aQua-Institut

What aQua-Institut does

aQua-Institut (legal name: aQua – Institut für angewandte Qualitätsförderung und Forschung im Gesundheitswesen GmbH) is a privately held, independent German consulting and research company founded on August 28, 1995, and headquartered in Göttingen. The company develops and implements concepts and strategies for healthcare quality assurance in Germany, serving ambulatory physician practices, medical care centers (MVZs), statutory health insurance funds (AOK, BARMER, TK, others), federal regulatory bodies (G-BA, Qualitätsausschuss Pflege), and academic institutions. It explicitly positions itself as independent of industry and association interests.

The institute's core technology stack comprises proprietary web-based software platforms developed over 20+ years, including EPA (European Practice Assessment, a quality management system for physician practices), QISA (a quality indicator system for ambulatory care commissioned by AOK-Bundesverband), and VISOTOOL (international benchmarking software). These platforms run on a dedicated ISO/IEC 27001 certified in-house data center that also provides hosting services (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS, Full Managed Hosting) to healthcare clients. The portfolio further includes the Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis sustainability certification, patient survey management (over 133,000 feedback reports generated since 2008), DiGA/DiPA digital health development, e-learning platforms, and custom software solutions.

Revenue is generated through six primary streams: software licensing/subscriptions (EPA, QISA, VISOTOOL); research and consulting services funded through Innovationsfonds and government bodies; digital health and custom software development; certification services; statutory mandates providing recurring institutional funding (§113 Abs. 1b SGB XI for nursing care since 2019, §299 Abs. 3 SGB V for rehabilitation since 2021); and ancillary event hosting/venue rental. Distribution is primarily direct sales to physician practices, MVZs, insurance funds, and government clients, supplemented by conference presence (Hauptstadtkongress, DEGAM-Kongress), a website, scientific publications, and institutional referral networks. Headcount stands at approximately 70 employees as of May 2024, managing roughly 50 concurrent projects.

Name

aQua-Institut

Legal name

aQua – Institut für angewandte Qualitätsförderung und Forschung im Gesundheitswesen GmbH

Website

https://aqua-institut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

aQua-Institut is an independent German healthcare quality assurance research and consulting firm (est. 1995, Göttingen) that develops proprietary software platforms (EPA, QISA, VISOTOOL) and provides research, statutory mandate services, and certification to physician practices, statutory health insurers, and government regulators in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Quality Assurance Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

akta.pro primary industry

Health Systems Strengthening & Global Health Technical Assistance (BPADAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health, Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Regulatory Cooperation (BPADANAJ), Provider Credentialing, Licensing & Compliance Enablement (multi-state) (HLALAKAM)

Keywords

• Healthcare quality assurance
• Ambulatory quality management
• Health services research
• Digital health solutions
• Healthcare benchmarking software

Headquarters

HQ city

Göttingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Platforms & Licensing (EPA, QISA, VISOTOOL): Licensing and subscription fees for proprietary quality management software platforms (EPA, QISA, VISOTOOL) used by physician practices, MVZs, and healthcare organizations across Germany.
2. Research & Consulting Services: Contract research, project management, and consulting services for healthcare quality research, funded by government bodies (e.g., Innovationsfonds, G-BA), health insurance funds, and academic institutions. The institute has processed over 40 Innovationsfonds projects (11 as consortium leader).
3. Digital Health & Custom Software Development: Development of bespoke software solutions, DiGA/DiPA applications, e-learning platforms, and IT quality assurance systems for healthcare organizations.
4. Certification Services (Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis): Certification services for physician practices demonstrating sustainability and climate protection standards, offered in partnership with GWQ and Hausärzt*innenverband.
5. Statutory Mandates & Data Evaluation Services: Government-mandated data evaluation services under § 113 Abs. 1b SGB XI (nursing care) and § 299 Abs. 3 SGB V (rehabilitation), providing recurring institutional funding.
6. Event Hosting & Venue Rental: Rental of event facilities in Göttingen, hosting seminars, workshops, meetings, conferences, and other events for external clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

aQua-Institut develops and implements concepts and strategies for healthcare quality assurance and quality improvement, primarily for the German ambulatory care sector. Its offerings combine applied health services research and consulting with proprietary software platforms (EPA, QISA, VISOTOOL), the Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis certification, certified hosting services, DiGA/DiPA digital health application development, survey management, and custom healthcare software. Revenue is generated via software licensing/subscription, project-based consulting, statutory data evaluation mandates, and certification fees.

Product overview

aQua-Institut offers a comprehensive portfolio of quality assurance products and services for the German healthcare system. The core offering includes the EPA-Qualitätsmanagement (European Practice Assessment) quality management system for physician practices and MVZs, alongside the Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis sustainability certification for medical practices. Key technology products include Hosting Services (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS) with full managed hosting capabilities, IT-Systeme zur Qualitätssicherung providing web-based portal solutions, reporting, and feedback systems, and Individuelle Softwarelösungen for custom healthcare software development. Supporting services encompass Befragungsmanagement for patient surveys, Digitale Gesundheit for DiGA/DiPA development and evaluation, and E-Learning platform services. Specialized sub-products include VISITOOL® benchmarking software, QISA quality indicator system for ambulatory care, and HCQS GmbH software for patient initial assessment. The organization operates specialized portals and platforms developed over 20+ years for quality data analysis and reporting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPA-Qualitätsmanagement (Europäisches Praxisassessment) Web-based quality management system for physician practices and MVZs, developed by physicians for physicians; provides practical quality analysis, measurement, and sustainable improvement, and meets legal QM requirements for German ambulatory care.
• QISA – Qualitätsindikatorensystem für die ambulante Versorgung Evidence-based quality indicator system for outpatient care, commissioned by AOK-Bundesverband, providing measurable indicators to assess ambulatory healthcare quality.
• VISOTOOL Benchmarking Software International benchmarking software used for quality comparisons across healthcare facilities and in international quality projects.
• Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis Quality seal certification program for medical practices that demonstrates integration of ecological and social standards into daily operations, addressing sustainability and climate protection for human health.
• Befragungsmanagement (Survey Management) Digital survey management for patient feedback in the healthcare sector; generates individual feedback reports for physician practices to support quality improvement.
• Hosting Services (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS, Full Managed Hosting) ISO/IEC 27001-certified, highly secure and scalable IT infrastructure offering Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service, and Full Managed Hosting for healthcare organizations.
• Digitale Gesundheit (DiGA / DiPA Digital Health Applications) Development and evaluation of medical software, DiGA, and DiPA with scientifically grounded concepts for the German healthcare market; ISO 27001 certified.
• E-Learning Platforms Digital training and learning solutions including hosting of on-demand courses, building of individual learning platforms, and implementation of custom course ideas and learning objectives.
• Individuelle Softwarelösungen (Custom Software Solutions) Bespoke software solutions for the healthcare sector designed to achieve high levels of digitalization and automation for healthcare organizations.
• IT-Systeme zur Qualitätssicherung (Web-based Quality Assurance Systems) Conception, development, and implementation of web-based digital quality assurance systems providing portal solutions, reporting, and feedback systems for quality improvement in healthcare settings.
• Portale (Quality Assurance Software Platforms) Specialized web-based software platforms developed over 20+ years for quality assurance and quality promotion, providing data and analyses as foundations for quality improvement.
• Healthcare Research and Consulting Services Contract research, project management, and consulting services for healthcare quality research, including health services research, health economics, demographics, routine data analysis, and Innovationsfonds project management.
• Statutory Data Evaluation Services Government-mandated independent data evaluation services under § 113 Abs. 1b SGB XI (nursing care, since 2019) and § 299 Abs. 3 SGB V (rehabilitation, since 2021), providing recurring institutional funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 133,000 individual feedback reports created for physician practices since 2008
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GWQ Gesundheitswirtschaftliche Qualitätssicherung (GWQ) and Hausärzt*innenverbandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025GWQ and Hausärzt*innenverband collaborate with aQua-Institut to promote the 'Qualitätssiegel Nachhaltige Praxis' certification among HZV (Hausarztzentrierte Versorgung) practices. GWQ provides financial support for practices that hold the aQua-Institut's sustainability certification.
• Health Care Quality Systems GmbH (HCQS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017HCQS GmbH was established as a joint company of aQua-Institut and in4medicine AG, Bern (Switzerland). HCQS develops software products for needs-based initial assessment (Ersteinschätzung) and patient routing (Patientensteuerung), marketed under the aQua-Institut ecosystem.
• evaplan GmbH (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership with evaplan GmbH at Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg for international health projects. Joint focus areas include maternal-child health and patient safety, implemented in projects in Kenya, Tanzania, and Algeria. The partnership leverages aQua-Institut's quality management expertise and evaplan's international development experience.
• Various German Universities and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKooperationen mit Partnern und führenden Universitäten aus dem In- und Ausland. Close academic network providing scientific grounding, co-development of research projects, and access to academic expertise in health sciences, health economics, and evidence-based medicine.
• AOK-BundesverbandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of QISA (Qualitätsindikatorensystem für die ambulante Versorgung) commissioned by AOK-Bundesverband since 2001. AOK also collaborates on EPA system deployment and the AOK-Gesundheitspartner portal for QISA.
• Gesundheitsregion Göttingen/SüdniedersachsenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of the annual Gesundheitssymposium (health symposium) on topics such as care perspectives for people with severe mental illness in Lower Saxony (2026 edition).
• BARMERminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint patient surveys (e.g., endometriosis survey for a planned ePaper), joint publication of BARMER Arztreport, and related health reporting collaborations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Zentrum für Qualität in der Pflege (ZQP): Berlin-based foundation focused on quality in nursing care, operating in the same §113 SGB XI statutory space where aQua is also commissioned as a data evaluation center.
• OptiMedis AG: Hamburg-based healthcare management and consulting firm developing integrated care models and population-health quality programs. Overlaps with aQua in healthcare quality and Versorgungsforschung consulting.
• BQS Institut für Qualität und Patientensicherheit: Hamburg-based institute focused on healthcare quality and patient safety, formerly the BQS Bundesgeschäftsstelle Qualitätssicherung gGmbH. Comparable mandate profile in German healthcare quality assurance.
• IGES Institut GmbH: Berlin-based health services research and consulting firm conducting health economics, quality research, and policy consulting for German and European healthcare clients. Directly competes for similar consulting mandates.
• WIdO (Wissenschaftliches Institut der AOK): Health services research institute affiliated with AOK that produces healthcare reporting (similar to aQua's BARMER Arztreport and TK Gesundheitsreport) and conducts routine data analyses for German statutory health insurers.
• inav – Institut für angewandte Versorgungsforschung: Berlin-based applied healthcare services research institute working on Versorgungsforschung and Innovationsfonds projects with statutory health insurance funds, mirroring aQua's research consulting model.
• Bertelsmann Stiftung – Weisse Liste / Transparenzprojekte: Foundation-run healthcare transparency and quality information initiatives that intersect with aQua's patient feedback and quality measurement work for the German ambulatory sector.
• IQTIG (Institut für Qualitätssicherung und Transparenz im Gesundheitswesen): The federal German institute that assumed aQua's previous cross-sectoral quality assurance mandate under §137a SGB V in 2015. Operates in the same statutory quality assurance space for German healthcare.

Regional players

• Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG) / AQUA Austria: Austrian national research and planning institute for healthcare quality, comparable in mandate to aQua's German statutory role but serving the Austrian market. Similar name overlap creates brand-level familiarity.

Broad incumbents

• Ramboll Management Consulting (Germany Healthcare Practice): Global consulting firm with a German healthcare practice covering health systems, hospital strategy, and regulatory advisory. Competes for broader healthcare consulting mandates that overlap with aQua's scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aqua-institute

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about aQua-Institut