The Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects at the Humboldt University in Berlin

What The Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects at the Humboldt University in Berlin does

IASP is an interdisciplinary applied research institute affiliated with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, founded in 1996 and operating as an officially recognized An-Institut since 2026. It conducts application-oriented research and development across four thematic fields: Nutrition/Food Technology (Ernährung), Urban Greening (Stadtgrün), Animal Welfare (Tierwohl), and Biogenic Raw Materials (Biogene Rohstoffe), with an additional agricultural research station in Berge (Havelland). Core technical outputs include the smardtag® smart ear tag for cattle welfare monitoring, wet-extrusion plant-based fish analogues (FiFi), fermentation-based milk substitute powder (PIM-Pulver), biodegradable protein anti-dirt coatings (GreenCoat), struvite precipitation for emission reduction from manure (RALVeN), and 20+ years of sheep wool fertilizer and vegetation carrier development.

The institute monetizes primarily through publicly funded research grants from German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWE, BMEL) and EU programs (EIP-AGRI, INNO-KOM, ZIM), supplemented by industry-commissioned R&D and technology-transfer consulting with food processors, agricultural sensor firms, and municipal transit operators. Its commercial customers include SMBs such as ESYS GmbH and ANiMOX GmbH and enterprises such as Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG, Rovita GmbH, and SF-Soepenberg GmbH, with no disclosed pricing as project costs are negotiated individually. IASP disseminates outputs through peer-reviewed publications, the Grüngleisnetzwerk, WPSA workshops, ZDF media coverage, and membership in ZUSE-Gemeinschaft and VIU, with international cooperation extending to Cuba (CELALE) and Peru (UNT).

Name

The Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects at the Humboldt University in Berlin

Legal name

Institut für Agrar- und Stadtökologische Projekte an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Website

https://iasp-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IASP is a Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin affiliated research institute that runs applied R&D across food technology, animal welfare, urban greening, and biogenic raw materials, serving German federal ministries, EU programs, and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural and Urban Ecological Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFABAMAL

Data Integration, Interoperability & APIs (ETL, Data Standards, Connectivity Hubs)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Precision Agriculture Solutions (Sensors & Data Analytics)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Food technology development
• Urban ecology projects
• Animal welfare monitoring
• Biogenic raw materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Publicly Funded Research Grants: Research projects funded by German federal ministries (BMBF, BMWE, BMEL), EU programs (EIP-AGRI), and state-level funding bodies. Projects include PIM-Pulver (ZIM), RALVeN (BMEL/BLE), FerMaX (INNO-KOM), GreenCoat (INNO-KOM), HealthyChick (BMEL), BioKreiS (BMBF), and Fassadenschutz (BBSR). These grants fund personnel, equipment, and direct project costs.
2. Industry-Commissioned Research and Development: Collaborative R&D projects with private sector partners including food processing companies, agricultural technology firms, and municipal enterprises. Partners co-fund research while gaining access to IASP expertise and first access to results. Examples include Rovita GmbH (PIM-Pulver), ESYS GmbH (sensor systems), and Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (green rail systems).
3. Technology Transfer and Consulting Services: Transfer of developed technologies and methodologies to practice through consulting, training, and commissioned studies for agricultural operations, municipalities, and food industry companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IASP is an interdisciplinary applied research institute that identifies, conceives, and implements innovative projects in agriculture, food technology, urban ecology, and animal welfare. It transfers application-oriented solutions for novel products and processes into municipal, commercial, and agricultural practice through publicly funded research projects, industry-commissioned R&D, and technology-transfer consulting. Core offerings include plant-based food alternatives, sensor-based animal monitoring systems, urban greening systems, and biogenic raw material valorization.

Product overview

The Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects (IASP) at Humboldt University Berlin operates as an interdisciplinary research institution with four main research focus areas: Nutrition/Food Technology (Ernährung), Biogenic Raw Materials (Biogene Rohstoffe), Animal Welfare (Tierwohl), and Urban Green (Stadtgrün). IASP conducts application-oriented research and development projects that bridge scientific innovation with practical implementation in municipal, commercial, and agricultural settings. The research portfolio includes plant-based food alternatives (PIM-Pulver, FiFi vegan fish substitute), sustainable agricultural technologies (sheep wool fertilizers, struvite precipitation for emission reduction), animal monitoring systems (smardtag®, MoniPork), urban greening solutions (vegetation mats, green railway tracks, building greening), and eco-innovation projects (GreenCoat protein coatings). IASP also operates an agricultural experimental station in Berge for field trials and maintains collaborative networks including the Grüngleisnetzwerk (Green Track Network) and membership in the Zuse-Gemeinschaft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ernährung / Lebensmitteltechnologie (Nutrition / Food Technology) Research
• Biogene Rohstoffe (Biogenic Raw Materials) Research
• Tierwohl (Animal Welfare) Monitoring Research

Quantifiable outcome

• Created plant-based fish substitute achieving fish-like lamellar structure comparable to mackerel in texture, nutrition, and sensory characteristics
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Humboldt-Universität zu BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIASP operates as an officially affiliated institute (An-Institut) of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lebenswissenschaftliche Fakultät. This relationship provides academic legitimacy, access to university facilities and students, and framework for supervising doctoral candidates. The institute was re-recognized by the Academic Senate in March 2026 for another 5-year period.
• ESYS GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration spanning many years focused on electronic data capture, processing, and transmission systems for agricultural applications. ESYS provides technology expertise while IASP contributes practical field experience and domain knowledge in agriculture, animal health, and data applications.
• Rovita GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive research cooperation on the PIM-Pulver project developing an innovative plant-based milk substitute powder using chia, amaranth, and quinoa. Rovita is the industry partner providing commercial perspective and potential market pathway for the developed technology.
• SF-Soepenberg GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in RALVeN (Reduction of Ammonia and Nitrous Oxide Emissions) research focused on struvite precipitation from manure and digestate. SF-Soepenberg contributes industrial perspective on fertilizer production and market applications.
• Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität BonnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in RALVeN project, contributing research expertise in agricultural nutrient management and environmental impact assessment.
• Fördergemeinschaft Ökologischer Landbau Berlin-Brandenburg (FÖL e.V.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EIP-AGRI project 'Gewolltes Gemüse' (Valued Vegetables), representing the organic farming community in Berlin-Brandenburg region.
• Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. (ILU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute partner in EIP-AGRI project 'Gewolltes Gemüse', contributing expertise in food and environmental research for sheep wool fertilizer development.
• Bioland Ost e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganic farming association partner in EIP-AGRI project 'Gewolltes Gemüse', representing organic vegetable producers in Brandenburg.
• Universidad Nacional de Trujillo (UNT), PeruminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing scientific collaboration with Dr. Gilmar Mendoza from UNT focused on poultry housing and feeding, particularly on reducing antibiotic use through natural alternatives like plant oils and nanocapsulation.
• Datenschutzbeauftragter RA Arwid BilkminorOthersExternal data protection officer providing GDPR compliance oversight for IASP operations.
• ZUSE-Gemeinschaft (Deutsche Industrieforschungsgemeinschaft Konrad Zuse e.V.)minorOthersActive member of the German industrial research association, participating in innovation councils and senate activities. IASP Director Dr. Stefan Köhler serves on the Innovation Council and Senate of ZUSE-Gemeinschaft.
• Verband Innovativer Unternehmen e.V. (VIU)minorOthersActive member of the Association of Innovative Companies, participating in parliamentary evenings and policy discussions on bioeconomy.
• Urban Adaptation NetworkminorOthersInternational innovation network focused on climate-resilient urban development. IASP joined in June 2026, contributing expertise in building greening and urban ecology.
• Grüngleisnetzwerk (Green Rail Network)coreOthersNetwork for railway track greening initiated by IASP 15 years ago, developed into a competence center connecting transit operators, technology developers, landscaping companies, and research institutions. IASP continues to organize and lead network activities.
• EuroNorm GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management organization serving as project agency for multiple IASP research projects including FerMaX, GreenCoat, and FiFi, funded through INNO-KOM program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI): German federal research institute for animal health and animal welfare under BMEL. Directly comparable to IASP's Tierwohl research area — particularly around sensor-based animal monitoring, stress detection, and poultry physiology (WPSA engagement) where both institutes operate.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization with 76 institutes covering food, agriculture, environmental and production technologies. Comparable as a German university-affiliated applied research model that translates science into industry partnerships, though operating at vastly greater scale and broader mandate than IASP.
• Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI): German federal research centre for cultivated plants under BMEL. Comparable as a publicly funded applied agricultural research organization operating in adjacent crop and plant science domains to IASP's Biogenic Rohstoffe work.
• Max Rubner-Institut (MRI): German federal research institute for nutrition and food, operating under BMEL. Directly comparable to IASP's Nutrition/Food Technology focus area on fermentation, plant-based alternatives, and food processing — though MRI is larger, federally funded, and structured as a departmental research agency.
• Thünen Institute: German federal research institute under BMEL covering rural areas, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Comparable to IASP's agricultural and biogenic raw materials research, particularly work on emission reduction, organic fertilizers, and livestock systems.

Regional players

• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch applied agricultural and food research powerhouse with similar interdisciplinary structure across nutrition, animal sciences, plant sciences, and environmental technology. Comparable as a model for monetizing applied agricultural research through industry partnerships, though operating in a different (non-German) geography.
• Agroscope: Swiss federal research institute for agriculture, food and environmental research. Comparable to IASP on livestock systems, plant-based food, and sustainability topics, though serving the Swiss market rather than German municipalities and food industry.

Direct peers

• ttz Bremerhaven: An-Institut affiliated with a German university conducting applied research in food technology, bioeconomy and sensor systems; fellow ZUSE-Gemeinschaft member mentioned in IASP's own communications as Urban Adaptation network partner. Most directly comparable peer on size, structure and thematic mix.
• Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB): Potsdam-based Leibniz Institute researching agricultural engineering, bioeconomy, and food technology. Highly comparable to IASP on interdisciplinary applied research bridging agriculture, food technology and urban ecology, and operates the same kind of industry-collaborative project model.
• Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung e.V. (ILU): Non-profit research institute for food and environmental research based in Germany; identified in IASP's data as an EIP-AGRI project partner on the Gewolltes Gemüse sheep wool fertilizer initiative. Closely comparable on applied food and environmental research scope and non-profit An-Institut-style structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IASPBerlin
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/institut-f%C3%BCr-agrar-und-stadt%C3%B6kologische-projekte-iasp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Institute for Agricultural and Urban Ecological Projects at the Humboldt University in Berlin