FORUM Institut

What FORUM Institut does

FORUM Institut (legal entity: FORUM • Institut für Management GmbH) is a Germany-based professional training provider founded in 1979 by Axel von Schellenberg and headquartered in Heidelberg, where approximately 100 training professionals operate. Owned since 2012 by SRH Holding, a non-profit foundation that runs private universities, hospitals and training centres, the company delivers roughly 2,000 open-enrolment courses per year across four verticals: Intellectual Property Law, International Banking and Finance, Pharma/Medical Devices, and Management & SoftSkills. It also runs more than 200 customised in-house training programmes annually at client premises or online. The company holds dual ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2018 certifications covering general quality management and education-sector requirements.

The product portfolio is structured around four delivery formats: e-learning programmes (self-paced modules with 90-day access, SCORM-compatible for enterprise LMS integration), live online seminars via the proprietary Learning Space platform (Zoom-integrated, no install required), attendance-based in-person seminars, and in-house customised training. Content is curated by a network of approximately 6,000 speakers, trainers and experts per year, with examples spanning EU marketing authorisation procedures, eCTD submissions, medical device regulation under §83 MPDG, AMNOG reimbursement processes, Fit&Proper requirements for German bank boards, patent portfolio management, and leadership topics like negotiation and agile team coaching. Bundled products such as the Regulatory Affairs Starter Pack combine multiple e-learning modules at a discount, and SCORM export supports integration into corporate learning management systems.

FORUM Institut monetises through a hybrid of one-time per-participant course fees (€450-€1,190 per seat depending on modality), 90-day e-learning subscriptions or per-account pricing, and higher-ticket in-house engagements. Distribution combines self-serve booking through forum-institut.com, live chat (Userlike) and phone-based customer advisory, a SCORM-licensed enterprise channel, and a marketing footprint spanning LinkedIn, YouTube, XING, Facebook, Instagram and email newsletters. Pricing notes show enterprise volume agreements are available through the sales team, signalling meaningful B2B contract motion alongside the long tail of individual professional buyers.

Name

FORUM Institut

Legal name

FORUM • Institut für Management GmbH

Website

https://forum-institut.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FORUM Institut is a Germany-based professional training provider offering approximately 2,000 courses annually in pharma regulation, financial services, IP law, and management, delivered via e-learning, online seminars, and in-house training to professional managers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Continuing Education Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL), Live Class & Webinar Marketplaces/Directories (EDAFAIAE), Training Delivery Services (Onsite/Virtual Instruction, Workshops, Coaching) (BPAEANAN)

Keywords

• Professional training services
• Regulatory affairs training
• Continuing education courses
• E-learning programmes
• Corporate in-house training

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Fees charged for attendance-based seminars, workshops, conferences, and training courses across various professional topics
2. E-Learning Subscriptions: Self-paced e-learning programs with 90-day access periods, priced per individual account
3. In-House Training Services: Customer-specific training courses conducted at client premises or online, with over 200 such courses held annually
4. Product Bundles: Bundled e-learning packages offering multiple courses at discounted rates (e.g., Regulatory Affairs Starter Pack with 3 modules)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

FORUM Institut is a professional training provider delivering more than 2,000 training courses annually across four subject areas: Pharma/Medical Devices, Intellectual Property Law, International Banking and Finance, and Management & Soft Skills. Courses are delivered via four formats: self-paced e-learning modules (90-day access, SCORM-compatible), live online seminars through the Zoom-integrated Learning Space platform, attendance-based in-person seminars, and customized in-house training delivered at client premises or online (200+ per year).

Product overview

FORUM Institut is a professional training provider offering approximately 2,000 training courses annually across four main subject areas: Intellectual Property Law, International Banking and Finance, Pharma/Medical Devices, and Management & Soft Skills. The core product portfolio consists of multiple training formats including e-Learning programmes (self-paced online modules), Online Training/Live Webcasts (instructor-led via Zoom-powered Learning Space), Attendance-based Training (in-person seminars), and In-house Training (customized organizational programmes). The e-Learning offerings include structured learning paths like the Regulatory Affairs Starter Pack (bundling EU Marketing Authorisation, EU Variation System, and CTD/eCTD programmes), while Pharma/Medical Devices training covers clinical affairs, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, and medical device compliance. Financial Services training focuses on supervisory board governance, while Management training includes negotiation, leadership, and HR law programmes. SCORM files are available for enterprise LMS integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• e-Learning Programmes Self-paced online learning modules covering pharma, regulatory affairs, IP law, financial services, HR, management, and legal topics, delivered through an interactive learning platform with videos, exercises, knowledge checks, and certificates; accessible for 90 days. SCORM files are available for enterprise LMS integration.
• Online Training / Live Webcasts Live, instructor-led training conducted online via the Learning Space platform with Zoom integration, including interactive elements such as workshops, discussions, and case studies with real-time participant engagement.
• Attendance-Based Training (In-person Seminars) Traditional classroom-style training held at physical venues across Europe covering the same professional development topics as online offerings.
• In-house Training Customized training programmes delivered at client premises or online, tailored to organizational-specific needs. More than 200 such courses are conducted annually.
• Regulatory Affairs Starter Pack Bundled package of three e-learning programmes covering EU marketing authorisation procedures, EU variation system, and Common Technical Document (eCTD). Provides a comprehensive foundation in EU Regulatory Affairs at €990 with over 30% savings versus individual bookings.
• Common Technical Document & eCTD e-Learning Detailed programme on CTD/eCTD structure, content, and submission requirements including CMC data for marketing authorisation applications in the ICH region. Major revision launched August 2025.
• AMNOG briefly and concisely e-Learning Five-module programme covering the German AMNOG process, from dossier preparation to reimbursement price negotiation. English version with AI-assisted translation released October 2019.
• EU Variation System & Procedures e-Learning Programme covering classification, grouping, and submission of variations in the EU, including procedural and content-related topics.
• Introduction to EU Marketing Authorisation e-Learning Programme covering regulatory affairs principles for applying for marketing authorisation in Europe, including MRP, DCP, CP procedures and post-authorisation duties.
• GDP - Basic Training e-Learning Fundamental principles of Good Distribution Practice for medicinal products, covering regulatory framework, implementation, definitions, tasks, and responsibilities.
• CTD Module 3 e-Learning Programme on drug substance and drug product data requirements within CTD Module 3, including ASMF and CEP integration.
• Stability Testing in the ICH-Region e-Learning Comprehensive introduction to stability testing for chemical and biological pharmaceutical products, covering ICH, EU, and US requirements.
• Medical Device Advisor §83 MPDG e-Learning Training for medical device advisors covering legal requirements per §83 MPDG, leading to qualifying certification for regulatory compliance.
• Medical Devices Basics e-Learning Entry-level 90-minute programme covering EU and German medical device regulations, market access, and reporting/monitoring systems.
• Patent Portfolio Generation and Management e-Learning Programme on managing patent portfolios with practical tools and templates for generating and managing patents across industries.
• Leading Agile and Resilient Teams e-Learning Leadership programme teaching coaching strategies using the 4R Model to improve team performance and resilience.
• Successful Negotiation e-Learning Online course on positive negotiation techniques, providing practical tips and tactics for achieving win-win outcomes.
• German Employment Law e-Learning Programme helping professionals understand and implement German Employment and Labour Law, including dismissal, contracts, and restructuring.
• Working with the Works Council in Germany e-Learning Basic knowledge on cooperation with works councils, from establishment and day-to-day operations to conflict resolution.
• Auditing EU Funds: Essential Principles for Beginners e-Learning Programme for junior auditors covering EU Funds auditing requirements, compliance verification, and audit report drafting.
• Management Board Members in German Financial Institutions Training Online seminar covering legal framework, Fit&Proper requirements, liability framework, and regulatory compliance for management board members in German banks.
• Supervisory Board Members in German Financial Institutions Training Online seminar covering supervisory board responsibilities, regulatory framework, Fit&Proper requirements, and governance best practices.
• Successful Business Negotiation Seminar Interactive online seminar on negotiation strategies, preparation methods, persuasive techniques, and psychological insights for professional negotiators.
• PharmaFORUM Webcast International Bi-monthly webcast series providing regulatory and legislative updates from global and local experts, covering topics such as CMC documentation, regulatory intelligence, and global regulatory pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.3 out of 5 stars average customer rating with over 110,000 top ratings
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SRH Holding (SRH Group)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012SRH Holding, a non-profit foundation based in Heidelberg, took over FORUM Institut from Ernst Klett AG in 2012. SRH is a leading provider of training and healthcare services operating private universities, training centres, schools and hospitals. FORUM Institut is a member of the SRH Group, with SRH having 13,000 employees catering for 950,000 educational customers and patients annually, generating €908 million turnover.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Coursera for Business: Global scale EdTech platform serving enterprise L&D buyers with broad catalogs in pharma, finance, and management; competes for the same enterprise training budget as FORUM Institut but at vastly greater catalog breadth.
• LinkedIn Learning: Enterprise subscription training platform owned by Microsoft, offering professional development content integrated with LinkedIn's professional network — a broad incumbent competing for the same compliance and management training spend.

Direct peers

• BeckAkademie (Verlag C.H. Beck): German legal and regulatory training provider under Verlag C.H. Beck, focused on professional development for lawyers, tax advisors, and compliance officers — overlapping heavily with FORUM Institut's IP Law and Banking/Finance offerings.
• Euroforum (Informa Connect): European B2B conference and training organizer now part of Informa, offering executive seminars and certifications across finance, pharma, and compliance that directly competes with FORUM Institut's portfolio.
• S&P Unternehmerforum: German training provider focused on leadership, management, and soft-skills seminars for SMEs and enterprises, serving a comparable professional development buyer in the DACH market.
• Haufe Akademie: Part of Haufe Group, one of Germany's largest providers of professional and management training, with a comparable multi-format offering (in-person, live online, e-learning) and similar target audience of German-speaking professionals and enterprises.
• Management Circle: European business-to-business training provider offering seminars, conferences and certifications for executives and managers across compliance, finance, and management — directly overlapping with FORUM Institut's Management and Banking & Finance verticals.
• Beuth Verlag (DIN Akademie): German standards and professional training publisher offering courses on regulatory frameworks, technical standards and compliance — closely comparable in its B2B regulatory training focus.

Regional players

• AHK (German Chambers of Commerce Abroad): Network of German Chambers of Commerce abroad delivering professional training in international markets — comparable in audience (German-speaking professionals abroad) and regulatory/compliance content depth.
• IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) Training: German Chamber of Industry and Commerce network providing certified professional training and continuing education — adjacent to FORUM Institut in target audience and content, but tied to a quasi-public chamber mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/companies/foruminstitutf%C3%BCrmanagementgmbh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FORUMInstitut
• Facebookfacebook.com/Foruminstitut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forum-institut-f-r-management-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/foruminstitut

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 FORUM Institut