SHI
SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut GmbH is a Berlin-based research and consulting institute that develops science-based, participatory software tools (MODULO, LIMO, PRIMO, PROVE) and provides modernization consulting for German federal, state, and municipal public administration agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SHI does
SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut GmbH is a Berlin-based, privately held research and consulting institute (GmbH) founded in 2014 that develops science-based, participatory tools and provides consulting services for German public administration modernization. Its work targets federal, state, and municipal agencies, with named engagements including the Landtag Brandenburg, Gemeinde Grünheide, the Bundesverwaltungsamt (BVA), the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR), the Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB), and the Landesamt für Steuern Brandenburg. The institute is led by Managing Director Stephan Löbel and Scientific Director Prof. Dr. Tino Schuppan, supported by an interdisciplinary team of 11–50 staff spanning public administration science, computer science, business informatics, transformation management, and cultural studies, with a long-standing talent pipeline through Universität Potsdam.
The institute's product portfolio centers on four proprietary tools: MODULO, a haptic- and digital-card-based process elicitation tool that produces BPMN 2.0 and FIM-BPMN compliant process models; LIMO, a digital information- and data-modeling tool for application digitization; PRIMO, a structured DSGVO/GDPR compliance and documentation tool; and PROVE, a methodology for systematic task critique and modernization-potential analysis. MODULO became available to all German federal agencies through the Kaufhaus des Bundes framework contract in June 2024, removing the need for individual procurement procedures, and is sold in three bundled packages (physical case + training; app + support; full web application) under multi-year subscriptions.
SHI's revenue model combines three streams: science-based consulting services for organizations and digitalization projects, tool licensing and training sold via the Kaufhaus des Bundes framework contract and direct channels, and continuing education delivered through seminars, online courses, and the eGovCampus learning platform. Distribution is primarily direct to public-sector clients, supplemented by a sales-support partnership with msg systems ag established in 2024/2025 and conference presence at Digitaler Staat and the eGovernment Summit. The company also participates in long-horizon publicly funded research, including the 2024–2029 RegioProzess project on inter-municipal mobility cooperation coordinated by the Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (Difu).
SHI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SHI
- Legal name
- SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut GmbH
- Website
- https://shi-institut.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut GmbH is a Berlin-based research and consulting institute that develops science-based, participatory software tools (MODULO, LIMO, PRIMO, PROVE) and provides modernization consulting for German federal, state, and municipal public administration agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SHI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Administration Consulting and Digitalization Tools
- NAICS
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)
Keywords
Where SHI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SHI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Science-based consulting for organizations and digitalization projects including strategy development, process analysis and design, service prioritization.
- Tool Licensing and Training: Sale of MODULO, LIMO, PRIMO, and PROVE tools with associated training packages including multiplier training and reflection workshops. Distributed through Kaufhaus des Bundes framework contract for federal agencies.
- Continuing Education: Development and delivery of lectures, seminars, workshops, training materials, online courses, case studies, and keynotes on public sector topics.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Package A - Physical Process Elicitation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Package B - Digital Process Documentation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Package C - Full Digital Workflow |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
SHI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut is a private research and consulting institute that develops science-based, participatory tools (MODULO, LIMO, PRIMO, PROVE) and provides consulting services for public administration modernization at federal, state, and municipal levels in Germany. Its core activity is translating academic research into practical, intuitive process, data, and compliance modeling tools paired with advisory engagements, training, and workshops.
Product overview
SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut offers a suite of four science-based tools designed as modular, participatory instruments for public administration modernization. MODULO serves as the core process modeling tool for collaborative process capture; LIMO supports data and information modeling for application digitization; PRIMO addresses GDPR compliance through structured card-based assessments; and PROVE provides a methodology for task analysis and evaluation. All tools use a bausteinorientierung (building block) approach with both haptic and digital components, enabling cross-departmental collaboration without requiring specialized modeling expertise. The tools are standards-compliant (BPMN 2.0, FIM-BPMN) and integrate into existing administrative Methodenlandschaft. MODULO is available via the Kaufhaus des Bundes for federal agencies, while the full suite is offered through consulting, training, and coaching services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MODULO: Tool for process elicitation and collaborative process modeling for public administration
- LIMO
- PRIMO
- PROVE
Products and services
- MODULO A collaborative process modeling tool using haptic cards (physical or digital) for intuitive process capture in public administration. Enables employees across departments to collaboratively develop and visualize process models without requiring IT or modeling expertise, supporting BPMN 2.0 and FIM-BPMN standards.
- LIMO
Quantifiable outcome
- Processes can be modeled without IT or modeling expertise
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SHI
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SHI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SHI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Agora Digitale TransformationcoreCollaborative study on 25 years of administrative digitalization in Germany (2000-2025), analyzing development lines and identifying recurring patterns and structural challenges that impede digital transformation.
- msg systems agcoreSHI and msg systems ag have formed a partnership combining SHI's methodological and systemic expertise plus the MODULO tool with msg's long-standing Public Sector experience in strategic and operational process management. MODULO is actively used for process elicitation and optimization workshops; since 2025, msg also supports SHI in sales.
- Deutsche Institut für Urbanistik (Difu)coreDifu coordinates the RegioProzess research project (2024-2029) on regional mobility transition. SHI is one of four research partners working on inter-municipal cooperation and process optimization in three model regions.
- experience consultingcoreResearch partner in the RegioProzess project alongside SHI, Difu, and FixMyCity, contributing expertise to the inter-municipal cooperation research.
- FixMyCitycoreResearch partner in the RegioProzess project contributing digital planning tools expertise for regional mobility transition research.
- Universität Potsdam - Lehrstuhl Public und Nonprofit ManagementcoreLong-standing collaboration with Prof. Dr. Isabella Proeller's chair. Many SHI staff are former students or employees at the university. Joint work on eGovCampus project.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SHI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- AKDB (Anstalt für Kommunale Datenverarbeitung in Bayern): Municipal IT service provider for Bavarian and other local authorities, offering process and digitalization services for German municipalities. Comparable as a regional peer in the same municipal process-modernization niche.
Direct peers
- PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand: Public-sector management consultancy owned by the German federal and state governments, advising on modernization, organization, and digitalization. Comparable as a policy-research and consulting peer targeting the same federal/state/municipal buyer audience.
- msg systems ag: German IT and consulting group with a strong public-sector practice covering process management, digitalization, and OZG implementation. Closest comparable because msg is both SHI's implementation/sales partner and an active competitor in the same public-sector process-management niche.
- Fraunhofer FOKUS: Applied research institute focused on ICT for public administration, interoperability, and digital government. Comparable as a science-based research-to-tool provider serving German public administration modernization, similar positioning to SHI's Stein-Hardenberg tradition.
- govdigital eG: Cooperative of German public-sector IT providers delivering digitalization solutions to municipalities and federal agencies. Comparable as an ecosystem peer operating at the intersection of public-sector tooling and service delivery.
- Fraunhofer IAO: Research arm working on organizational transformation, administrative modernization, and service design. Closely comparable to SHI's PROVE-style task critique methodology and applied public-sector research.
Broad incumbents
- BearingPoint: Large European management and technology consultancy with a substantial German public-sector practice covering digitalization, process redesign, and OZG delivery. Comparable as a broader incumbent that competes for the same modernization engagements.
- KPMG Public Sector (Germany): Big-Four advisory with a dedicated German public-sector practice spanning digital government, process optimization, and procurement transformation. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same buyer segment.
Emerging players
- OrgaLab: Bonn-based consultancy specializing in organizational development and digital transformation for public administration. Comparable as a niche German public-sector consultancy with overlapping modernization offerings.
- Infora GmbH: German consultancy focused on administrative modernization, e-government, and OZG implementation for federal, state, and municipal clients. Comparable as a smaller, niche public-sector transformation peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
SHI social profiles
Digital presenceSHI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SHI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SHI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SHI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SHI
What does SHI do?
SHI Stein-Hardenberg Institut is a private research and consulting institute that develops science-based, participatory tools (MODULO, LIMO, PRIMO, PROVE) and provides consulting services for public administration modernization at federal, state, and municipal levels in Germany. Its core activity is translating academic research into practical, intuitive process, data, and compliance modeling tools paired with advisory engagements, training, and workshops.
Is SHI a public or private company?
SHI is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SHI founded?
SHI was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SHI based?
SHI is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does SHI make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are tool Licensing and Training and continuing Education.
Who are SHI's main competitors?
AKDB (Anstalt für Kommunale Datenverarbeitung in Bayern) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand, msg systems ag, Fraunhofer FOKUS, govdigital eG and Fraunhofer IAO. Broad incumbents are BearingPoint and KPMG Public Sector (Germany). Emerging players are OrgaLab and Infora GmbH.
Does SHI have an API?
No public API is recorded for SHI.
What industry is SHI in?
SHI's product category is Public Administration Consulting and Digitalization Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAF, Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAO, Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes. Its NAICS code is 5416 and its SIC code is 8700.