What Hans-Böckler-Stiftung does

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung is a German private, non-profit research foundation (Stiftung des privaten Rechts) headquartered in Düsseldorf at Georg-Glock-Straße 18, founded in 1977 and named after the trade unionist Hans Böckler. It operates as the talent funding foundation (Begabtenf6rderungswerk) of the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB), and structures its research and program activity around four wholly-owned institutes: WSI (Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut, founded c. 1946), IMK (Institut für Makroökonomie und Konjunkturforschung), I.M.U. (Institut für Mitbestimmung und Unternehmensführung), and HSI (Hugo Sinzheimer Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialrecht). Its mission centers on codetermination, good work, and social justice in Germany and Europe.

The foundation delivers three interlocking product lines. First, talent development through a scholarship program covering trainees, students, doctoral candidates, second-path Abitur applicants, artists, and international scholars, plus the TiBB vocational-training stipend, the Maria-Weber-Grant, and the MyBöckler online application portal. Second, policy-oriented research and publication across formats including Reports, Policy Briefs, Working Paper & Studies, Magazin Mitbestimmung, Böckler Impuls, WSI-Mitteilungen, HSI Schriftenreihe, and the WSI Tarifberichte; specialized data portals (WSI-Tarifarchiv, Lohnspiegel.de covering 500+ occupations, WSI-Verteilungsmonitor, WSI-Genderdatenportal, Mindestlohndaten, Arbeitsmarktdaten, Betriebsrätebefragung); and the Mitbestimmungsportal and Betriebs-/Dienstvereinbarungen database for works councils and supervisory boards. Third, outreach via the LABOR.A conference platform (Talque-powered), the Systemrelevant economics podcast (Podigee), the HANS. newsletter, Böckler Schule educational materials, and multi-language explanatory videos on YouTube. The underlying technology stack is a multi-institute web platform (boeckler.de plus four institute domains) integrated via an OpenText Document Server (OTDS) session system, with third-party services for analytics (Mapp Intelligence), consent (Usercentrics), podcast hosting (Podigee), events (Talque, Microsoft Teams, Zoom), video (YouTube), social (Instagram, Flickr), live chat (Userlike), data visualization (Tableau), interactive content (StorifyMe), and bot protection (Friendly Captcha), all operating under GDPR-compliant data processing agreements.

As a non-profit foundation, HBS does not generate commercial revenue: all publications, data portals, podcasts, school materials, and event participation are provided free of charge, and scholarship recipients receive funded support. The foundation is funded primarily through its endowment and institutional support from the DGB, with annual reporting via a Jahresbericht. Its go-to-market is community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-public rather than sales-based, reaching its primary audiences — the DGB and member unions, works councils and supervisory boards, scholarship recipients, and academic researchers — through owned websites, newsletters, podcasts, social media, conferences, and educational materials.

Name

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung

Legal name

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung

Website

https://boeckler.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung is a German non-profit research foundation operating four institutes (WSI, IMK, I.M.U., HSI) and serving as the talent funding body of the DGB trade union confederation, providing labor research, policy analysis, scholarship funding, and data portals to works councils, researchers, policymakers, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Policy Research and Advocacy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Field-of-Study & Discipline-Specific Funding (EDAIAOAD), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

Keywords

• Labor policy research
• Codetermination consulting
• Wage tariff data
• Talent scholarship funding
• Macroeconomic forecasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation endowment and institutional funding: As a non-profit research foundation (Stiftung), HBS is funded primarily through its endowment and institutional support from the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), enabling it to conduct research, award scholarships, and publish findings without commercial revenue generation. The foundation issues a Jahresbericht (annual report).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung is a German non-profit research and talent funding foundation that operates four research institutes (WSI, IMK, I.M.U., HSI) delivering labor, social, codetermination, macroeconomic, and labor law research. It funds academic research projects, awards scholarships as the talent funding foundation (Begabtenförderungswerk) of the DGB, maintains specialized data portals on wages and collective bargaining, and publishes reports, policy briefs, magazines, podcasts, and educational materials for schools.

Product overview

Hans-Böckler-Stiftung is a German research and talent funding foundation organized as a federation of four research institutes — WSI (Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut), IMK (Institut für Makroökonomie und Konjunkturforschung), I.M.U. (Institut für Mitbestimmung und Unternehmensführung) and HSI (Hugo Sinzheimer Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialrecht) — that together deliver the foundation's products and services rather than a single unified SaaS platform. The offering spans three principal pillars: (1) talent development via the Stipendien program (study, doctoral, trainee, Abitur-second-path, artist and international scholarships, plus TiBB and the Maria-Weber-Grant) and the MyBöckler-Portal online application system; (2) policy-oriented research delivered through the publication series (Reports, Policy Briefs, Working Paper & Studies, Magazin Mitbestimmung, Böckler Impuls, WSI-Mitteilungen, HSI Schriftenreihe, Tarifberichte and the Böckler Schule educational program) and through data portals and surveys (WSI-Tarifarchiv, Lohnspiegel.de, WSI-Verteilungsmonitor, WSI-Genderdatenportal, IMK Konjunkturprognosen und -indikatoren, Betriebsrätebefragung, Mitbestimmungsportal, Betriebs- und Dienstvereinbarungen); and (3) outreach and events via the LABOR.A conference platform (hosted on Talque), the Systemrelevant economics podcast, the HANS. newsletter, and explanatory videos on YouTube. The website integrates third-party services such as Usercentrics, Mapp Intelligence/Webtrekk, YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, Podigee, Tableau, Userlike, StorifyMe, Friendly Captcha, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Talque to deliver these capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Magazin Mitbestimmung: Magazine published by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung focused on codetermination (Mitbestimmung) topics.
• Böckler Impuls
• Böckler Schule
• HANS.
• Systemrelevant

Products and services

• Forschungsförderung (Research Funding) Foundation funding line supporting academic research projects on codetermination, global division of labor, welfare state institutions, education, and trade union history, including a project search and online application process for researchers.
• Stipendien (Scholarships) Talent funding program (Begabtenförderungswerk des DGB) offering scholarships and ideelle Förderung for trainees, students, doctoral candidates, second-path Abitur applicants, artists, and international scholars, including the Maria-Weber-Grant and Solidaritätsfonds.
• WSI - Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut Economic and Social Science Institute of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung conducting research on labor markets, distribution, gender, social inequality, and the welfare state; operates the Tarifarchiv, Lohnspiegel.de, WSI-Verteilungsmonitor, WSI-Genderdatenportal, and Betriebsrätebefragung.
• IMK - Institut für Makroökonomie und Konjunkturforschung Institute for Macroeconomics and Business Cycle Research providing economic forecasts (Konjunkturprognosen), business cycle indicators (Konjunkturindikatoren), and analysis of fiscal policy and economic developments in Germany.
• I.M.U. - Institut für Mitbestimmung und Unternehmensführung Institute for Codetermination and Corporate Governance providing educational materials, training, and consulting on works council issues, codetermination law, and Betriebsvereinbarungen.
• HSI - Hugo Sinzheimer Institut für Arbeits- und Sozialrecht Hugo Sinzheimer Institute for Labor and Social Law focused on labor law, social law, collective bargaining law, and European labor and social security law; publishes the HSI Schriftenreihe.
• WSI-Tarifarchiv WSI collective bargaining archive containing Tarifdaten and Tarifberichte (monthly, half-year, and annual reports) on collective agreements in Germany.
• Lohnspiegel.de Online wage and salary information portal covering more than 500 occupations, providing pay comparisons and pay check functionality for employees.
• WSI-Verteilungsmonitor Data portal providing distribution data on income and wealth inequality in Germany.
• WSI-Genderdatenportal Data portal providing gender-related labor market and social data.
• IMK Konjunkturprognosen und -indikatoren IMK economic forecasts and business cycle indicators portal providing macroeconomic projections and indicators for the German economy, including NiGEM-model-based simulations.
• Betriebsrätebefragung Periodic representative survey of works councils in Germany conducted by the WSI, providing data on codetermination, working conditions, and works council activities.
• Mitbestimmungsportal Codetermination portal providing information, basic knowledge, and Betriebsvereinbarungen related to works council and codetermination topics for works councils and supervisory boards.
• Magazin Mitbestimmung Hans-Böckler-Stiftung's magazine on codetermination, publishing feature articles, interviews, and analyses on labor, social, and economic policy topics.
• Böckler Impuls Regular briefing publication presenting current statistics and short analyses on topics such as housing, education, labor markets, and wages.
• Böckler Schule Educational materials program for schools including Unterrichtseinheiten, Themenhefte, and Erklärfilme on codetermination, social inequality, gender, labor and tariff policy, EU and globalization, and trade union history.
• Newsletter HANS. Newsletter offering current research results and information on codetermination, labor, social affairs, and economics, distributed via double opt-in.
• Systemrelevant - der Wirtschafts-Podcast Economics podcast of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung hosted via Podigee, covering economic and social policy topics.
• MyBöckler-Portal (Online-Bewerbung) Online application portal enabling prospective scholarship applicants to register, build a profile, and submit applications for study, doctoral, trainee, and other scholarships via SSL-encrypted transmission.
• LABOR.A Veranstaltungsplattform Online event and conference platform hosted via Talque used for the LABOR.A conference, with registration, matchmaking, and survey features for participants.
• TiBB - Talente in der Beruflichen Bildung Stipendienprogramm of Hans-Böckler-Stiftung for motivated trainees (Auszubildende) who want to shape the working world, independent of professional field.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lohnspiegel.de provides wage and salary check coverage for more than 500 occupations (Lohn- und Gehaltscheck für mehr als 500 Berufe).
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB) - German Trade Union ConfederationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DGB is the founder and primary institutional anchor of Hans-Böckler-Stiftung. HBS operates as the talent funding foundation (Begabtenförderungswerk) of the DGB, with its scholarship recipients studying at universities and Fachhochschulen. The foundation's mission of supporting codetermination, good work, and social justice is closely aligned with the DGB's trade union agenda. The DGB Bundeskongress and DGB leadership (e.g., Yasmin Fahimi) are recurring subjects and partners in HBS research and policy work, with HBS reporting on DGB congresses and union positions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest private operating foundations, headquartered in Gütersloh. Highly comparable to HBS as a non-state, large German foundation producing independent research, policy analysis, and educational programs on socio-economic topics, with similar scope and institutional positioning.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): German policy research foundation providing independent analysis on foreign and security policy. Directly comparable to HBS as a German Stiftung delivering policy-relevant research and publications, with a similar institute-style operating model and policy advisory role.
• Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin): Leading German economic research institute (member of the Leibniz Association) producing empirical economic research, policy briefs, and data products. Comparable to HBS's WSI and IMK institutes in producing German labor and macroeconomic analysis with similar publication formats.
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Social Democratic Party, with strong labor and codetermination focus. Closely comparable to HBS in operating as a foundation aligned with organized labor/social policy and providing scholarships, political education, and policy research.
• Körber-Stiftung: Hamburg-based private operating foundation running its own programs in education, science, and international affairs. Comparable to HBS as a German private foundation that operates in-house research and education programs and convenes policy debates.
• VolkswagenStiftung: One of Germany's largest science funding foundations, funding academic research across disciplines. Comparable to HBS in operating a German Stiftung model that distributes research funding and convenes scientific communities, with similar scale and institutional positioning.
• ifo Institut: Munich-based economic research institute producing the ifo Business Climate Index and influential economic forecasts. Directly comparable to HBS's IMK institute in delivering macroeconomic forecasts, business cycle indicators, and policy analysis for Germany.
• IZA (Institute of Labor Economics): Bonn-based international research institute focused exclusively on labor economics, producing working papers and policy research. Closely comparable to HBS's WSI in specializing in empirical labor economics with similar publication and dissemination models.
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung: German political foundation affiliated with the Greens, focused on ecology, democracy, and social justice. Comparable to HBS as a politically aligned German Stiftung offering scholarships, political education, and policy research with a similar institutional operating model.

Broad incumbents

• ZEW – Leibniz-Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung: Mannheim-based economic research institute producing applied economic research and policy analysis. Comparable to HBS's IMK in producing macroeconomic and policy-relevant research, with broader scope and stronger commercial-research positioning than HBS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/boeckler_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/hans.boeckler.stiftung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boeckler

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hans-Böckler-Stiftung