CINOP
CINOP is a Dutch educational consultancy and research agency that advises MBO/HBO institutions, government bodies, and international development partners on lifelong learning, curriculum design, digital transformation, and inclusive education through its ECBO and ECIO expert centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- Headquarters's-hertogenbosch, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CINOP does
CINOP is a Dutch educational consultancy and research agency headquartered in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, founded in 1994 as CINOP B.V. and operating under a private limited company structure. The organization specializes in lifelong development and vocational education, serving Dutch educational institutions (MBO/HBO/VO), central and regional government bodies, labor-market sector organizations, civil society partners, and international development clients. It operates through two wholly-owned expert centers — ECBO (Expertisecentrum Beroepsonderwijs) for vocational education research and ECIO (Expertisecentrum Inclusief Onderwijs) for inclusive education — and is CRKBO-registered, ISO 9001:2015-certified, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022-certified.
CINOP's commercial offering spans four revenue streams: (1) advisory and consulting services (curriculum design, digital transformation, quality assurance, organizational change), (2) the CINOP Academie training platform with 30+ courses for MBO/HBO educators, (3) proprietary diagnostic tools and scans (Lerend Kwalificeren Tool, FlexTool, Navigatietool Digitale Transformatie, Groene Draad, Scan Basisvaardigheden, Leercultuurscan, LLO-scan Benchmark, FlexScan), and (4) international project management funded by EU, UNESCO, World Bank, GIZ, RVO, KfW, and UNICEF across Africa, Asia, Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. CINOP also coordinates six European programs at national level (NLQF, EQAVET, Euroguidance, EPALE, EUROPASS, ReferNet) on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of OCW and facilitates the Netwerk Examinering mbo with 40+ partners over 25 years.
The business model is professional services-led with a relationship-based sales motion. Group training is priced at €2,750 per day or €4,850 for 1.5 days (VAT-exempt under CRKBO), basic-skills training from €300 per participant, and advisory on fixed-price or cost-plus (nacalculatie) terms. Distribution is primarily direct-to-enterprise/government through consultation, complemented by events, webinars, and content marketing via the website, LinkedIn, YouTube, and newsletter channels. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
CINOP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CINOP
- Legal name
- CINOP B.V.
- Website
- https://cinop.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CINOP is a Dutch educational consultancy and research agency that advises MBO/HBO institutions, government bodies, and international development partners on lifelong learning, curriculum design, digital transformation, and inclusive education through its ECBO and ECIO expert centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CINOP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Consulting Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM)
Keywords
Where CINOP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- 's-hertogenbosch
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CINOP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advisory and Consulting Services: Professional advisory services for educational institutions, government, and businesses on topics including digital transformation, curriculum development, quality assurance, and organizational change.
- Training Programs: Group training sessions for educational professionals including assessor training, didactic training, and customized programs. Priced per group (€2,750 per day or €4,850 for 1.5 days), VAT-exempt due to CRKBO certification.
- Tools and Scans: Diagnostic tools and scans sold to educational institutions for assessing learning culture, basic skills, flexibility, and other organizational metrics.
- International Project Management: Execution of international development projects funded by donors such as EU, UNESCO, World Bank, GIZ, RVO, and others for educational system strengthening in developing countries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard Group Training - 1 day |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Standard Group Training - 1.5 days |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Basic Skills and Language Training |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Advisory Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
CINOP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CINOP is a Dutch knowledge partner for education and development that delivers advisory services, research, training programs, and proprietary tools and scans to educational institutions, government bodies, and labor market organizations. The organization specializes in vocational education (mbo), lifelong learning (LLO), inclusive education, digital transformation in education, and curriculum development, operating through two expert centers: ECBO for vocational education research and ECIO for inclusive education. Revenue is generated through consulting engagements, group training programs, sales of diagnostic tools and scans, and funded international development projects.
Product overview
CINOP is a knowledge partner for education and development, offering a comprehensive portfolio of tools, scans, and services. The core offering includes the CINOP Academie (training platform with 30+ courses for mbo/hbo educators), diagnostic tools (Lerend Kwalificeren Tool, FlexTool, De Groene Draad, and more for curriculum and sustainability), assessment scans (Scan Basisvaardigheden, Leercultuurscan, FlexScan, LLO scans), and the Loopbaanmonitor for data-driven mbo student tracking. CINOP also coordinates European programs (NLQF, EQAVET, Euroguidance, EPALE, EUROPASS, ReferNet). Services include research, design/implementation, strategy consulting, process guidance, curriculum design, and professionalization support for educational institutions, government, and labor market organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CINOP Academie A training platform offering practical training courses for teachers, assessors, and educational teams in mbo and hbo, covering examination, didactics, and basic skills. Over 30 training programs available, delivered in-company at client locations. Priced per group (€2,750 per day or €4,850 for 1.5 days), VAT-exempt due to CRKBO certification.
- Lerend Kwalificeren Tool A tool that supports the implementation of 'Lerend Kwalificeren' (Learning Qualification) in educational institutions, helping to transform ideas into thoughtful curriculum designs.
- FlexTool Fijnontwerp A tool for developing detailed designs for flexible learning routes, elaborating a broad design into concrete learning units.
- De Groene Draad (The Green Thread) A tool to make sustainability a fixed part of mbo education, helping to integrate green skills into curriculum development.
- Routekaart Docentschap in Ontwikkeling A roadmap for teacher professional development that supports the development of teaching as a profession.
- CommunicatieToolbox A toolbox for communication in educational change processes, helping to connect stakeholders during organizational change.
- Toolbox Onderwijs voor Volwassenen A toolbox for didactics in adult education, supporting teaching methodologies for adult learners.
- Scan Basisvaardigheden A diagnostic tool that provides insight into the current state of basic skills (language, arithmetic, citizenship) within an educational institution, including classroom observations and concrete reports.
- LLO-scan Benchmark A benchmark scan for Lifelong Learning (LLO), helping organizations understand where they stand in LLO development.
- Leercultuurscan A scan that helps organizations assess their learning culture, identifying strengths and opportunities for improvement in employee development.
- Scan 'LLO doen we zo' A scan that helps institutions discover which phase they are in regarding Lifelong Learning implementation.
- FlexScan A scan for assessing the degree of flexibility of education within a school, helping to inventory current state and opportunities.
- Loopbaanmonitor mbo-studenten (LBM) A data-supported approach that makes the full trajectory of mbo students visible—from intake to labor market—and helps institutions fulfill their broad societal mission.
- Navigatietool Digitale Transformatie A practical navigation tool and design instrument that helps educational organizations determine direction, create coherence, and make conscious strategic choices around digital transformation.
- European Programs Coordination (NLQF, EQAVET, Euroguidance, EPALE, EUROPASS, ReferNet) CINOP manages national and European programs including NLQF for qualification transparency, EQAVET for mbo quality assurance, Euroguidance for career guidance, EPALE for adult education, Europass for documenting learning experiences, and ReferNet for disseminating VET knowledge. Commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of OCW.
- Direct Advisory and Consulting Services Direct consulting and advisory engagements with educational institutions, government organizations, and businesses. Services include research, design and implementation support, vision and strategy development, process guidance, project management, curriculum design, and professionalization programs. Priced on fixed price or cost-plus (nacalculatie) basis depending on project scope.
- International Development Projects International development projects implemented globally in partnership with donors (EU, UNESCO, World Bank, GIZ, RVO, KfW, UNICEF, Nuffic) to strengthen educational systems in developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe.
Companies that use CINOP
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CINOP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
CINOP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UNESCOcoreCINOP works with UNESCO on international educational development projects. UNESCO logo appears among donors supporting CINOP's international work.
- RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland)coreDutch government agency for international business cooperation that funds educational development projects implemented by CINOP internationally.
- NufficcoreDutch organization for internationalization in education that collaborates with CINOP on international educational projects and mobility programs.
- GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreGerman development agency implementing international projects with CINOP's educational expertise in various countries.
- UNICEFcoreUnited Nations Children's Fund collaborates with CINOP on educational projects for children and youth in developing countries.
- Liliane FondsminorDutch foundation supporting children's education projects internationally that partners with CINOP on educational development initiatives.
- Netwerk Examinering mbocoreCINOP facilitates this professional network of examination experts from over 40 mbo institutions for 25 years, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices in examination.
- ECBO (Expertisecentrum Beroepsonderwijs)corePart of CINOP's organizational structure, ECBO is the expertise center for vocational education focused on learning through research and knowledge dissemination.
- ECIO (Expertisecentrum Inclusief Onderwijs)corePart of CINOP's organizational structure, ECIO is the Dutch expertise center accelerating the movement toward inclusive education, focused on mbo, hbo, and wo sectors.
- Ministry of OCW (Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap)coreDutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science commissions CINOP to execute national and European programs and instruments related to education and lifelong learning.
- EQAVET (European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training)coreCINOP serves as the National Coordination Point for EQAVET, working to improve and assure quality in Dutch mbo education.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CINOP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Panteia: Dutch research and consultancy firm combining labor-market, education, and applied social research for ministries and sector organizations. Highly comparable to CINOP in mission, Dutch public-sector client base, and blend of policy research with advisory services.
- KBA (Kenniscentrum Beroepsonderwijs Arbeidsmarkt): Dutch research center focused on vocational education (mbo) and the labor market. Direct overlap with CINOP's ECBO work on beroepsonderwijs, qualification frameworks, and transitions from education to work.
- MDF Training & Consultancy: Dutch international development consultancy providing training, capacity building, and advisory in education, governance, and economic development. Comparable to CINOP's international project work with EU, GIZ, and other donors, especially in vocational education and lifelong learning.
- ResearchNed: Netherlands-based independent research and consultancy organization focused on education, labor market, and policy evaluation. Comparable to CINOP in methodology, target clients (Dutch ministries, municipalities, educational institutions), and applied-research-to-advisory model.
Broad incumbents
- Ecorys: Large international research and consulting company headquartered in the Netherlands, active in education, labor market, and international development. Overlaps with CINOP in VET policy research, EU program evaluation, and donor-funded international projects, but operates at much greater scale across many sectors.
- GFA Consulting Group: German-based international consulting firm implementing donor-funded education and TVET projects worldwide, often as lead consortium partner. Comparable to CINOP's international portfolio of donor-funded education system strengthening projects.
Others
- CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training): EU agency providing research, analysis, and policy advice on VET and lifelong learning across Europe. Comparable in VET policy remit and analytical output to CINOP's ECBO research work and EQAVET coordination, but at EU-wide scale rather than Dutch national scope.
- Nuffic: Dutch organization for internationalization of education, coordinating Erasmus+ and other mobility programs. Adjacent to CINOP: both work with the Dutch Ministry of OCW and EU on education programs, and CINOP lists Nuffic as a partner; Nuffic is broader in scope (higher education mobility) while CINOP is deeper in VET.
- ETF (European Training Foundation): EU agency supporting reform of education and training systems in EU neighbourhood and candidate countries. Conceptually comparable to CINOP's international VET system-strengthening work and its role coordinating EQAVET/NLQF, but serves as a funder/policy body rather than a direct competitor.
Regional players
- BIBB (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung): German federal institute for vocational education and training research, policy advice, and international cooperation. Comparable to CINOP's ECBO/ECIO model of research plus advisory plus international VET project execution, but operating in Germany rather than the Netherlands.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CINOP social profiles
Digital presenceCINOP compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
CINOP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CINOP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CINOP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CINOP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CINOP 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 CINOP
What does CINOP do?
CINOP is a Dutch knowledge partner for education and development that delivers advisory services, research, training programs, and proprietary tools and scans to educational institutions, government bodies, and labor market organizations. The organization specializes in vocational education (mbo), lifelong learning (LLO), inclusive education, digital transformation in education, and curriculum development, operating through two expert centers: ECBO for vocational education research and ECIO for inclusive education. Revenue is generated through consulting engagements, group training programs, sales of diagnostic tools and scans, and funded international development projects.
Is CINOP a public or private company?
CINOP is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was CINOP founded?
CINOP was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CINOP based?
CINOP is headquartered in 's-hertogenbosch, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does CINOP make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Advisory and Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are training Programs, tools and Scans and international Project Management.
Who are CINOP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Panteia, KBA (Kenniscentrum Beroepsonderwijs Arbeidsmarkt), MDF Training & Consultancy and ResearchNed. Broad incumbents are Ecorys and GFA Consulting Group. Others are CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training), Nuffic and ETF (European Training Foundation). BIBB (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung) is listed as a regional player.
Does CINOP have an API?
No public API is recorded for CINOP.
What industry is CINOP in?
CINOP's product category is Education Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAE, Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD), with a secondary code of EDAAALAM, Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE).