CINOP

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.

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

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

• Educational consultancy services
• Vocational education advisory
• Curriculum development tools
• Teacher training programs
• Lifelong learning research

Headquarters

HQ city

's-hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Tools and Scans: Diagnostic tools and scans sold to educational institutions for assessing learning culture, basic skills, flexibility, and other organizational metrics.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINOP works with UNESCO on international educational development projects. UNESCO logo appears among donors supporting CINOP's international work.
• RVO (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government agency for international business cooperation that funds educational development projects implemented by CINOP internationally.
• NufficcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch organization for internationalization in education that collaborates with CINOP on international educational projects and mobility programs.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency implementing international projects with CINOP's educational expertise in various countries.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Children's Fund collaborates with CINOP on educational projects for children and youth in developing countries.
• Liliane FondsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch foundation supporting children's education projects internationally that partners with CINOP on educational development initiatives.
• Netwerk Examinering mbocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINOP 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCINOP 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/cinop
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cinopadvies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinop

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 CINOP