Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung

What Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung does

IQIB - Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung GmbH is a non-profit research and consulting institute headquartered in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany, with a secondary office in Berlin co-located with DLR Projektträger. Operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) since 2019, the institute functions as a "think and do tank" focused on applied research and consulting in energy systems, climate adaptation, digital transformation, organizational development, and regional innovation systems. IQIB emerged from the EA European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment founded in 1996, and traces its strategic priorities directly to its experience of the 2021 Ahr Valley flood disaster, which catalyzed its specialization in resilience research.

The institute's product portfolio centers on the Innovation Lab, a multifunctional facility equipped with data servers, computing clusters, simulation models, and interactive visualization tools for processing complex datasets and supporting transdisciplinary workshops. Specialized proprietary tools include the Stress Test Tool (for energy system resilience assessment under extreme weather and cyberattack scenarios), the Scenario Tool (for regional energy concept planning), the Resilience Monitoring System, and the SmartEnergyCity Model Cube (an interactive physical/digital model for energy supply simulation). The IQIB Academy and its Smart City Academy sub-brand deliver continuing education through a digital learning platform. Underpinning these is a Data Intelligence unit that applies big-data approaches and AI methods for structured-data analysis.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: publicly funded research project grants (from BMBF, BMWE/BMWK, and Horizon Europe), professional-services consulting engagements with municipalities and regional governments, and subscription/registration-based training via the IQIB Academy. Projects are typically acquired as coordinator or consortium partner in multi-partner initiatives (e.g., ReMoDigital, KAHR, AEIP, EnergieregionPlus, RESITEK). Customer base is almost exclusively public-sector: German federal ministries, the European Commission, state and municipal governments, and international organizations such as the African Union.

Name

Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung

Legal name

IQIB - Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung GmbH

Website

https://iqib.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IQIB is a German non-profit research and consulting institute (GmbH), wholly owned by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), that delivers applied research, proprietary simulation tools, and consulting in climate adaptation, energy systems, and digital transformation to government ministries, municipalities, and international consortia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADADAA

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYHDAEANAF

AI Observability, Monitoring & Evaluation Platforms (Drift, Quality, Safety)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Artificial Intelligence Platforms for Enterprise

SECONDARYBPAEANAH

Data, Analytics & AI Training (BI, Data Engineering, ML/GenAI)

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

Keywords

• Applied research consulting
• Sustainability advisory services
• Climate adaptation research
• Energy transition consulting
• Innovation management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Neuenahr-ahrweiler

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: Primary revenue stream from publicly funded research projects through German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWE/BMWK) and European programs (Horizon Europe). IQIB serves as project coordinator or consortium partner in multi-partner research initiatives.
2. Consulting Services: Fee-for-service consulting engagements with municipalities, regions, public administration, and government bodies for organizational development, strategic planning, and transformation support.
3. Training and Academy Services: Digital learning platform (IQIB Academy) offering practical training courses including Smart City Academy programs, foresight training, and specialized professional development courses for researchers, public administration, and organizational leaders.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IQIB is a non-profit research and consulting institute ("Think and Do Tank") providing applied research, strategic foresight, technology assessment, and consulting services on sustainability, climate adaptation, energy systems, and digital transformation. It operates an Innovation Lab facility for data analysis and scenario development, delivers grant-funded research projects for federal and European programs, and offers professional training through the IQIB Academy platform. Its primary clients are German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWE/BMWK), municipalities, regional governments, and research institutions.

Product overview

IQIB is a non-profit research and consulting institute that operates as a think and do tank, offering a portfolio of research services, consulting, organizational development, data intelligence and AI solutions, transfer tools, and educational services through the IQIB Academy. The core offering centers on the Innovation Lab, a multifunctional facility for data analysis, visualization, and scenario development, complemented by specialized tools including the Stress Test Tool for energy system resilience assessment, Scenario Tool for regional energy planning, and the SmartEnergyCity Model Cube for interactive energy demonstrations. The IQIB Academy provides digital learning platforms including the Smart City Academy for municipal capacity building. Data Intelligence Services leverage big data and AI approaches for complex data analysis. Transfer Tools support knowledge mobilization and exchange processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IQIB Akademie: Digital learning platform for practical further training offering innovative learning formats for skills relevant for the future
• Innovation Lab
• Smart City Akademie
• ZukunftOrbit

Products and services

• Innovation Lab A multifunctional research facility equipped with front-end visualization technology and back-end data servers, computing clusters, simulation models, and databases. It enables processing, analysis, and visualization of large data sets and complex relationships, supporting interactive workshops, hackathons, scenario development, and transdisciplinary deliberation processes for research projects and client engagements.
• IQIB Academy A digital learning platform offering practical continuing education with innovative learning formats covering topics such as Smart City development, Active Patient Participation in Health Research, and Foresight Training for leadership. Targets researchers, public administration professionals, and organizational leaders.
• Smart City Academy Practical training courses for sustainable and public welfare-oriented urban development, covering topics of digitalization, IT, governance, and management that are directly applicable in municipalities. Operates as a sub-program within the IQIB Academy.
• Stress Test Tool (ReMoDigital) A system-analytical stress testing toolkit developed to help political decision-makers make energy systems more resilient against natural disasters and cyberattacks. Features interactive tables with color coding, interactive maps showing transformer stations and building power outages, and traffic impact visualization, with scenario definition through 22 descriptors.
• Scenario Tool for Energy Concepts An interactive online tool for creating energy concepts for regions and observing changes within target indicators while modifying key assumptions and technology implementation scenarios. Implemented as an example for the district of Ahrweiler.
• Resilience Monitoring System A comprehensive framework for resilient design of the digital energy transition, integrating system-analytical approaches with social integration concepts for electricity, heat, and transport sectors, combining system knowledge, knowledge about possible courses of action, and social evaluation of impacts.
• Data Intelligence Services A strategic service using big data approaches and artificial intelligence to collect and analyze complex data sets for developing forward-looking strategies for clients in research, business, and administration. Supports predictive analytics, process automation, and optimization use cases.
• SmartEnergyCity Model Cube An interactive physical model demonstrating how cities can be powered by wind and solar energy, allowing users to switch wind turbines, photovoltaic modules, electric cars, and buildings on and off to test effects on power supply and simulate stress scenarios such as complete failure of wind or solar power.
• Transfer Tools and Consulting Consulting service supporting organizations in building and optimizing transfer concepts, managing transfer activities, and building employee skills. Includes co-design processes with experts and visualization for multi-criteria evaluation to mobilize and exchange knowledge.
• ZukunftOrbit Competence Centre A competence centre for space, society and innovation policy providing strategic consulting on space-related topics at the intersection of space exploration and society. Addresses geopolitical and economic interests around near-Earth space critical infrastructure in dynamic policy environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Virtual power plants can function in parts during large-scale power cuts, strengthening regional energy resilience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• German Aerospace Center (DLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLR is the sole shareholder of IQIB since 2019. IQIB emerged from the EA European Academy of Technology and Innovation Assessment, founded in 1996. DLR provides strategic oversight through Supervisory Board participation, and IQIB serves as 'innovation factory in Rhineland-Palatinate' within DLR ecosystem. DLR institutes collaborate on research projects including DLR Institute of Networked Energy Systems and DLR Institute of Transport Research.
• DLR ProjektträgercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLR Projektträger provides technical support and project management services for IQIB's IT infrastructure and web services. The Berlin office is co-located with DLR Projektträger at Sachsendamm 61, Berlin. Close operational collaboration on project implementation and administration.
• RWTH Aachen UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in KAHR project focusing on hydraulic engineering and water resources management. IQIB serves as project office for Ahr Valley reconstruction efforts.
• Simon Process Engineering GmbH (SiPE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EnergieregionPlus project contributing technical and planning expertise for virtual power plant implementation in district of Ahrweiler.
• Simon Process Engineering GmbH and ef.Ruhr GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical and planning partners in EnergieregionPlus project developing tools and methods for establishing virtual power plants as nuclei of energy regions.
• Technopolis BVmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium coordinator for AEIP (AU-EU Innovation Platform) project with 15 members from 10 countries. Technopolis Africa and Technopolis Deutschland GmbH also participate in the consortium.
• African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in AEIP consortium building networks between African and European innovation ecosystems.
• Association of African Universities (AAU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for virtual Community of Practice on Urban Innovation Diplomacy within AEIP project.
• AfriLabsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican Technology Innovation Hubs network partner in AEIP consortium strengthening innovation ecosystem connections.
• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary research funding body for energy system analysis, resilience monitoring, and digital energy transition projects (ReMoDigital, WiETrans, EnergieregionPlus).
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding body for climate adaptation and flood resilience research through KAHR project supporting reconstruction in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
• European Commission (Horizon Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding program for AEIP (African Union-European Union Innovation Platform) under European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) stream. Part of EU Global Gateway Initiative.
• German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on H-Kat-Net regional disaster management network with Sinzig branch. Joint efforts to improve regional disaster preparedness and response.
• District of AhrweilermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey local partner for EnergieregionPlus project developing virtual power plants and for ongoing resilience and reconstruction initiatives following 2021 flood disaster.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Öko-Institut: Öko-Institut is a German independent research institute for applied sustainability, energy transition, and climate policy. Its think-and-do-tank model, federal/EU funding mix, and policy consulting are highly comparable to IQIB.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE): Fraunhofer ISE is a major German applied research institute for energy systems, with similar government-funded research, proprietary simulation tools, and consulting for energy transition—directly comparable to IQIB's energy resilience and scenario work.
• Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie: Wuppertal Institut is a leading German sustainability and climate research institute funded by the state of NRW, with applied research, scenario modeling, and policy consulting on energy transition—closely paralleling IQIB's profile.
• ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research: ISOE is a German non-profit research institute focused on social-ecological research, sustainability, and transdisciplinary methods. Its applied research and consulting model closely parallels IQIB's transdisciplinary approach.
• IZES – Institut für ZukunftsEnergie- und Stoffstromsysteme: IZES is a German research institute for future energy and material flow systems, providing applied research, scenario analysis, and consulting on regional energy transition—directly comparable to IQIB's regional energy and scenario work.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): IIASA is an internationally funded systems analysis institute conducting research on energy, climate, and resilience using modeling and scenario methods. Its research-driven, policy-advisory model parallels IQIB's systems evaluation and societal future-viability work.
• adelphi research gGmbH: adelphi is a German independent think tank and consultancy on climate, energy, and sustainable development. Its combination of policy research, applied consulting, and international project work is directly comparable to IQIB.
• Agora Energiewende: Agora Energiewende is a Berlin-based energy policy think tank that produces evidence-based analysis and policy advice for the Energiewende. Its policy research and consulting profile mirrors IQIB's energy and climate advisory work.
• Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena): dena is Germany's energy agency providing applied consulting, scenario analysis, and program management for the energy transition. Its federal mandate, consulting, and municipal support services are closely comparable to IQIB.
• VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik is a German project management and technology assessment organization that manages federal/EU research programs and conducts strategic consulting for innovation and technology policy—comparable to IQIB in project coordination and policy advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/iqib

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Institut für qualifizierende Innovationsforschung und -beratung