IOW

What IOW does

IÖW (Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung) is a Berlin-based, non-profit scientific research institute founded in 1985 that conducts practice-oriented, inter- and transdisciplinary research on ecological economics and sustainable development. Its core technology is a research methodology spanning 10 research fields — including energy transition, sustainable business and consumption, environmental policy, climate adaptation, and digitalization — that produces strategy papers, policy recommendations, and peer-reviewed studies for German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWE), EU institutions, foundations, companies, NGOs, and academic partners.

IÖW monetizes primarily through commissioned research-project funding from public-sector sponsors, with secondary revenue from publication sales (books, the IÖW-Schriftenreihe of 200+ titles, and the IÖW-Impulse series) and tax-deductible donations. The institute operates its own publishing house, the peer-reviewed journal Ökologisches Wirtschaften (1,800+ open-access articles since 2017 digital migration), and the Postwachstum blog co-run with VÖW, distributing research via its website, academic databases, newsletter, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Bluesky, and annual conferences.

IÖW is a core member of Ecornet, the closed network of eight leading non-university sustainability research institutes in Germany, through which it co-issues joint policy position statements. Strategic partnerships in 2026 include Deutsche Energieagentur (dena) on the Future Energy Lab Energy Sharing project, the University of Augsburg on the ArboRes junior research group, and co2online on the federal Blauer Kompass climate adaptation prize jury.

Name

IOW

Legal name

Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung

Website

https://ioew.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IÖW is a Berlin-based, non-profit ecological economics research institute founded in 1985 that conducts practice-oriented sustainability research and publishes policy recommendations for German federal ministries, EU institutions, companies, NGOs, and academia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001) (BPAHAJAF)

Keywords

• Sustainability research
• Ecological economics
• Environmental policy
• Corporate sustainability
• Green economy

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. Research project funding: IÖW conducts funded research projects for government ministries, EU institutions, foundations, and other research clients. The institute develops strategies and approaches for sustainable economic practices.
2. Publication sales: Sale of publications including books, discussion papers, and IÖW-Impulse series through the institute's own publishing house.
3. Donations and memberships: The institute is non-profit (gemeinnützig) and accepts donations. Donations are tax-deductible in Germany.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IÖW conducts practice-oriented sustainability research and develops strategies for sustainable economic practices, producing scientific publications including the IÖW-Schriftenreihe series (200+ titles since 1985), the peer-reviewed journal Ökologisches Wirtschaften (1,800+ open-access articles), practice briefs (IÖW-Impulse), books, and the Postwachstum blog. It serves government ministries, EU institutions, foundations, businesses, and civil society with research on ecological economics, energy transition, climate protection, sustainable consumption, and circular economy.

Product overview

IÖW (Institut für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung) is a research institute focused on practice-oriented sustainability research, not a product company in the traditional sense. Its offering consists of research publications and knowledge dissemination products: the IÖW-Schriftenreihe/Diskussionspapiere (publication series with 200+ titles since 1985), IÖW-Impulse (practice-oriented briefs), IÖW Bücher (books), the Blog Postwachstum (post-growth blog), and the scientific journal Ökologisches Wirtschaften (1,800+ open-access articles). These publications collectively serve as the institute's primary output and product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Ecological Research Network (Ecornet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIÖW is a partner in Ecornet, the network of eight leading non-university institutes for sustainability research in Germany. The network includes IÖW along with other leading research institutions working on ecological economics and sustainable development. Ecornet issues joint position statements on sustainability policy, such as recommendations for integrating sustainability research into Germany's Hightech Agenda and feedback on the FONA strategy.
• Deutsche Energieagentur (dena) - Future Energy LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIÖW collaborates with the German Energy Agency (dena) on the 'Forum EnShare' project under the Future Energy Lab. Together they work on clarifying open questions around Energy Sharing implementation in Germany, contributing research expertise on contract structures and practical implementation challenges for households, municipalities, and energy cooperatives sharing locally generated renewable electricity.
• Vereinigung für ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung (VÖW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVÖW is the Association for Ecological Economics Research, a cooperative partner in operating the Blog Postwachstum. The blog was initiated by VÖW members Angelika Zahrnt and Irmi Seidl, and VÖW collaborates with IÖW on editorial content and community engagement around post-growth economics topics.
• University of AugsburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIÖW collaborates with the University of Augsburg on the ArboRes junior research group 'Grün für alle?' investigating how urban green spaces can make city districts more climate-resilient while strengthening justice and social cohesion. The interdisciplinary team examines how civil society and municipalities can shape urban greening in a socially just manner.
• co2online gGmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIÖW supports the jury in preparing and professionally evaluating projects for the Bundespreis 'Blauer Kompass' (Federal Prize for Climate Adaptation), a competition with a record 488 submissions in its 10th anniversary year. IÖW contributes research expertise to assess climate adaptation projects nominated for the prize.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie: German research institute focused on sustainability, climate, and energy transitions. Comparable as a fellow Ecornet institute with similar applied sustainability research mandate, government funding mix, and policy advisory role.
• Öko-Institut: Leading German non-profit research institute for applied sustainability research. Directly comparable to IÖW in mission, non-profit structure, focus on ecological economics, and government-funded project portfolio; also a fellow Ecornet member.
• IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations): French think tank on sustainable development and international governance. Comparable to IÖW as a policy-oriented sustainability research organization publishing open-access reports and engaging government funders, though regionally focused on France/international policy.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): International non-profit research institute focused on environment and sustainable development. Comparable to IÖW in mission, project-based funding model, and policy-oriented sustainability research; broader international footprint.
• Resources for the Future (RFF): US independent, nonpartisan research institution on environmental, energy, and natural resource issues. Comparable to IÖW in non-profit status, independent research mandate, and policy advisory model; serves analogous US federal/policy clients.

Broad incumbents

• ifo Institut: Munich-based economic research institute with broader economic scope. Comparable in providing economic policy research and analysis to German ministries, but focuses on mainstream economics rather than ecological economics.
• Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin): Berlin-based economic research institute. Comparable to IÖW in Berlin location and economic policy research, but operates at much larger scale and focuses on mainstream economic research rather than ecological economics.
• Umweltbundesamt (UBA): German Federal Environment Agency providing scientific basis for environmental policy. Comparable in shaping sustainability policy advice and drawing on research outputs, but as a federal agency rather than an independent research institute.
• Fraunhofer ISI: Large German applied research institute covering innovation, sustainability, and energy policy. Overlaps with IÖW on sustainability transitions and innovation policy but operates at significantly larger scale with broader technological scope.

Others

• Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) Belgium/European partners via Ecornet: Ecornet network itself acts as a coordination point for joint sustainability research positioning. While not a single peer, the network aggregates capabilities that compete with IÖW for German federal ministry funding and visibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ioew_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php?display=popup&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ioew.de%2F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/8255036

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 IOW