IBBF

Name

IBBF

Legal name

Vereinigung für Betriebliche Bildungsforschung e.V.

Website

https://ibbf.berlin

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Funding and Grants: IBBF operates as a publicly funded research institute. Projects are financed through government grants including BMBF (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung), ESF (Europäischer Sozialfonds), Brandenburg Ministry of Economics, Senate of Berlin, and BMWK. Revenue is project-based and competitive.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IBBF is a Berlin-based research institute (registered as Vereinigung für Betriebliche Bildungsforschung e.V.) that conducts empirical research and develops vocational and continuing education curricula for companies, vocational schools, and regional industry clusters. Its work centers on themes such as digitalization and work, sustainable development, energy transition, battery cell manufacturing competency, and e-mobility, delivered primarily through government-funded project programs (e.g., KOMBiH, Zukunft Lausitz, 4+2=C, QLEE) and annual regional surveys on training trends.

Product overview

IBBF (Institut für Betriebliche Bildungsforschung / Institute for Operational Educational Research) is a research institute and non-profit association that does not operate a single commercial software product but rather offers a portfolio of educational research services and managed project programs. Its core offerings include empirical research services (annual Frühjahrsbefragung surveys, case studies, evaluations) and a series of funded project-based educational programs — most notably KOMBiH (battery cell manufacturing competency), Zukunft Lausitz (dual vocational training reform), 4+2=C (light electric vehicle curricula), and QLEE (renewable energy qualifications) — delivered through a Moodle-based learning platform. The portfolio is organized around vocational education, digital transformation, sustainability, and energy transition topics for the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Empirische Bildungsforschung (Empirical Educational Research) Conception and execution of empirical surveys using quantitative and qualitative methods (analog and digital), creation of diagnoses, case studies, and expertises on vocational education, work and organization design, and leadership systems, as well as evaluation of processes and projects, for companies, ministries, and educational institutions.
• KOMBiH – Kompetenzaufbau für Batteriezellfertigung in der Hauptstadtregion A project identifying company competency needs for value creation processes in battery cell manufacturing and developing related further education offerings, to be scaled across the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region, for companies and vocational teachers in the battery value chain.
• Zukunft Lausitz – Duale Ausbildung lernortübergreifend umgestalten

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual Spring Survey tracking vocational training trends since 2013 across Berlin-Brandenburg

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Autohaus Golbeck GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Autohaus Golbeck GmbH is a co-implementing partner in the 4+2=C project (November 2025 – April 2026), which develops continuing education curricula for cross-disciplinary competencies between 4-wheel and 2-wheel vehicle service professions.
• Business auf Rädern GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Business auf Rädern GmbH is a co-implementing partner in the 4+2=C project developing training curricula for the intersection of motorbike and bicycle/e-bike service competencies, targeting KfZ-Mechatroniker:innen (automotive mechatronics technicians) to bridge a competency gap for new LEV vehicles.
• Lausitz Energie Bergbau AG (LEAG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025LEAG is the primary industry partner in the 'Zukunft Lausitz' (LOK Lausitz) model project running April 2025 to March 2027. The collaboration aims to support the structural transformation from coal to renewable energy by expanding existing occupational profiles with transformation-relevant content through dual vocational training, coordinated across company and school learning locations.
• Oberstufenzentrum 1 Spree-Neiße (OSZ 1 Spree-Neiße)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025OSZ 1 Spree-Neiße is the educational partner in the Zukunft Lausitz project, working with LEAG and IBBF to restructure dual vocational training collaboration across learning locations (Lernortkooperation). The school is located in Forst (Lausitz) with a history dating back to the late 1940s.
• KOMBiH Project Consortium (Battery Competence Trio)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023KOMBiH (Kompetenzaufbau für Batteriezellfertigung in der Hauptstadtregion) is a BMWK-funded project running January 2023 to December 2027. The project involves a 'Battery Competence Trio' of partners working with company leadership and vocational teachers to identify competency needs for battery cell manufacturing value chains and develop/implement training offerings in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region.
• UP Transfer / Universität PotsdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBF is a cooperation partner in the model project 'MBA Energietechnik' initiated by UP Transfer at Universität Potsdam, starting February 2016. The project develops management and leadership qualification modules for the energy technology sector, to be integrated into the WEITERBILDUNGSSYSTEM ENERGIETECHNIK.
• Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH co-organized with IBBF a January 2017 business workshop on 'Hybride Wertschöpfung und Arbeit 4.0' to recruit companies for a potential BMBF joint project on hybrid value creation and digitalized work.
• CoLearnET Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CoLearnET project (Knowledge, Collaboration and Transfer Network for Cooperative Learning with Digital Media) involves IBBF as consortium coordinator alongside AVT Teltow, bfw Berlin, CQ Bildung + Beratung, Lernfabrik NEUE TECHNOLOGIEN gGmbH, and HTW Berlin, targeting the Energietechnik Berlin-Brandenburg cluster.
• QUANT 4.0 Project PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQUANT 4.0 (Qualifizierung Auszubildender in neuen Technologiefeldern der Energietechnik) is a BMBF Jobstarter plus project involving IBBF with three economic networks: automotive BerlinBrandenburg e.V., EEPL Entwicklungsgesellschaft Energiepark Lausitz GmbH, and Wachstumskern Autobahndreieck Wittstock-Dosse e.V.
• DAA Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAA is a Brandenburg-based further education provider partnered with IBBF in the Weiterbildungssystem Energietechnik project, contributing to the development of training modules across all technology fields of the Berlin-Brandenburg energy technology cluster.
• TFA Trainings- und Fortbildungsakademie GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTFA is a training academy partner in the Weiterbildungssystem Energietechnik, working with IBBF to expand training module development to Brandenburg companies and educational institutions.
• WEQUA GmbH LauchhammerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEQUA GmbH Lauchhammer is a Brandenburg-based training partner in the Weiterbildungssystem Energietechnik, collaborating with IBBF on developing training modules for the energy technology cluster.
• ZAL Zentrum Aus- und Weiterbildung Ludwigsfelde GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZAL is a Brandenburg-based vocational training center partner in the Weiterbildungssystem Energietechnik, collaborating with IBBF on developing and implementing training modules for energy technology companies.
• Lernfabrik NEUE TECHNOLOGIEN Berlin gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLernfabrik NEUE TECHNOLOGIEN Berlin is a key partner in multiple IBBF projects including LERNWELT ELEKTROMOBILITÄT Berlin (model and showcase project) and Quali4Pro. It develops and tests training modules and concepts for vocational education in new technologies.
• ERASMUS+ International PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBBF participates in a 3-year ERASMUS+ strategic partnership (starting September 2015) with 6 partner organizations from EU countries and one Canadian partner organization. The project aims to increase training readiness among SMEs by identifying and adapting best practice examples across national contexts.
• k.o.s GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partnerk.o.s GmbH is a partner in the BMBF-funded Quali4Pro research project on professionalizing vocational training personnel, working alongside IBBF, Lernfabrik NEUE TECHNOLOGIEN Berlin, Bildungszentrum der IHK Potsdam (AVT e.V.), and academic researchers.
• Bildungszentrum der IHK Potsdam (AVT e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVT e.V. is the IHK Potsdam training center participating in the Quali4Pro project consortium alongside IBBF and other partners, contributing to research on vocational training personnel qualification.
• HTW Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTW Berlin is an academic partner in CoLearnET and co-organizes the annual German Weiterbildungstag (Continuing Education Day) with IBBF, hosting events on topics such as 'Arbeit 4.0 – Lernen für alle in einer digitalisierten Welt'.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Large private foundation running programs on education, vocational training, and labour-market transformation in Germany. Frequently partners with or competes against applied research institutes on BMBF-funded transformation initiatives similar to IBBF's mandate.
• Fraunhofer IAO: Large Fraunhofer institute focused on organizational engineering, work design, and digital transformation, often running BMBF-funded projects on skills and learning. Operates at significantly larger scale and competes for the same transformation-related funding calls as IBBF.
• Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW Köln): Cologne-based economic research institute with a strong education and labour-market division that publishes widely cited training and skills reports. Comparable to IBBF in producing empirical research informing vocational policy, but with much broader scope and national reach.

Direct peers

• Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung (DIE): National institute for adult and continuing education research in Germany, with a Leibniz association affiliation. Comparable to IBBF in its empirical research and continuing education focus, and a likely consortium partner or competitor on vocational training projects.
• Forschungsinstitut für Bildungs- und Sozialökonomie (FiBS): Independent research institute studying economics of education and training, including cost-benefit analyses and policy evaluation. Overlaps with IBBF's empirical research on vocational training trends and workforce development.
• Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB): Germany's federal institute for vocational education and training research, policy advice, and curriculum development. The most direct comparator to IBBF in scope and mandate, though operating at a substantially larger scale and with federal statutory backing.
• Institut für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Kultur (IWAK): Frankfurt-based institute researching work, labour markets, and structural change, with active projects on regional economic transformation. Comparable to IBBF's transformation-focused vocational training work in Lusatia and Berlin-Brandenburg.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Betriebliche Weiterbildungsforschung (ABWF): Working group on company-based continuing education research, focused on applied research on in-company training and competence development. Closely aligned with IBBF's vocational training research scope and methodology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/institutbbf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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