Smart Building Innovation Foundation

What Smart Building Innovation Foundation does

Smart Building Innovation Foundation (SBIF) is a Berlin-based non-profit foundation structured as a gGmbH (gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) that operates as a neutral convener and applied-research body for the German construction and real estate industry. Founded in 2022, SBIF brings together leading enterprises from the sector — including Forvis Mazars, Schneider Electric, Schindler, Sweco, Kärcher, Hailo Digital Hub, Intesia Group, and Nornorm — with academic partners (Fraunhofer IAO and IBP, KIT, FZI, UdK Berlin) to address decarbonization, smart-building operations, ESG reporting, climate adaptation, and New Work. Its working model decouples innovation from conventional project cycles by testing new measures in small "real laboratories" under real operating conditions, then packaging validated findings for property owners, developers, building operators, and facility managers.

SBIF's core product is the Maßnahmen-Katalog, a free online database of scientifically evaluated decarbonization measures with financial and non-financial KPIs (investment cost, operating cost, energy savings, EU taxonomy compliance, CO2 footprint, biodiversity impact). This is complemented by fee-based consulting services for renovation roadmaps and innovation management delivered through the SBIF gGmbH, and by collaborative research projects including the LiSS (Livable Smart Spaces) study with Fraunhofer IAO, the FM2BIM methodology integrating facility management into BIM-based planning, automated ESG reporting, climate adaptation and biodiversity roadmaps, and dynamic cleaning strategies. Technology outputs are knowledge artifacts (studies, catalogs, BIM Model-Checker methodology) rather than a commercial SaaS platform; there is no public API, SDK, or product application. AI is treated as a research subject — sensor-data analytics, predictive maintenance, occupancy detection, and generative-AI ticketing are referenced via partners — rather than as a proprietary SBIF capability.

The foundation is funded by partner contributions from Zustifter (founding contributors) and industry partners, plus consulting fees. Its governance comprises a Managing Director (Frank Hermanns), a Board Chair (Andreas Thamm, also Managing Director at Intesia Group), a Supervisory Board (Kuratorium) with representatives from Forvis Mazars, Schneider Electric, and Schindler, and an Advisory Board (Beirat) including KIT, Fraunhofer, FZI, UdK, KVL, and Stadtwerte representatives. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and no external private equity or venture capital rounds have been identified.

Name

Smart Building Innovation Foundation

Legal name

Smart Building Innovation gGmbH

Website

https://sbif.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smart Building Innovation Foundation (SBIF) is a Berlin-based non-profit foundation that convenes construction, real estate, and academic partners to test and validate decarbonization, smart-building, ESG, and climate-adaptation innovations for property owners, developers, and facility managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Sector Sustainability Research and Consulting

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC), Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO)

Keywords

• Building decarbonization consulting
• Smart building innovation
• Renovation advisory services
• Real estate sustainability research
• ESG reporting solutions

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services (gGmbH): The Smart Building Innovation gGmbH offers fee-based consulting services for renovation measures and innovation management. As a non-profit organization, it is neutral and not profit-oriented in its foundation activities.
2. Foundation Activities (Non-profit): The foundation conducts research projects, long-term data collection, information events, and publishes studies and research results, funded through partner contributions and state foundations (Zustifter).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Smart Building Innovation Foundation is a non-profit foundation (gGmbH) that conducts collaborative research and innovation projects to make buildings sustainable, climate-neutral, and economically viable. Its central deliverable is the SBIF-Maßnahmenkatalog, an online catalog that scientifically evaluates building decarbonization measures using financial and non-financial KPIs, alongside fee-based consulting services for renovation planning and innovation management targeted at property owners, building operators, and construction/real estate companies in the DACH region.

Product overview

Smart Building Innovation Foundation (SBIF) operates as a research foundation and consultancy rather than a traditional software product company. The core offering is the Maßnahmen-Katalog (Measures Catalog), a database tool that evaluates building retrofit measures according to financial and non-financial criteria for decarbonization. This is supplemented by consulting services for renovation measures and innovation management. Additionally, SBIF runs collaborative research projects including automated ESG reporting, dynamic cleaning optimization, climate adaptation and biodiversity roadmaps, and the Livable Smart Spaces (LiSS) study on user-centric smart buildings. The organization also partners with Nornorm to offer flexible workspace solutions through a subscription model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maßnahmen-Katalog (Measures Catalog) Free online database and tool that evaluates and compares building retrofit measures according to financial and non-financial criteria including investment costs, operating costs, energy savings, biodiversity impact, EU taxonomy compliance, and CO2 footprint. Helps property owners and managers evaluate and select decarbonization measures.
• Beratung für Sanierungsmaßnahmen (Renovation Consulting) Fee-based consulting service for renovation projects, asset stranding challenges, and efficient sustainable building operations. Provides strategic renovation roadmaps aligned with regulatory requirements and funding options including BAFA programs, for property owners and developers.
• Innovationsmanagement (Innovation Management) Service that decouples innovation management from project and business operations, offering solution development, data-based evaluation, scientific accompaniment, and dissemination support for pilot projects and product developments targeting construction and real estate companies.
• Automatisches ESG-Reporting (Automated ESG Reporting) Project initiative developing automated ESG reporting systems that compile environmental, social, and governance data from various sources for compliance reporting, with metrics normalized per rented area, per workplace, and per usage intensity. Targets property owners and corporate real estate stakeholders.
• Dynamische Reinigung (Dynamic Cleaning) Research project developing innovative cleaning strategies based on actual room utilization data, optimizing cleaning schedules for efficiency and sustainability in facility management. Partnered with Kärcher and targeted at building operators and facility managers.
• Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne (Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity Roadmaps) Project developing and piloting standards for climate adaptation and biodiversity roadmaps for corporate properties, in collaboration with Fraunhofer Institut IBP. Targets property owners and corporate real estate stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Measures catalog provides neutral evaluation of decarbonization options with investment costs, operating cost savings, energy optimization potentials, and EU taxonomy compliance indicators
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

35 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sweco DeutschlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Sweco Deutschland joined SBIF as a founding partner (Zustifter) on July 1, 2025. As a leading European consulting firm specializing in sustainable solutions for urban and rural projects with services in architecture, engineering, and environment, Sweco contributes expertise in technical building equipment (TGA), digital competence, and sustainability approach. The partnership aims to accelerate transformation in the building sector through exchange, joint learning, and concrete projects.
• Fraunhofer IAO (KODIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBIF collaborates with the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO), specifically its Center for Cognitive Service Systems (KODIS), on the Livable Smart Spaces (LiSS) project to analyze user-centricity in smart buildings and campus areas.
• Fraunhofer Allianz BaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThomas Kirmayr from Fraunhofer Allianz Bau serves on SBIF's advisory board and provides scientific guidance for projects including FM2BIM.
• Forvis MazarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForvis Mazars is represented on SBIF's Kuratorium (supervisory board) by Jörn Dieckmann (auditor, tax consultant & partner) and participates in projects including Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne and Automatisches ESG-Reporting.
• Schneider ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchneider Electric is represented on SBIF's Kuratorium by Stefan Klepzig (Strategic Sales Director) and participates in the Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne project. The company also co-hosted the SBIF Connect live event.
• SchindlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchindler is represented on SBIF's Kuratorium by Thomas Black (Director NI Sales / Digital Innovation / Marketing & Communication / KAM / CX) and participates in the Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne project.
• Hailo Digital HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHailo Digital Hub GmbH & Co. KG collaborated with SBIF on the FM2BIM project to develop a solution for integrating facility management services into BIM-based planning, alongside Kärcher and Intesia Group.
• NornormcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNornorm partnered with SBIF on a multi-part New Work article series and collaborative office redesign. Nornorm provides flexible furniture solutions via a subscription model, enabling circularity and adaptability in office spaces.
• Intesia GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntesia Group is represented by Andreas Thamm (SBIF Vorstand Chair, Managing Director of Intesia Group) and participates in the FM2BIM project alongside Hailo Digital Hub and Kärcher. Marcel Proß from Intesia provided a testimonial for SBIF.
• KärchercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKärcher collaborated with SBIF on the FM2BIM project to develop BIM-based approaches for facility management, alongside Hailo Digital Hub and Intesia Group.
• Fraunhofer Institut IBPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBIF collaborates with Fraunhofer Institut IBP on the Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne project to develop and pilot standards for climate adaptation and biodiversity roadmaps for corporate properties.
• Hailo Digital Hub (ESG project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHailo Digital Hub is a partner in the Automatisches ESG-Reporting project, working with SBIF, Forvis Mazars, and Schneider Electric to develop automated ESG reporting.
• Kärcher (Reinigung project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKärcher is the partner organization for the Dynamische Reinigung project, which focuses on developing innovative, needs-based cleaning strategies based on actual room usage.
• Intesia Group (Biodiversität project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntesia Group participates in the Klimawandelanpassungs- und Biodiversitätsfahrpläne project alongside Forvis Mazars, Schindler, Schneider Electric, and Fraunhofer IBP.
• NUCE ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNUCE Consulting supported the FM2BIM project by helping implement the solution in actual BIM Model Checkers, enabling facility management services to be represented in BIM-based planning.
• KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIT is represented on SBIF's advisory board by Prof. Andreas Wagner and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Schmeck (also at FZI). KIT researchers contribute scientific expertise to SBIF projects and events.
• FZI Forschungszentrum InformatikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFZI (Research Center Computer Science) in Karlsruhe hosts SBIF's annual year-end meeting and innovation workshops. Prof. Dr. Hartmut Schmeck from FZI provides scientific guidance and introduces SBIF at public events.
• UdK Berlin (University of the Arts)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schildhauer from UdK Berlin serves on SBIF's advisory board, contributing expertise in service science and digital business models.
• Bauen im Bestand e.V. (BiB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiB (Association for Building in Existing Stock) is a project partner alongside DENEFF and Concular, collaborating to develop a centralized database for renovation measures in existing buildings based on the SBIF measures catalog.
• DENEFF (Deutsche Unternehmensinitiative Energieeffizienz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDENEFF is a project partner alongside BiB and Concular, working with SBIF to develop a centralized database for renovation measures. DENEFF drives ambitious energy efficiency policy and innovation at the market-policy interface.
• ConcularcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcular is a project partner alongside DENEFF and BiB, collaborating with SBIF to develop a centralized database for renovation measures in existing buildings, simplifying circular building practices.
• BAUINDUSTRIE BAYERNminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBAUINDUSTRIE BAYERN (Bavarian Construction Industry Association) hosted SBIF Vorstand Andreas Thamm as a guest on their podcast 'Die Zukunft der Bauwirtschaft' to discuss sustainable building operations, decarbonization, and AI.
• Sweco (project partner)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSweco participates in SBIF events and discussions, including the SBIF Connect live event where Lars Schumacher (Sweco) provided an impulse on energy and biodiversity, and contributed to the 2026 innovation workshop.
• HTW BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTW Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft) is listed as a project partner organization contributing to SBIF's collaborative research initiatives.
• Center Smart Commercial BuildingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• IEBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• MATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• metabuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• NAISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• NUCE ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• SmartlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network, specializing in smart PV solutions.
• FlexBlueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• GPTIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a project partner organization in SBIF's partner network.
• KVLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKVL (represented by Anastasija Radke on SBIF's advisory board) is the host organization for SBIF's Berlin headquarters and provides building consulting expertise.
• StadtwerteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAndreas Schulten from Stadtwerte serves on SBIF's advisory board and contributed an impulse ('Team Liebe oder Team Freiheit?') at the 2026 innovation workshop.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Concular: German circular construction data and marketplace platform. Project partner of SBIF addressing circularity and material reuse in buildings — closely overlapping thematically with SBIF's renovation measures work.
• DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen): Germany's leading sustainable building council running a certification system, research, and member network. Comparable as a German non-profit foundation setting building sustainability standards and convening industry stakeholders.
• DENEFF (Deutsche Unternehmensinitiative Energieeffizienz): German corporate energy-efficiency initiative driving policy and innovation at the market-policy interface. Directly comparable as an SBIF project partner operating a similar cross-stakeholder model around building energy topics.
• Center Smart Commercial Building: German industry initiative advancing digitalization in commercial buildings. Listed as SBIF project partner and directly comparable in mission around smart commercial building transformation.
• Bauen im Bestand e.V. (BiB): German association for renovation and building-stock development. Direct peer as SBIF project partner focused on existing-building renovation knowledge, aligned with SBIF's decarbonization catalog work.
• Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft / Stiftung 2° Foundation: German corporate climate foundation convening industry leaders for low-carbon transformation. Closely mirrors SBIF's foundation-driven, cross-stakeholder model operating in adjacent decarbonization domains.

Regional players

• Carbon Trust: UK-headquartered non-profit helping businesses and governments reduce carbon emissions, with significant activity in built environment. Comparable as a non-profit advisory and certification entity serving sustainability buyers; geographically distinct.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): Operator of LEED and broader US green building standards and member network. International analogue to SBIF in convening industry for sustainable building standards, though at much larger scale and with formal certification products.
• BRE Group (BREEAM): UK-based building science and certification body behind BREEAM. Comparable as an authoritative sustainable-building knowledge institution, but broader in scope and geographically separate.

Others

• Fraunhofer Allianz Bau: Fraunhofer building research alliance providing scientific guidance that often anchors SBIF projects (Thomas Kirmayr on Advisory Board). Comparable as a parallel research-and-knowledge-transfer entity, though structured as a government-funded institute rather than an industry-driven foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Smart Building Innovation Foundation