Federal Agency for Technical Relief

Name

Federal Agency for Technical Relief

Legal name

Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk

Website

https://thw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Protection and Disaster Response Services

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness (BPADADAK), Disaster Response, Rescue & Tactical EMS (DMAT/USAR/SWAT/HAZMAT Medical) (HLAFANAH), Chemical & Hazardous Materials Spill Response (HazMat) (EUAIAMAB)

Keywords

• Civil protection services
• Disaster response operations
• Technical rescue services
• Emergency relief coordination
• Volunteer emergency response

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: THW is a federally funded agency. Operations are financed through the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA) for international deployments. The 'Pakt für den Bevölkerungsschutz' represents a major investment program strengthening civil protection capabilities.
2. Volunteer-based Operations: The organization's primary operational capacity comes from unpaid volunteers who contribute their time, skills, and availability for training and deployment. This volunteer model forms the foundation of THW's service delivery without direct cost to the organization.
3. Donations and Foundation Support: The THW-Stiftung (THW Foundation) accepts donations to support equipment procurement and operations, such as funding for sandbag-filling machines to strengthen flood protection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is Germany's federal civil protection agency that delivers technical-humanitarian disaster relief domestically and internationally. It operates through a hybrid model of approximately 88,000 trained volunteers and 2,200 full-time employees, providing specialized capabilities such as search and rescue, debris clearance, bridge construction, flood response, power generation, CBRN decontamination, and rapid international deployment of rescue teams.

Product overview

The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) operates as Germany's federal civil protection and disaster response agency, offering a comprehensive portfolio of technical-humanitarian services. The core offering is the THW disaster relief service, supported by specialized units including SEEBA (international rescue operations), the Cultural Heritage Response Unit (Kulturgutretter), the Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST), and the rescEU CBRN Decon unit. THW also maintains a youth program (THW-Jugend) with over 17,000 participants and operates a fleet of emergency vehicles and equipment. The organization coordinates international cooperation projects through its Field Technology Service and provides training programs for both domestic and foreign emergency responders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Disaster Relief Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 48 personnel + 4 rescue dogs deployable internationally within hours for search and rescue operations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Bundeswehr provides strategic air transport for THW international deployments. In the Venezuela earthquake response, Bundeswehr aircraft transported the 48-person SEEBA team. The partnership enables rapid global deployment capabilities that THW cannot achieve independently.
• Spanish Emergency ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring Venezuela deployment, THW coordinated with Spanish emergency services in a shared operational sector, with ten units working systematically through identified deployment locations under joint coordination.
• Venezuelan Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW donated 5 tonnes of equipment including tents, generators and other supplies to the Venezuelan Red Cross for use in a field hospital. Local hospitals also received medications from THW supplies.
• Johanniter Unfallhilfe (JUH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW provided logistical coordination support for Johanniter Unfallhilfe's medical rapid response team operating in the Venezuela disaster zone.
• Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint rescEU CBRN Decon Germany unit established with BBK and Federal Police for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear decontamination operations. Major joint exercises like resConEx'26 train hundreds of personnel.
• Federal Police (Bundespolizei)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in rescEU CBRN Decon Germany unit alongside BBK for large-scale decontamination operations during chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents.
• Office National de la Protection Civile (ONPC) - TunisiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cooperation since 2012 supporting ONPC in building volunteer civil protection structures. Project concluded in 2025 after 13 years of THW engagement including training, equipment provision, and establishment of a central workshop in Manouba.
• Government of UkrainemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour years of ongoing support since 2022 including delivery of demolition equipment, power generators, humanitarian aid supplies, and technical expertise. Support continues as of 2026.
• Government of TurkeymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor international deployment following February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. THW provided search and rescue capabilities with specialized teams and rescue dogs.
• Government of SyriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW delivered humanitarian aid supplies including firefighting vehicles to support disaster response capabilities.
• Government of MadagascarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW delivered humanitarian aid supplies for disaster relief operations in Madagascar.
• Government of ChadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian assistance including construction of accommodation facilities and camp infrastructure.
• Government of SloveniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency response following 2023 floods including construction of temporary bridges (Behelfsbrücken) and debris clearance operations.
• Crisis Management Training Institute - Erbil, Kurdistan-IrakmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHW established and continues to support the Crisis Management Training Institute in Erbil (2023). Conducts training for Rapid Response Unit (RRU) leadership in maintenance, care, logistics, search and rescue, height/depth rescue, and breathing apparatus.
• THW-Bundesvereinigung (THW Federal Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered association that supports THW operations and advocacy. President Martin Gerster (Bundestag member) re-elected in April 2026. Provides platform for supporting THW and strengthening civil protection.
• THW-Stiftung (THW Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation accepting donations to support THW equipment procurement and operations. Procured sandbag-filling machines to strengthen flood protection capabilities for communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK): BBK is Germany's federal office for civil protection and disaster assistance, responsible for federal civil protection strategy and joint CBRN capabilities with THW. The closest domestic peer; jointly operates the rescEU CBRN Decon Germany unit with THW and the Federal Police.
• Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB): MSB is Sweden's agency for civil protection, emergency management, and contingency planning, responsible for rescue services, CBRN preparedness, and international civil protection operations. Comparable to THW in scope of statutory civil protection mandate and EU civil protection mechanism participation.
• Italian Civil Protection Department: Italy's national civil protection authority under the Prime Minister's office, responsible for disaster prediction, prevention, and management. Comparable to THW in coordinating technical volunteer forces, international deployments, and statutory emergency response across a federal/regional government structure.
• Sécurité Civile (France): France's national civil protection agency under the Ministry of the Interior, operating specialized rescue units, fire-and-rescue services, and international deployments. Closely comparable to THW in statutory mandate, organizational structure, and technical emergency response scope.

Broad incumbents

• National Emergency Management Agency (Japan): Japan's national disaster management agency under the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, specializing in earthquake response and technical emergency services. Comparable to THW in technical disaster relief capabilities, particularly earthquake USAR (matching SEEBA's specialty) and international deployment.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA is the U.S. federal agency for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, operating under the Department of Homeland Security. It is the most direct international counterpart to THW in terms of statutory mandate, federal funding model, and broad emergency management responsibilities across natural and man-made disasters.
• Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) of Russia: Russia's federal ministry responsible for civil defense, emergency response, and disaster relief, with substantial search-and-rescue and international deployment capabilities. Comparable to THW in technical disaster response scope and statutory federal mandate, though operating at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• German Red Cross (DRK): Germany's national Red Cross society, operating emergency medical services, disaster response, and international humanitarian operations under the IFRC framework. Comparable to THW in volunteer-based operations, German domestic civil protection role, and international humanitarian deployments.
• Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe (JUH): German humanitarian organization providing civil protection, emergency medical services, and international disaster relief, with whom THW coordinates on deployments (e.g., Venezuelan earthquake response). Comparable volunteer-driven emergency response model with overlapping German domestic and international operations.

Others

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Global humanitarian network coordinating international disaster response across 191 national societies. Comparable to THW in international disaster relief coordination, deployment of technical rescue teams, and capacity-building support to national civil protection agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thwleitung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Federal Agency for Technical Relief