IMQ
IMQ is an Italian nonprofit certification body founded in 1951, providing testing, inspection, and certification services across product, management system, professional, ICT/IoT security, and sustainability domains for manufacturers, organizations, and professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IMQ does
IMQ (Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualità) is an Italian nonprofit certification body headquartered in Milano, founded in 1951, employing 501-1000 staff. It provides testing, verification, inspection, and certification services across multiple domains: product certification for electrical equipment and installations, management system certification for organizations, professional competency certification, and business certification. IMQ has built a public registry of more than 115,000 certified products and 18,000 certified sites, functioning as a recognized quality mark in the Italian market.
The organization's technical core is a network of state-of-the-art testing laboratories coupled with continuous regulatory monitoring, enabling conformity assessments against current technical and legislative specifications. IMQ positions itself as the only Italian body offering an integrated view of ICT quality and security, with specialized capabilities in IoT device and network security certification. It has also extended into emerging verticals including electric mobility testing and circular economy services, reflecting adaptation to sustainability and electrification mandates.
IMQ operates a project-based, fee-for-service revenue model where manufacturers, organizations, and professionals pay for certification engagements. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Revenue streams are diversified across product certification (one-time license), management system certification, professional certification, ICT/IoT security certification, and sustainability/circular economy professional services. As a nonprofit, IMQ does not raise equity funding and has no disclosed M&A or partnership activity in the source data.
IMQ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IMQ
- Legal name
- IMQ
- Website
- https://imq.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- IMQ is an Italian nonprofit certification body founded in 1951, providing testing, inspection, and certification services across product, management system, professional, ICT/IoT security, and sustainability domains for manufacturers, organizations, and professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IMQ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Product Certification and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- ITSM Governance, Compliance & Audit Readiness (BPAEAJAM)
Keywords
Where IMQ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
IMQ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Certification Services: Fees charged for certifying product compliance with technical and legislative specifications. Revenue generated through testing, verification and certification of electrical equipment, installations, and supplies.
- Management System Certification: Certification services for business and management systems ensuring efficient management, adequate competencies and suitable structures for organizations.
- Professional Certification: Certification of professional competencies and adequacy of services proposed and delivered by professionals.
- ICT and IoT Security Certification: Specialized certification services for ICT security and Internet of Things device security, providing assurance at both network and device levels.
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Services: Testing and certifications to measure, improve and attest sustainability performance and support enterprises in transition to circular economy.
IMQ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IMQ provides testing, verification, and certification services for products, management systems, professionals, and businesses. It validates conformity of electrical equipment, apparatus, installations and supplies to technical and legislative specifications, certifies organizational management systems and professional competencies, and delivers specialized ICT/IoT security, electric mobility, and circular economy / sustainability assessments.
Product overview
IMQ is a unified certification platform offering multiple interconnected service lines: Product Certification validates conformity of electrical equipment and supplies; Management System Certification ensures organizational efficiency and competence; Professional Certification validates individual competencies; Business Certification supports enterprise quality and export facilitation; ICT/IoT Security Testing provides comprehensive information security certification; Circular Economy Services supports sustainable business transition; and Electric Mobility Testing serves the EV sector. With over 115,000 certified products and 18,000 certified sites, IMQ serves as Italy's primary certification partner across electrical, electronic, ICT, and emerging technology domains.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Product Certification Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 115,000+ products certified and searchable in IMQ database
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use IMQ
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
IMQ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
IMQ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
IMQ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Eurofins Scientific: Eurofins is a major European TIC firm offering testing services across food, environmental, pharmaceutical, and consumer product categories. Comparable to IMQ as a multi-vertical European testing services company, though with much larger revenue scale.
- TÜV SÜD: TÜV SÜD is a global TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) giant offering product testing, management system certification, and cybersecurity certification across multiple industries. It directly competes with IMQ in product/management certification while operating at vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is one of the largest global TIC firms, providing product testing, certification, and inspection across construction, marine, industry, and consumer goods. Directly comparable to IMQ across product certification, management system certification, and emerging digital/IoT testing services.
- DNV: DNV is a Norway-headquartered global TIC company providing certification, testing, and inspection services across maritime, energy, and industrial sectors. Comparable to IMQ in management system certification and emerging digital assurance categories.
- SGS: SGS is the world's leading testing, inspection, and certification company, with services spanning agricultural, industrial, consumer goods, and environmental products. Comparable to IMQ as a multi-vertical TIC competitor with similar product certification and management system offerings.
- Intertek: Intertek is a leading global TIC company with strong focus on consumer products, electronics, and electrical testing. Directly comparable to IMQ in product safety certification, with significant overlap in electrical equipment testing.
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories): UL is a global safety certification and testing company widely recognised for product safety marks. Directly comparable to IMQ in electrical product certification and increasingly in cybersecurity and sustainability certification.
Direct peers
- DEKRA: DEKRA is a German-based testing and certification organisation, historically operating in automotive and electrical product testing, with growing cybersecurity and IoT certification capabilities. Comparable to IMQ across product certification, EV mobility testing, and ICT security.
- RINA: RINA is an Italian certification and classification society headquartered in Genoa, providing testing, inspection, and certification services for industrial, energy, and transport sectors. Closest direct peer to IMQ due to shared Italian origin, similar scale, and overlapping product/management certification activities.
- TÜV Rheinland: TÜV Rheinland is a global TIC provider offering industrial/product testing, cybersecurity certification, e-mobility testing, and management system certification. Direct peer to IMQ across product, IoT, EV mobility, and management certification verticals.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IMQ social profiles
Digital presenceIMQ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IMQ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
IMQ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IMQ 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 IMQ
What does IMQ do?
IMQ provides testing, verification, and certification services for products, management systems, professionals, and businesses. It validates conformity of electrical equipment, apparatus, installations and supplies to technical and legislative specifications, certifies organizational management systems and professional competencies, and delivers specialized ICT/IoT security, electric mobility, and circular economy / sustainability assessments.
Is IMQ a public or private company?
IMQ is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was IMQ founded?
IMQ was founded in 1951. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is IMQ based?
IMQ is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does IMQ make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Product Certification Services are the primary driver. The others are management System Certification, professional Certification, ICT and IoT Security Certification and sustainability and Circular Economy Services.
Who are IMQ's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Eurofins Scientific, TÜV SÜD, Bureau Veritas, DNV, SGS, Intertek and UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Direct peers are DEKRA, RINA and TÜV Rheinland.
Does IMQ have an API?
No public API is recorded for IMQ.
What industry is IMQ in?
IMQ's product category is Product Certification and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAEAHAN, Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO), with a secondary code of BPAEAJAM, ITSM Governance, Compliance & Audit Readiness. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.