What antwortING Beratende Ingenieure does

antwortING Beratende Ingenieure PartGmbB is a Cologne- and Freiburg-based German engineering consultancy specializing in civil protection (Gefahrenabwehr), fire service planning, and rescue service planning for municipalities, counties, and federal agencies. Its service portfolio centers on three statutory needs-planning products — Brandschutzbedarfsplanung (fire service needs planning), Rettungsdienstbedarfsplanung (rescue service needs planning), and Katastrophenschutzbedarfsplanung (civil protection needs planning) — alongside adjacent services such as heat action planning (Hitzeaktionsplan), blackout planning, organizational development, and policy/mediation advisory. Differentiated deliverables are produced through proprietary methodologies, most notably IGAP (Integrierte Gefahrenabwehrplanung), which links infrastructure domains (fire, water supply, hospitals, schools, communications, green spaces) into a single integrated plan, and GIS-based hotspot analyses for spatial risk concentration that exceed the resolution of standard tabular needs plans. The firm also operates the Zentrum für die Digitalisierung der Gefahrenabwehr (ZfDG) and has launched deployable software/concept products — RescueWave (MANV management), SeCoServ2 (mass casualty IT platform), and PrimAIR (primary air rescue model) — co-developed with VOMATEC and ITK Engineering. Underlying technology includes GIS-based risk and demand planning, systematic needs assessment methodology, scenario-based analysis, moderated stakeholder dialogue processes, and digital transformation consulting for civil protection. Revenue is generated almost entirely through professional services: project-based consulting engagements to public-sector clients (priced per project with no publicly disclosed rates), supplemented by income from publicly funded research projects (BBK, BMBF, EU Horizon, INTERREG, BMWE/ZIM) and co-designed seminars with the Verband der Feuerwehren NRW. Customer acquisition is sales-led through direct engagement, free 15-minute initial consultations with Dr.-Ing. Frederik Schütte, in-person meetings at the Cologne or Freiburg offices, and sustained thought-leadership marketing via the 'Gefahrenabwehr gestalten' blog, LinkedIn, Instagram, and event sponsorships (STUSI 2026). The firm is independently owned by five partners as a Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mit beschränkter Berufshaftung (PartGmbB), with no external investment, and is the commissioned author of the BASt nationwide rescue service performance study (2020-2021 and 2024-2025), positioning it as the primary data reference for German rescue service benchmarking.

Name

antwortING Beratende Ingenieure

Legal name

antwortING Beratende Ingenieure PartGmbB

Website

https://antworting.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

antwortING is a Cologne- and Freiburg-based German engineering consultancy that provides needs planning, risk analysis, and organizational development services in fire, rescue, and civil protection for municipalities, counties, and federal agencies across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Management Consulting

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Life Safety Code Compliance Inspections & Consulting (AHJ Support) (BPABAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Facility Emergency Response Plans (ERP) & Integrated Contingency Plans (ICP) (EUAHALAB), Natural Disaster Preparedness & Recovery (Storm/Flood/Wildfire) (BPABANAI)

Keywords

• Civil protection consulting
• Fire protection planning
• Rescue service planning
• Disaster preparedness consulting
• Emergency management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services – Municipal Civil Protection Planning: antwortING provides specialized engineering consulting services to German municipalities, counties, and government authorities. Engagement types include: fire service needs planning (Brandschutzbedarfsplanung), rescue service needs planning (Rettungsdienstbedarfsplanung), civil protection needs planning (Katastrophenschutzbedarfsplanung), heat action plans, blackout planning, organizational development, project management, and municipal advisory services. Services are delivered through structured consulting engagements with defined project phases (project setup, kick-off, data collection, concept development, reporting, result presentation).
2. Research and Development Projects: antwortING participates in publicly funded research projects in civil protection and emergency management, funded by the Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK), Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF), and EU funding programmes (e.g., Horizon 2020, INTERREG). Projects include Be4RCE, PREVIEW, DISASTER, FEIR, Co-Site, KATPRO, RescueWave, SeCoServ2, 4D-Sicherheit, CrossFire, SAMETS, PrimAIR.
3. Training and Seminars: antwortING conducts professional seminars and training sessions for fire service associations and municipal decision-makers. They partner with the Verband der Feuerwehren NRW (VdF NRW) to deliver seminars on topics such as fire protection needs planning, blackout planning, water supply planning, vegetation fire concepts, crisis staff operations, and risk assessments of fire service sites.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

antwortING Beratende Ingenieure provides specialized engineering consulting services to German municipalities, counties, and government authorities in civil protection, fire service, and rescue service planning. Core service lines include fire protection needs planning, rescue service needs planning, disaster protection needs planning, heat action planning, blackout planning, and organizational development. The firm also develops supporting software products such as RescueWave and SeCoServ2 for mass-casualty incident management.

Product overview

antwortING Beratende Ingenieure is a consulting engineering firm specializing in hazard defense and organizational development. Their portfolio consists primarily of consulting services rather than a unified software platform. Core consulting offerings include fire protection needs planning (Brandschutzbedarfsplanung), rescue service needs planning (Rettungsdienstbedarfsplanung), disaster protection needs planning (Katastrophenschutzbedarfsplanung), and heat action planning (Hitzeaktionsplan). They also develop proprietary software products including RescueWave (for MANV management), SeCoServ2 (for mass casualty IT support), and PrimAIR (for air rescue concepts). The firm operates a customer portal and a Center for Digitalization in Hazard Defense (ZfDG). Services are delivered through offices in Freiburg and Cologne, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brandschutzbedarfsplanung (Fire Protection Needs Planning) Strategic planning consulting service for fire departments including needs assessment, alarm and hazard defense planning, operational needs planning, forest and vegetation fire concepts, station location assessments and analyses, and feasibility studies. Targeted at German municipalities and their fire services.
• Rettungsdienstbedarfsplanung (Rescue Service Needs Planning) Needs planning consulting service for ground-based rescue services, air rescue planning (Luftrettung), and procurement support (Vergabe) for rescue service providers in Germany.
• Katastrophenschutzbedarfsplanung (Civil Protection Needs Planning) Systematic disaster protection needs planning including risk and hazard analysis, existing structures assessment, scenario development, and integration with existing hazard defense and crisis management structures. Aimed at municipalities, counties, and state-level civil protection authorities.
• Hitzeaktionsplan (Heat Action Plan) Heat action planning consulting service for municipalities and districts, including systematic inventory and vulnerability analysis, development of coordination and organizational structures, and a measures catalog differentiated by warning levels. Targeted at German municipalities preparing for heat wave impacts.
• Blackoutplanung (Blackout Planning) Planning consulting service for large-scale and prolonged power outages, including scenario development and structured blackout prevention concepts. Targeted at municipalities, counties, and critical infrastructure operators.
• Organisationsentwicklung (Organizational Development Consulting) Consulting services covering organizational analysis, staffing analysis (Leitstellenbemessung), project management, municipal advisory services (Kommunalberatung), policy consulting (Politikberatung), mediation in civil protection, and controlling/key figure management. Targeted at German public administrations and civil protection organizations.
• RescueWave A software system for efficient leadership and handling of MANV (Mass Casualty Incidents) situations by rescue services, fire departments, and civil protection organizations. Developed in partnership with VOMATEC and ITK Engineering.
• SeCoServ2 An IT-secure software platform developed to support communication and service infrastructure during mass casualty incidents, supporting patient triage (assessing treatment priority) and localization as well as downstream care processes such as hospital bed assignment.
• PrimAIR A concept for primary air rescue in structurally weak areas, developing a model for innovative design of rescue services in large, sparsely populated regions with air-based pre-clinical emergency rescue as the basis. Targeted at rescue service planners in Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heat action plans reduce health impacts from heat waves by enabling early warning systems, targeted communication to vulnerable populations, and coordinated cooling measures across municipal services, hospitals, and care facilities.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBK is the German Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. antwortING has received research funding from BBK for civil protection projects including Be4RCE (Digitalization of Civil Protection 4.0), which ran from 01.01.2020 to 31.12.2022 and developed an overview of risks and opportunities of IT support systems in the KRITIS emergency and rescue sector. BBK is a key institutional partner for antwortING's research and innovation activities.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF is the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. antwortING has received funding from BMBF for research projects including PREVIEW (Resilience of Critical Waterway Infrastructure) and FEIR (Leadership Training using Intelligent Virtual Realities for Emergency Response). The ministry also funds the Co-Site project through the 'Innovative Hochschule' initiative.
• EU-Förderprogramme (EU Funding Programmes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerantwortING participates in EU-funded research projects including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes. The DISASTER project (Data Interoperability Solution At Stakeholders Emergencies Reaction) developed a system solution for data exchange across emergency response stakeholders via a purpose-built ontology and data gateway. The CrossFire project is funded through INTERREG Deutschland-Nederland with ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) support.
• Verband der Feuerwehren NRW (VdF NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fire Services Association of North Rhine-Westphalia is a key partner for antwortING's professional development and thought leadership activities. In 2026, antwortING co-designed and co-delivers a series of professional seminars for VdF NRW members covering fire service needs planning, blackout planning, risk assessments, water supply planning, and vegetation fire concepts. This partnership positions antwortING experts as key educators in the NRW fire service community.
• TH Köln (Technische Hochschule Köln)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTH Köln (TH Cologne University of Applied Sciences) is a key research partner for antwortING. Together they lead the Co-Site project, which focuses on co-creation in the region around Cologne, with particular attention to areas affected by flooding. antwortING's contribution focuses on increasing the resilience of critical infrastructures. The project is funded by the 'Innovative Hochschule' initiative with approximately ten million euros over five years starting 2023. TH Köln is also partner in the DISASTER project.
• KATPRO NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKATPRO is a network uniting members from medicine, rescue services, technology, research, and industry to develop innovative solutions for healthcare provision in crisis situations. The network focuses on: technology-based solutions for reliable crisis care; digital systems for triage, prioritization, and deployment coordination; resilient structures for stable medical processes in large-scale emergency situations. The network has been funded since 2025 through the Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand (ZIM) of the BMWE (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy).
• Zentrum für Digitalisierung der Gefahrenabwehr (ZfDG)coreOthersThe Center for Civil Protection Digitalization (ZfDG) bundles antwortING's competencies on digital transformation and enables comprehensive knowledge exchange. It serves as an internal competency center and external knowledge platform for digital civil protection topics. More information at zentrumfuerdigitalisierung.de.
• Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen (BASt)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBASt (Federal Institute for Road Research) is the German federal agency that commissions the nationwide analysis of performance levels in rescue services. antwortING conducted the study for 2020-2021 and has been commissioned for the 2024-2025 period. This study is the key reference study for all German rescue service areas.
• Landeszentrum Gesundheit NRW (LZG.NRW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLZG.NRW (State Center for Health NRW) operates the state coordination office for health-related heat protection in North Rhine-Westphalia. It provides advice and support to municipalities with tools, practical examples, and legal foundations for heat action planning. antwortING offers heat action plan development services aligned with LZG.NRW frameworks.
• Ingenieurkammer-Bau Nordrhein-WestfalenminorOthersantwortING is a member of the Ingenieurkammer-Bau Nordrhein-Westfalen (Engineering Chamber of Construction NRW), a public law corporation. This is the relevant professional chamber for their engineering consulting practice. Address: Zollhof 2, 40221 Düsseldorf.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dräger: Lübeck-based safety equipment and consulting firm serving fire services, rescue services and civil protection. Comparable on German Feuerwehr/Rettungsdienst sector authority, but Dräger is primarily a product company (breathing apparatus, gas detection) with adjacent services, whereas antwortING is service-led.
• Arcadis: Global design and engineering consultancy with significant German operations in water, resilience and public infrastructure. Comparable on multi-domain municipal resilience consulting (water, climate, infrastructure) that increasingly overlaps with antwortING's IGAP-style integrated planning.
• Dorsch Gruppe: Frankfurt-based engineering consulting group with civil protection and emergency management projects for German federal and state clients. Direct overlap on German government advisory mandates where scale and multi-disciplinary engineering are required.
• ILF Consulting Engineers: Munich-headquartered engineering consultancy active in infrastructure resilience, emergency planning and critical infrastructure projects. Comparable on German public-sector risk and resilience consulting, but with a much larger project portfolio and international footprint.
• Rambøll: Global engineering consultancy with a strong German public-sector practice (Ramboll Deutschland) covering transport, buildings and resilience. Competes with antwortING on large municipal and federal engagements where multi-disciplinary engineering is bundled with civil protection planning.
• TÜV SÜD: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) giant operating fire safety, building compliance and emergency preparedness consulting in Germany. Directly comparable as a large-scale professional services firm selling AHJ-relevant fire and life safety assessments to municipal and industrial clients, but with a vastly broader portfolio than antwortING's hazard-defense niche.
• VdS Schadenverhütung: Germany's leading independent fire protection and civil protection certification body, owned by the German Insurance Association (GDV). The most institutionally close peer to antwortING in terms of German fire/civil protection authority, with recognised expertise in sprinkler, alarm and risk planning consultancies that municipalities often default to.
• DEKRA: Germany-headquartered global TIC and certification major with established consulting lines in fire protection, occupational safety and crisis management. Overlaps antwortING on municipal and industrial safety planning engagements, but competes as a broad incumbent across many adjacent domains.

Others

• VOMATEC: Software and systems engineering partner of antwortING on the RescueWave MANV-coordination project. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor — illustrates the consortium-style delivery model antwortING uses for civil protection IT projects.

Emerging players

• Risktec Solutions (RINA): Specialist safety and risk management consultancy acquired by RINA, providing hazard analysis, emergency planning and ALARP studies for critical infrastructure and emergency services. Comparable as a niche, methodological peer focused on civil protection adjacent to oil & gas, transport and KRITIS — a relevant international analog to antwortING's specialist positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/antworting
• Instagraminstagram.com/antworting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 antwortING Beratende Ingenieure