GiK

What GiK does

GiK (Gesellschaft für innovative Kommunikationssysteme mbH) is a privately held German engineering services company founded in 1990 and headquartered at Pascalstr. 6, 52076 Aachen, operating as a GmbH registered under HRB 5218 Aachen. The company specializes in customer-specific hardware and software development for embedded systems and IoT, serving industrial clients across manufacturing, industrial IoT, automotive/e-mobility, and HVAC/building automation. Its stated scope covers the full embedded development lifecycle from specification and concept through prototype and series manufacturing to product certification including EMC compliance testing.

The company operates across four core capability areas: (1) commercial and industrial IoT solutions spanning sensors to cloud, including gateways for 2G/4G/LTE, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, and SRD-868 with MQTT and RESTful cloud connectivity; (2) FPGA/SoC systems for time-critical, security-critical, and measurement applications using VHDL and C/C++; (3) custom electronic assemblies including processor, DSP, and FPGA systems with high-speed digital designs (PCIe, GbE, USB2.0, DDR3) and industrial/wireless communication modules; and (4) embedded software services covering Linux Board Support Packages, Buildroot/OpenWRT build systems, protocol stacks (IO-Link, MQTT, RESTful), and application software. It has productized certain offerings — notably IO-Link capable sensors and a modular 19-inch Predictive Maintenance System with Xilinx Zynq FPGA processing — alongside its engineering services portfolio.

The business model combines professional services (project-based and capacity-augmentation engagements, with optional on-site integration), one-time development/license fees for custom hardware, and hardware sales on IoT modules. Go-to-market is consultative and sales-led, relying on direct engagement, the company website, and phone/email contact, with no disclosed social media activity. GiK employs 11–50 staff, is managed by two managing directors (Dipl.-Ing. Karl Singendonk and Dipl.-Ing. Andreas Wippermann), maintains no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, partnerships, or M&A activity, and does not report revenue. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based; no public pricing, certifications, patents, awards, or named customer logos are disclosed in the source material.

Name

GiK

Legal name

Gesellschaft für innovative Kommunikationssysteme mbH

Website

https://gik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GiK is a private German engineering services firm founded in 1990 in Aachen, developing custom embedded systems, FPGA/SoC hardware, and IoT hardware-and-software solutions for industrial clients across manufacturing, e-mobility, and building automation sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Embedded Systems Engineering Services

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Captive/Global In-House Center (GIC) Setup & Managed Services (BPAEAMAK)

Keywords

• Embedded systems development
• Industrial IoT solutions
• FPGA SoC design
• Electronic assembly engineering
• Embedded software services

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Development Services: Custom hardware and software development services for embedded systems, covering the full development process from specification to series production. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, providing engineers for partial or complete development projects.
2. Hardware Product Development: Development of application-specific electronic assemblies, from concept to series readiness. This includes processor, DSP, and FPGA systems, as well as communication modules. Revenue can include one-time development fees and potentially follow-on production.
3. IoT Solutions: Commercial and industrial IoT solutions from sensor to cloud, including hardware modules and associated software. Components and systems for industrial monitoring and control applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

GiK is a B2B engineering services company providing custom hardware and software development for embedded systems and IoT. It designs application-specific electronic assemblies, FPGA/SoC systems, sensor and control modules, IoT gateways, and embedded software (Linux BSP, protocol stacks, application code) spanning from sensors to cloud connectivity. Projects range from concept and specification through prototyping, series production coordination, and product certification.

Product overview

GiK (Gesellschaft für innovative Kommunikationssysteme mbH) is a development partner for embedded systems and IoT, offering a portfolio of integrated products and services for commercial and industrial IoT solutions. The core offering comprises four main areas: (1) Commercial and Industrial IoT Solutions covering hardware/software for sensor and control modules, IoT gateways for 2G/4G/LTE/NB-IoT/BT/SRD-868 connectivity, and cloud communication via MQTT and RESTful API; (2) FPGA-/SoC-Systems for application-specific assemblies using VHDL and C/C++; (3) Elektronikbaugruppen (Electronic Assemblies) for custom hardware from concept to series production including processor, DSP, FPGA systems and high-speed digital designs; and (4) Embedded Software covering Linux BSP, build systems (Buildroot, OpenWRT), protocol software (MQTT, IO-Link), and application software. Additional offerings include Predictive Maintenance Systems with modular 19-inch data acquisition and analysis solutions, IO-Link capable sensors, FPGA logic development, prototyping/series manufacturing, and product certification services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial and Industrial IoT Solutions (Kommerzielle und industrielle IoT-Lösungen) End-to-end commercial and industrial IoT solutions spanning from sensors to cloud, including hardware and software for sensor and control modules, IoT gateways supporting 2G/4G/LTE, NB-IoT, BT, and SRD-868, and communication software for IoT platform/cloud connectivity via MQTT and RESTful API. Targeted at industrial and commercial customers requiring connected monitoring and control systems.
• FPGA/SoC Systems (FPGA-/SoC-Systeme) Application-specific FPGA/SoC assemblies combining hardware (VHDL) and software (C/C++) functional blocks for measurement acquisition and analysis, time- and safety-critical applications, and IC logic verification. Targeted at clients needing custom high-performance or time-critical embedded processing solutions.
• Electronic Assemblies (Elektronikbaugruppen) Application-specific hardware developed from concept to series production, including processor, DSP, and FPGA systems; communication modules for IO-Link, CAN, Modbus, GbE, 3G/4G, WLAN, BT, and SRD-868; and digital high-speed designs (PCIe, GbE, USB2.0, DDR3) with EMC-compliant designs. Targeted at industrial clients needing custom electronic hardware.
• Embedded Software Comprehensive embedded software services including Linux Board Support Packages, Buildroot and OpenWRT build systems, interface and communication software (I2C, SPI, USB, GbE, CAN, Modbus, 2G/4G/LTE, WLAN, BT, SRD-868), protocol software (IO-Link Device, MQTT, RESTful API), and application software for data acquisition, device control, and user interfaces. Targeted at clients developing connected embedded products.
• Predictive Maintenance System Modular 19-inch system with backplane for capturing and analyzing critical machine data, featuring sensor and I/O cards, a Xilinx Zynq FPGA board for data collection, an i.MX-based processor system for data analysis, Embedded Linux, RESTful web service interface, and JSON-formatted status information and alarms. Targeted at manufacturing clients needing condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• IO-Link-capable Sensors (IO-Link-fähige Sensoren) IO-Link-capable sensors for capturing sensor data in special environments, featuring a microprocessor board with IO-Link transceiver, sensor board with I2C interface, sensor data acquisition, heating element control, IO-Link Device Description, and IO-Link Device interface for data transmission. Targeted at industrial sensor integration applications.
• FPGA Logic Development (FPGA-Logikentwicklung) FPGA development services including FPGA system hardware and software development using Xilinx technologies (Zynq-7000 All Programmable SoC, Virtex, Spartan), design verification, commissioning and testing, system integration, SoC-FPGA-based test systems for IC logic verification, FPGA-based data concentrators (GbE), chip replacement solutions, and combined FPGA and DSP system solutions. Targeted at clients needing FPGA-based custom logic.
• Prototyping and Series Manufacturing (Prototypen-/Serienfertigung) Prototype and series manufacturing services including specification and development of production tests, component/material procurement, prototype and series manufacturing organization and supervision, and product testing procedures (AOI, In-Circuit, vibration, burn-in, climate cycle, and functional tests). Targeted at clients requiring manufacturing support for embedded hardware products.
• Product Certification (Produktzulassung) Product approval and certification support including preliminary testing (functional tests, EMC emission and immunity measurements), result analysis, design optimization, certification at accredited test laboratories, and official measurement and test reports. Targeted at clients needing EMC and regulatory compliance for embedded products.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MicroConsult GmbH: German-based embedded engineering consultancy providing embedded software, real-time OS, driver, and testing services to industrial and automotive clients. Matches GiK on geography and core embedded development focus, with similar project-based engagement model.
• itemis AG: German software services firm providing embedded software development, model-driven engineering, and IoT/cloud solutions for industrial clients. Overlaps with GiK on embedded software and IoT services for German industrial customers.
• embeX GmbH: German embedded engineering services provider (now part of Phoenix Contact) offering embedded software, FPGA, hardware design, and industrial IoT integration — direct overlap with GiK's full-stack sensor-to-cloud offering and German Mittelstand customer profile.
• Technica Engineering GmbH: German embedded engineering services and prototyping firm specializing in automotive Ethernet, CAN, IoT, and validation. Directly comparable to GiK in size, German footprint, and embedded systems focus, with strong overlap in industrial and e-mobility use cases.
• infoteam Software AG: German engineering services firm delivering custom embedded software, FPGA, and real-time systems for industrial, medical, and transportation customers. Highly comparable to GiK in size, technology stack (embedded Linux, BSPs, FPGA), and target industrial client base in Germany.
• Witekio (Accenture Industry X): European IoT and embedded software services firm specializing in connected device software (Linux, BSP, Yocto, cloud connectivity) for industrial and automotive clients. Closest analog to GiK's 'sensor to cloud' IoT engineering services, now part of Accenture's Industry X IoT practice.

Broad incumbents

• Vector Informatik GmbH: Much larger German automotive embedded tools and engineering services provider (CAN, AUTOSAR, embedded testing). Competes with GiK for the same automotive / e-mobility embedded engineering work but operates at significantly larger scale across a broader portfolio of products and services.
• ETAS GmbH (Bosch): Bosch subsidiary providing automotive embedded development tools, middleware, and engineering services. Directly comparable in automotive embedded services but operates as part of Bosch with substantially more resources and broader geographic reach than GiK.
• Elektrobit (Continental): Large automotive embedded software and services provider (Continental subsidiary) offering AUTOSAR, connected car, and IoT solutions. Comparable to GiK on automotive embedded and connected-device scope but serves global OEMs at a much larger scale.

Others

• Synopsys (ARC / DesignWare / Embedded): Large EDA and IP provider whose ARC processor IP, embedded development tools, and software integrity portfolio touch the same FPGA/SoC and embedded software design workflow that GiK executes for its customers. Adjacent rather than directly competing — enables the underlying technology stack GiK builds on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gik-mbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 GiK