What Knowledge Integration Limited does

Knowledge Integration Limited (trading as K-Int) is a privately held UK software specialist founded in 1999 by Ian Ibbotson in Sheffield, focused exclusively on interoperability and integration challenges in the Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM) sector and academic library market. Its core product, CIIM (Collections Information Integration Middleware), extracts data from and synchronizes data between heterogeneous back-office systems — including collections management systems (MIMSY XG, Adlib, EMu, Calm), digital asset management platforms (Extensis Portfolio, ODIN DAMS), library systems (Koha, SirsiDynix EOS.Web), and archival systems (Axiell CALM) — and publishes the unified result through Elasticsearch, IIIF, OAI-PMH, and SPARQL endpoints. Adjacent products include Lexaurus (terminology management with multilingual, version-controlled vocabularies), the LIS Gateway family (IMS Learning Information Services middleware for integrating learning management systems with student information systems, including a Moodle-specific variant), and a portfolio of open-source tools (KI Assemble, KI Share, FedAccs, GOKb) plus FOLIO Electronic Resource Management apps developed in partnership with the GBV Common Library Network in Germany.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining productized licensing (LIS Gateway priced at £7,000 for simulated environments, £10,000 per annum for unlimited middleware deployments, £7,000–£25,000 for Moodle-specific deployments, with 15% annual support uplift), bespoke professional services and implementation projects for CIIM, recurring support contracts with SLA-backed ticketing via Zendesk, and managed hosting/SaaS offerings on AWS and Azure infrastructure. The company serves a customer base of national museums (British Museum, Royal Armouries, Science Museum Group, Imperial War Museums, National Gallery, RAF Museum), regional museums and heritage trusts (Fitzwilliam Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Norfolk Museums, York Museums Trust, National Trust for Scotland, Manx National Heritage), academic institutions and library networks (Jisc, North Dakota University System, Chalmers University of Technology, Kyoto University, GBV, ULB-Darmstadt, European Schoolnet, Europeana, International Baccalaureate), and international government customers (Norwegian Tax Administration). Distribution is primarily direct and project-led, supplemented by UK Government Digital Outcomes framework procurement, an Oracle Gold Partnership for SIS integration work, and a product-led growth motion through freely available open-source tools.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed, the company is privately held with no external funding rounds, and the team is small (11–50 employees) and based at its Sheffield headquarters at Park Hill, with a planned office relocation in January 2026. Knowledge Integration maintains deep standards-body involvement (IMS Global Learning Consortium LIS certification, FOLIO Community Council, Arches core development team, Project ReShare) and has processed approximately 100 million items across its CIIM customer base, supported over 300 institutional contributors to Archives Hub, and delivered platforms such as Jisc Historical Texts (over £6 million invested in content) and the British Museum's online collection (2.3 million objects served).

Name

Knowledge Integration Limited

Legal name

Knowledge Integration Ltd.

Website

https://k-int.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knowledge Integration Limited is a Sheffield-based software firm, founded in 1999, that builds middleware and integration products — notably CIIM, Lexaurus, and LIS Gateway — for the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) sector and academic libraries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Library and Collections Middleware Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Integration & API/Middleware Services (BPAEAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

System Integration & Connectors (BPAMAOAC), Integration, API & Middleware Consulting (BPAHAEAJ), Systems Integration & Implementation Services (BPAEAAAB), Library/Media Center & Digital Resource Management Systems (EDAJAMAN), LMS Integrations, Interoperability & Identity (LTI/SCORM/xAPI, SSO, APIs) (EDAFAAAI), Technical Documentation & Knowledge Management (Playbooks, Runbooks, Enablement Kits) (BPAEANAM)

Keywords

• Library middleware solutions
• Collections data integration
• GLAM interoperability software
• Terminology management systems
• Interlibrary loan protocols

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Implementation and Custom Development: Custom development and implementation services for CIIM, Lexaurus, LIS Gateway, and related products. Projects include system integration, custom workflows, data modeling, and API development. Typically project-based engagements with institutions.
2. Support Contracts: Comprehensive and flexible support contracts covering bug fixes, configuration advice, and product usage guidance. Uses Zendesk for issue management with front-line support and escalation to development teams. SLAs include response time criteria and prioritization by severity. Some contracts include 'call-off' days for minor customizations, consultancy, and training.
3. Hosting and SaaS: Hosting services ranging from short-term 'stop-gap' to long-term provision. Includes public network hosting, dedicated physical data center hosting, and cloud-based platforms (AWS). Also offers Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) variants. Lexaurus hosting provided via dedicated lexaurus.net domain.
4. LIS Gateway Licensing: LIS Gateway sold as one-off payment for simulated testing environment (£7,000) or annual middleware license (£10,000 per annum for unlimited deployments). Gateway for Moodle priced at £7,000-£25,000 depending on student count. Annual support and upgrades at 15% of initial fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Knowledge Integration develops and licenses middleware and integration software that connects disparate back-office systems in the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector. Its core commercial offerings are CIIM (Collections Information Integration Middleware), Lexaurus (terminology management), and the LIS Gateway product family (IMS Learning Information Services middleware for LMS/SIS integration), complemented by open-source tools (KI Assemble, KI Share) and implementation, support and hosting services.

Product overview

Knowledge Integration offers a portfolio of middleware and integration products primarily serving the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums) sector. The core product is CIIM (Collections Information Integration Middleware), a configurable middleware solution for data extraction, synchronization, and publication from back-office systems. Lexaurus is their terminology management system with multilingual and workflow capabilities. For library systems, they provide the LIS Gateway product family supporting IMS Learning Information Services for LMS/SIS integration, including a Moodle-specific variant. Additionally, they offer open source tools including KI Assemble (protocol implementation toolkit for Z39.50/ISO 10161) and KI Share (inter-library loans engine). Their FOLIO ERM suite provides Electronic Resource Management functionality for the FOLIO Library Services Platform, and FedAccs enables federated authentication. Products are available for self-implementation or with Knowledge Integration's delivery and support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIIM: Collections Information Integration Middleware - a middleware solution for extracting data from and synchronizing data between back-office systems for GLAM organisations
• Lexaurus
• LIS Gateway
• KI Assemble
• KI Share
• KB+ (Knowledge Base+)

Products and services

• CIIM (Collections Information Integration Middleware) Middleware platform for GLAM organisations that extracts data from and synchronises data between multiple back-office collections management systems (MIMSY XG, Adlib, EMu, CALM, TMS), Digital Asset Management systems (Portfolio, ODIN), and library systems, then publishes unified data to web, IIIF, OAI-PMH, Elasticsearch, and SPARQL endpoints.
• Lexaurus Terminology management system with configurable workflows, full version control, schema-independent multilingual thesauri, and publication using recognized thesaural standards (e.g., SKOS support and SNOMED compatibility). Used by libraries, standards bodies and government agencies.
• LIS Gateway (including LIS Gateway for Moodle and Bulk Data Synchronisation Agent) Middleware product family that is a certified implementation of IMS Learning Information Services v2.0.1, used to exchange data between Learning Management Systems, Student Information Systems and other institutional systems via a driver-based adapter architecture. Includes a Moodle-specific variant and a standalone Bulk Data Synchronisation Agent.
• KI Assemble (formerly A2J) 100% open-source toolkit for implementing Z39.50 and ISO 10161 protocols; reads ASN.1 specifications and outputs codecs and runtime type classes plus protocol state machines for socket connections and message exchange.
• KI Share (formerly OpenRequest) Open-source interlibrary loan (ILL) tool, available under GNU AGPL, providing an API for sending and receiving loan requests between libraries and managing the ILL workflow.
• FOLIO ERM Suite (Agreements, Licenses, ERM Comparison, Local KB Admin) Suite of Electronic Resource Management applications built for the FOLIO Library Services Platform, including Agreements, Licenses, ERM Comparison, and Local KB Admin. Commissioned by GBV Common Library Network and built as cross-platform multi-tenant microservices with Single Page Applications integrated via APIs.
• FedAccs (FOLIO Federated Access) Federated authentication module for FOLIO enabling library users to access resources using home university credentials via SAML 2.0 federation identity providers such as DFN-AAI.
• Museum Data Service Service launched on the CIIM platform in November 2024 to help museums transform how they share object records and knowledge, unlocking millions of UK collection records.
• Knowledge Base+ (KB+) Subscription and licence management service for UK libraries to manage e-journals and e-books, developed in collaboration with Jisc and Sero Consulting.
• Implementation Services Full-service implementation of CIIM, Lexaurus, LIS Gateway and related products for institutional customers, covering system integration, configuration, data modelling, and deployment.
• Custom Development

Quantifiable outcome

• CIIM customers collectively publish almost 100 million items
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration43 records

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GooiicoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWeb design and development partner on multiple cultural heritage projects including Jisc Historical Texts, iMuseum, Royal Armouries, Archives Hub, and National Gallery. Gooii handles front-end development while Knowledge Integration provides CIIM middleware.
• Sero Consulting (Sero)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership on Jisc-funded projects including Knowledge Base+, Jisc Historical Texts, Monitor Local, and Digital Archive Collections. Sero provides consultancy and project management expertise.
• Psydev LtdcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerPsydev originally developed LIS Gateway products in collaboration with IMS Global. Knowledge Integration acquired/works with Psydev products and continues LIS Gateway development and support.
• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationOracle Gold Partner. LIS Gateway integrates with Oracle's PeopleSoft Campus Solutions via SAIP (Student Administration Integration Pack).
• IMS Global Learning ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPsydev (now Knowledge Integration) worked closely with IMS on development and testing of the LIS standard. LIS Gateway is a certified implementation of IMS LIS.
• GBV Common Library Network (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor development partner commissioning FOLIO ERM suite development, ERM workshops, and hosting/maintaining GOKB. Multiple year collaboration on electronic resource management solutions.
• ULB-Darmstadt (University and State Library Darmstadt)coreTechnology or IntegrationProject initiator and collaborator on FOLIO Federated Access. FedAccs source code maintained in ULB-Darmstadt's GitHub repository.
• Getty Conservation InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Arches platform adoption for UK Historic Environment Records, working with City of Lincoln ARCADE project.
• Open CultureminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeveloper of public-facing and authoring environment interface components for RAF Museum project.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• OCLC: OCLC is a global library cooperative offering WorldCat, WMS, and shared metadata services across thousands of libraries. A broad incumbent that competes for GLAM and academic library technology spend alongside K-Int, with much greater scale but narrower middleware focus.
• SirsiDynix: SirsiDynix is a long-established library automation vendor providing Symphony, BLUEcloud, and EOS.Web platforms widely used in public and academic libraries. Overlaps with K-Int's library integration work as a broad incumbent with proprietary rather than open-source approach.
• Axiell: Axiell is a major GLAM software vendor offering EMu, Adlib, and CALM that K-Int's CIIM integrates with. A broader incumbent that competes indirectly in the same GLAM space, particularly where institutions consider replacing middleware with vendor-native collection management platforms.
• Ex Libris (Clarivate): Ex Libris, part of Clarivate, provides Alma, Primo, and other major library services platforms adopted globally by academic libraries. A broad incumbent that overlaps with K-Int's LIS Gateway and FOLIO ERM work, but operates at much larger scale with proprietary rather than open-source models.

Direct peers

• ByWater Solutions: ByWater Solutions provides open-source library services and support, primarily for Koha and other FOLIO-adjacent platforms. Comparable to K-Int's open-source-led professional services model serving academic and public libraries with similar GTM through community engagement and direct institutional sales.
• BibLibre: French-headquartered open-source library integration firm providing Koha, Folio, and VuFind services across European academic and public libraries. Closely comparable to K-Int's LIS Gateway and FOLIO ERM work, with similar boutique consulting model around open-source library platforms.
• PTFS Europe: PTFS Europe provides Koha, FOLIO, and library services platform integration, support, and hosting across the UK and Europe. Closely comparable in customer base (academic and national libraries), open-source-first model, and middleware/integration skillset overlapping with K-Int's LIS Gateway and CIIM offerings.
• Equinox Software: Equinox provides Koha open-source ILS implementation, support, and hosting primarily for US libraries. Comparable to K-Int's PLG-style open-source-plus-services model and similar in size and vertical focus on library systems integration.
• Index Data: Index Data builds middleware and integration components for libraries and cultural heritage, including Z39.50 and open-source tooling. Direct comparable to K-Int's KI Assemble and CIIM in terms of customer overlap, technical focus on library protocols, and open-source + services hybrid business model.

Others

• Capgemini Engineering (formerly Tessella): Capgemini Engineering, which absorbed Tessella, is a large systems integrator with heritage and science consultancy practices. Comparable to K-Int as a UK-headquartered specialist consulting firm serving similar cultural heritage and research clients, but at vastly greater scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Knowledge Integration Limited