and Studies: The institute publishes research reports, working papers, and studies that are available for download or distribution, supporting its mission of providing market decision insights

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NIM is a non-profit research institute that conducts and publishes behavioral science and consumer market research. Its core product is the monthly GfK Konsumklima (consumer climate indicator) for Germany, complemented by applied research studies, academic working papers, a biannual marketing intelligence journal, and recurring industry events. Revenue is generated primarily through membership fees, sponsored research, and event registrations for a stakeholder audience of businesses, policymakers, and academics.

Product overview

Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM) is a research institute that develops and publishes consumer climate indicators and behavioral science research. The core offering is the GfK Konsumklima powered by NIM, a monthly consumer sentiment indicator for Germany collected since 1980. NIM's research portfolio includes the NIMpulse study series (applied consumer topics), Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow reports (collaboration with St. Gallen Symposium), NIM Research Reports/Working Papers (academic behavioral science research), NIM Marketing Intelligence Review (professional journal), and NIM INSIGHTS magazine. The institute also organizes events including the annual Konsumklima Summit, NIM Market Decisions Day, NIMCon, NIM Distinguished Speakers, NIM Workshops, and NIM Insights Lunch sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIMCon Conference event focused on consumer climate and market decisions research for business, academic, and policy audiences.
• NIM Konsumklima powered by GfK Monthly consumer sentiment indicator tracking income expectations, purchasing propensity, and saving propensity for Germany; considered a key economic leading indicator and distributed to corporate, policy and media audiences.
• NIMpulse Series of applied research studies on consumer topics including sustainability, repair culture, food waste, and purchasing behavior; targeted at business practitioners and policymakers.
• Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow (VoLoT) Annual joint research report produced with the St. Gallen Symposium on perspectives of young leaders and senior executives regarding sustainability, scarcity, and other global challenges.
• NIM Research Reports and Working Papers Academic publication series covering behavioral science, innovation decisions, threat rigidity, and brand purpose with quantitative methodology; targeted at researchers and academics.
• NIM Marketing Intelligence Review (MIR) Biannual professional journal on marketing and consumer research, including themed issues such as AI in market research; distributed to researchers and practitioners.
• NIM INSIGHTS Research Magazine Research magazine presenting findings from NIM studies in an accessible format aimed at practitioner audiences.
• Konsumklima Summit (GfK Konsumklima Summit powered by NIM) Annual conference in Berlin dedicated to the consumer climate and economic outlook for Germany, featuring expert discussions and analysis; targets business, policy, and academic audiences.
• NIM Market Decisions Day Annual conference focused on market decisions and consumer behavior research, with themed editions such as longevity, products, brands, and markets.
• NIM Distinguished Speakers Speaker series event featuring expert presentations on market decisions and consumer behavior for NIM audiences.
• NIM Workshops Workshop sessions on future leadership and sustainability, including collaborations such as with the St. Gallen Symposium.
• NIM Insights Lunch Online lunch sessions delivering compact insights on consumer climate developments and demographic analysis to professional audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• GfK Konsumklima indicator published monthly since 1980 as key economic indicator
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GfK / NIQcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNIM was founded by GfK and maintains a close collaborative relationship with GfK/NIQ for the Konsumklima research. Since October 2023, NIM jointly evaluates and publishes the consumer climate data with GfK/NIQ. From April 2026, NIM assumed full communication responsibility for the Konsumklima, returning to its historical roots as the study was previously managed by the GfK Verein until 1984.
• St. Gallen SymposiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration on the 'Voices of the Leaders of Tomorrow' initiative, producing joint research reports on sustainability, leadership, and future challenges. The partnership produces annual reports and workshop sessions at the St. Gallen Symposium.
• Cass Business School (Bayes Business School)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research on contact tracing app adoption and behavioral research. Collaboration on international research projects involving consumer behavior and technology adoption.
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary collaboration on virtual reality as shopping environment research, combining technical and consumer behavior expertise.
• University of Bielefeld (CITEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cognitive interaction technology and consumer behavior research in virtual environments.
• University of Southern DenmarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for marketing research in virtual environments.
• ifo Institute (Ludwig Erhard ifo Zentrum)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch cooperation on climate policy and sustainability topics, producing joint publications on German climate pioneer attitudes.
• Ilmenau University of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Prof. Dr. Elena Freisinger on innovation management research, particularly on business model innovation and managerial decision-making.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GfK / NielsenIQ (NIQ): Global consumer panel and market research firm that absorbed GfK's consumer business and remains NIM's core data partner for the Konsumklima. They share heritage (NIM is GfK's founder) and directly comparable consumer insight methodologies.
• Ipsos: Global market research firm with strong consumer behavior, public opinion, and brand research practices overlapping directly with NIM's behavioral science and consumer decision-making focus.
• YouGov: Public opinion and consumer research firm with online panel-based methodology. Comparable to NIM's monthly consumer sentiment research and German-relevant consumer insights work, with a similar recurring indicator model.
• ifo Institute (Ludwig Erhard ifo Zentrum): Munich-based economic research institute producing the ifo Business Climate Index for Germany. Comparable as a DACH-focused, non-profit economic research institute that publishes recurring leading indicators and partners with NIM on sustainability research.
• ZEW (Centre for European Economic Research): Mannheim-based economic research institute publishing the ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment. Comparable non-profit economic research model with policy-maker and corporate research focus similar to NIM's Konsumklima.
• GIM (Gesellschaft für Innovative Marktforschung): Heidelberg-based market research firm specialising in qualitative consumer research and behavioral insights. Directly comparable consumer decision-making research methodology and German corporate client base.
• Pew Research Center: US-based non-profit research organization producing recurring public opinion and consumer/societal indicators. Comparable non-profit research institute model and recurring indicator publication approach to NIM's Konsumklima.
• Sinus Markt- und Sozialforschung: Heidelberg-based market and social research firm with deep expertise in consumer segmentation and societal trend research. Comparable DACH-focused consumer behavior research offering.
• DIW Berlin (German Institute for Economic Research): Berlin-based economic research institute producing recurring economic sentiment and consumer-relevant indicators. Comparable non-profit German economic research model serving policymakers and corporates.

Broad incumbents

• Kantar: One of the largest global market research and consumer insight providers, with broad portfolio coverage. Comparable consumer panels and brand research overlap with NIM but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/niminstitute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nim_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nim-org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions