What Prognos does

Prognos AG is a privately held economic research institute and strategic consulting firm founded in 1959 in Basel by seven professors of the University of Basel, now operating across ten locations in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Belgium. Its core offering is organized as a portfolio of research products (Prognos Zukunftsatlas®, Deutschland Report, Dual Use Atlas, GreenTech Atlas), four advisory service modules (Studien, Prozesse, Corporate Services, EU-Services), and a Modelle & Tools capability platform that combines techno-economic models, algorithms and AI, and survey/social research methodologies used since founding.

The firm generates revenue exclusively through project-based professional services engagements, with no public funding, no outside investors, and no parent-company backing. New work is acquired via competitive public-sector tendering (Ausschreibungen), direct commissions, and co-developed research with clients. Customers span German federal and state ministries (BMAS, BMBF, BMWK, Landesministerien), the European Commission (DG REGIO), industry associations (vbw, GKV-Spitzenverband), foundations, NGOs, and select enterprises; the firm explicitly excludes party-political commissions and sells to political parties only with restrictions. Marketing is led by CEO Christian Böllhoff's media presence and long-standing partnerships with Handelsblatt, SPIEGEL, and WirtschaftsWoche.

Notable proprietary assets include the registered Zukunftsatlas® trademark (a triennial ranking of all 400 German districts published since 2004) and the Prognos Skilled Worker Model, which enables scenario analyses across up to 27 countries and 130 ISCO occupational subgroups. The company is led by Christian Böllhoff (managing shareholder and CEO since 2003) and employs 200-250+ experts spanning more than 30 scientific disciplines, many with doctorates.

Name

Prognos

Legal name

Prognos AG

Website

https://prognos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Prognos is a privately held Swiss economic research institute and consulting firm (founded 1959) that delivers independent policy analysis, forecasting, and strategic consulting to German and EU public-sector clients, associations, and foundations via project-based engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Research Services: Prognos is a self-financed economic research institute and strategic consultancy. They receive no public funding or basic financing. They are not backed by any investor, party, or association. They are only committed to the high demands on the quality of their work. They finance themselves through their commissions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Prognos is a self-financed economic research institute and strategic consulting firm that delivers studies, evaluations, expert assessments, forecasts, and scenario analyses to public sector clients, companies, associations, foundations, and NGOs. Its offering is organised into four advisory service modules (Studies, Processes, Corporate Services, EU-Services) and is underpinned by proprietary technical-economic models, algorithms and AI tools, and social research methodologies.

Product overview

Prognos is an economic research institute and strategic consulting firm — not a software product company. Its offering is organized as a portfolio of research products, advisory service modules, and analytical tools. The core research products include the Prognos Zukunftsatlas® (triennial regional competitiveness ranking of 400 German districts), the Deutschland Report (long-term national scenario report), and the Dual Use Atlas (industrial capabilities mapping). Advisory services are delivered through four modules: Studies (analyses, evaluations, forecasts), Processes (strategy, organizational consulting), Corporate Services (sustainability, transformation), and EU-Services (Brussels-based EU policy consulting). These services are underpinned by the Modelle & Tools capability platform, which encompasses techno-economic models, algorithms and AI tools, and social research methodologies. Key analytical tools include the Prognos Skilled Worker Model for cross-country labor market scenario analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prognos Zukunftsatlas®: A ranking of Germany's districts and cities assessing future opportunities and risks, published every three years since 2004.

Products and services

• Studien (Studies) Advisory service module providing independent, methodologically rigorous analyses, evaluations, expert assessments, and forecasts and scenarios for public and private sector clients.
• Prozesse (Processes) Advisory service module covering strategy consulting, organisational analysis and development, multi-stakeholder project management, and platform/secretariat services for institutional clients.
• Corporate Services Service module offering thought leadership, sustainability consulting, and transformation consulting for businesses and industry clients, translating economic analyses into operational solutions.
• EU-Services Brussels-based EU-focused service module providing agenda-setting and policy analysis, impact assessment, monitoring and evaluation, and strategy and programme implementation for European institutions.
• Prognos Zukunftsatlas A triennial regional competitiveness ranking that assesses the future opportunities and risks of all 400 German districts and cities using macro- and socio-economic indicators. Published in cooperation with Handelsblatt since 2004; the 2025 edition marks its 20th anniversary.
• Deutschland Report A long-term scenario report projecting Germany's development across three decades (to 2045), covering globalization, labour market digitalisation, climate policy, and demographic change. Issued as an own publication since 2018.
• Dual Use Atlas A study produced with Handelsblatt mapping which German industrial regions and workplaces can produce for both civilian and military markets, identifying dual-use economic potential as a location factor.
• GreenTech Atlas 2025 A comprehensive atlas compiled for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment providing an overview of cross-sectional environmental technology and resource efficiency industries.
• S3 Community of Practice An EU-wide platform implemented on behalf of the European Commission (DG REGIO) supporting Member States and regions in developing and implementing Smart Specialisation Strategies through dialogue formats, analytical tools, and guidelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zukunftsatlas has been the only nationwide ranking making regional development visible for almost two decades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• European Commission DG REGIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Prognos leads the S3 Community of Practice on behalf of DG REGIO, implementing and further developing the EU platform on smart specialisation created in 2022. The platform offers analyses, practical tools, dialogue formats, workshops and collaboration opportunities.
• EcorysmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project for the European Commission.
• GACmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• t33majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• EURADAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• ECAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• tipikmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• iO DigitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• EBANmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in the S3 Community of Practice project.
• Zum goldenen HirschenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GreenTech Innovation Competition accompanying research project for BMWK.
• RIFS PotsdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GreenTech Innovation Competition accompanying research project.
• NOERRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GreenTech Innovation Competition accompanying research project.
• TransmitmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GreenTech Innovation Competition accompanying research project.
• HandelsblattcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing media partnership for the Prognos Zukunftsatlas. Handelsblatt publishes results as an interactive map of Germany and co-edits the ranking.
• Helmholtz-GemeinschaftmajorTechnology or IntegrationResearch cooperation partner. Teams regularly collaborate with researchers from Helmholtz Association in projects.
• Fraunhofer-GesellschaftmajorTechnology or IntegrationResearch cooperation partner. Regular collaboration with Fraunhofer research teams in project work.
• Universitäten und ForschungseinrichtungenmajorTechnology or IntegrationTeams regularly collaborate with university teams and various research institutions in projects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ecorys: Rotterdam-based research and consulting company delivering policy evaluation, impact assessment and smart-specialisation work for the European Commission, national governments and regional authorities. Direct peer in EU policy research and a confirmed consortium partner with Prognos on the S3 Community of Practice.
• ZEW – Centre for European Economic Research: Mannheim-based Leibniz economic research institute providing policy evaluation, forecasting and sector studies to German federal ministries, the EU Commission and industry associations. Directly comparable to Prognos in topics covered (labour markets, innovation, energy, digital economy) and in serving federal ministries and EU institutions.
• DIW Berlin (German Institute for Economic Research): Leibniz-associated economic research institute producing policy advice, economic forecasts and data products for German federal and state governments. Highly comparable to Prognos in mission, methodology (technical-economic modelling), customer base (German ministries, EU institutions) and publications, though DIW benefits from basic institutional funding.
• ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research: Munich-based economic research institute that delivers forecasts, policy evaluation and survey-based indicators (notably the ifo Business Climate Index) for German ministries and the EU. Closely comparable to Prognos in offering economic forecasting, policy consulting and recurring indicator products to public-sector clients.
• IW Köln – German Economic Institute: Cologne-based economic research institute affiliated with employers' associations, providing labour-market and structural-policy analysis to German ministries, associations and industry. Comparable to Prognos in producing recurring research products, labour-market expertise and serving associations as a primary client segment.
• RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research: Essen-based economic research institute producing reports and policy evaluations on labour markets, education, health and infrastructure for German federal and state ministries. Closely comparable to Prognos in policy-evaluation mandate, methodology and public-sector client mix.

Broad incumbents

• McKinsey & Company (Public Sector Practice): Global management consultancy with a substantial public-sector and economic-policy practice serving European ministries and EU institutions. Broader incumbent overlapping with Prognos in strategy and transformation consulting for government clients, but at a much larger scale and with a broader portfolio.
• Roland Berger: Munich-headquartered global strategy consultancy with deep public-sector and industrial practice in Germany and Europe. Comparable to Prognos in serving German ministries and large corporates on strategy and transformation, but with a much wider consulting portfolio and brand.

Others

• Prognos-Smart Specialisation Platform (S3 Community of Practice) — consortium partners (t33, EURADA): Selected consortium partners (t33, EURADA) collaborating with Prognos on the EU S3 Community of Practice. They are partial competitors and collaborators in EU smart-specialisation advisory, serving regional authorities and the European Commission with overlapping capabilities.

Emerging players

• WifOR Institute: Darmstadt-based economic research institute specialising in impact analysis, health economics and sustainable value creation for ministries, EU institutions and corporates. Emerging peer with thematic overlap in health-economics and labour-market impact research, though smaller in headcount and brand than Prognos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Prognos_AG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/christian-b%C3%B6llhoff

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 Prognos