Technologiestiftung Berlin

What Technologiestiftung Berlin does

Technologiestiftung Berlin is a non-profit foundation (Stiftung) established in 1995 under the laws of Berlin, Germany, and primarily funded by the State of Berlin (Land Berlin). It operates as a public-purpose civic technology organization whose mission is human-centered digitization connecting Berlin's administration, educational institutions, cultural organizations, scientific community, economy, and citizens. The foundation delivers its mandate through three flagship programmatic brands — CityLAB Berlin (a civic innovation laboratory prototyping public-sector projects), kulturBdigital (a program supporting digitalization of Berlin's museums, theaters, and cultural institutions via funding, helpdesk, and networking), and ODIS / Data Hub Berlin (open data infrastructure and curated public-sector datasets) — alongside an extended portfolio of civic technology projects including the citizen tree-watering platform Gieß den Kiez (which has registered over 120,000 additional trees), the Kiezbox 2.0 open-source crisis-communication hardware device, the AI-powered QTrees tree-health prediction system, the freemove privacy-preserving mobility data platform, the COMo CO2/air-quality IoT sensor network, and EnergyMap Berlin's building energy visualization.

Underlying technology combines open-source software, open data publishing, IoT/LoRaWAN infrastructure, RAG-based generative AI (BärGPT) and ML prediction models (QTrees, AMAREX), and web applications targeted at public-sector workflows. Distribution is direct and government-anchored: the foundation embeds with Land Berlin agencies, district offices, and cultural institutions, runs CityLAB as a physical co-working and prototyping space, and complements this with public events (Soup & Science, Forum WissensWerte, kulturBdigital-Konferenz) and an active content and podcast operation (Radio CityLAB).

The revenue model is non-commercial and entirely grant-funded. Core operational funding flows from the State of Berlin as a recurring grant, supplemented by dedicated project grant vehicles such as the Innovationsfonds für die digitale Entwicklung des Kulturbetriebs. All publications, datasets, tools, and event programming are offered free of charge to the public; there are no pricing tiers, no paying customers, no equity holders, and no disclosed budget figures. The customer base is structurally Berlin's public sector (administration, education, cultural sector) and the city's residents, with the single most consequential relationship being the Land Berlin funding partnership that sustains the foundation's operations.

Name

Technologiestiftung Berlin

Legal name

Technologiestiftung Berlin

Website

https://tsb-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Technologiestiftung Berlin is a non-profit foundation established in 1995 and funded by the State of Berlin that develops civic technology platforms (CityLAB, ODIS, kulturBdigital), open data infrastructure, and AI/IoT applications for Berlin's public administration, education, and cultural sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Technology and Public Sector Innovation

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Civic technology development
• Open data infrastructure
• Smart city innovation
• Digital public services
• Civic engagement platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Land Berlin Funding: The foundation receives primary funding from the state of Berlin (Land Berlin), as evidenced by references to projects being funded by Land Berlin. This constitutes the core operational funding for the foundation's activities in civic digitization, smart city initiatives, and public innovation.
2. Project Grants: The foundation implements specific projects with dedicated grant funding, such as the Innovationsfonds für die digitale Entwicklung des Kulturbetriebs, which supports digital development in the cultural sector.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Technologiestiftung Berlin is a non-profit foundation that develops and operates civic technology projects, open data infrastructure, and digital innovation programs for the State of Berlin. It runs CityLAB Berlin (a public innovation laboratory), kulturBdigital (digital transformation program for cultural institutions), and ODIS (Berlin's open data agency), alongside civic tech projects such as Gieß den Kiez (citizen tree-watering app), Kiezbox 2.0 (crisis communication hardware), and QTrees (AI for urban tree monitoring). All services, tools, and datasets are provided free of charge to Berlin's administration, education, cultural, and civic stakeholders.

Product overview

Technologiestiftung Berlin operates a portfolio of civic technology projects and initiatives rather than a unified product platform. The organization runs three main programmatic brands: CityLAB Berlin (innovation laboratory), kulturBdigital (cultural sector digitalization), and ODIS (open data agency). These are supported by numerous project-based offerings including Gieß den Kiez (citizen tree watering), Kiezbox 2.0 (crisis communication hardware), QTrees (AI tree care), freemove (mobility data), COMo (air quality monitoring), and EnergyMap Berlin (energy visualization). The foundation's approach combines open data, open source software, and participatory methods to advance human-centered digitalization across Berlin's administration, education, culture, and urban development sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CityLAB Berlin: Berlin's public innovation laboratory - an open workspace for testing new ideas and technologies for the city.
• kulturBdigital
• ODIS

Products and services

• CityLAB Berlin Berlin's public innovation laboratory - an open collaborative workspace for developing digital prototypes and civic tech solutions together with citizens, administration, and startups. Hosts workshops, hackathons, and prototyping sessions for civic technology projects.
• kulturBdigital Initiative supporting the digital transformation of Berlin's cultural sector through funding programs, helpdesk services, networking activities, and an annual conference. Serves museums, theaters, galleries, and cultural organizations.
• ODIS (Open Data Information) Berlin's open data agency supporting the development and use of open government data across the city administration. Provides technical infrastructure and governance framework for Berlin's open data portal and ecosystem.
• Gieß den Kiez Citizen participation app for watering city trees in Berlin, preventing drought damage through community engagement. Over 120,000 additional trees have been registered for care through the platform.
• Kiezbox 2.0 Crisis-resistant communication hardware device for neighborhood communication during emergencies, featuring an E-Ink display for resilient information distribution. Developed as open-source hardware.
• Data Hub Berlin Platform making Berlin more sovereign in data work, supporting public administration data management and open data initiatives for the city.
• QTrees AI-powered project using machine learning to predict watering needs for Berlin's street trees, helping prevent drought damage and optimize urban forestry maintenance.
• EnergyMap Berlin Building energy data visualization platform providing a comprehensive overview of building energy data across Berlin for energy policy and climate action.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 120,000 additional trees supported through the Gieß den Kiez citizen engagement platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• CityLAB BerlinflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA flagship project of Technologiestiftung Berlin, CityLAB Berlin is the public innovation laboratory of Berlin's administration. It serves as a collaborative space for developing civic technology solutions with government, academic, and citizen participation.
• ODIS (Open Data Informationssystem)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project operated by Technologiestiftung Berlin and Berlin's data governance bodies. ODIS provides the technical infrastructure and governance framework for Berlin's open data portal and data ecosystem.
• kulturBdigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative for the digital development of Berlin's cultural sector, supported by the Innovationsfonds zur digitalen Entwicklung des Kulturbetriebs. Provides funding, expertise, and resources for digital transformation in museums, theaters, and cultural institutions.
• GenaU NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMINT (STEM) education network in Berlin that Technologiestiftung Berlin supports and collaborates with. The network has operated for over 20 years to foster science and technology education for young people in Berlin.
• TTN Berlin (The Things Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing community partnership hosting regular TTN/LoRaWAN Berlin community meetings at the foundation's premises. The Things Network Berlin community focuses on building open IoT infrastructure using LoRaWAN technology.
• Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin (KWB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater competence center in Berlin that collaborates on digital water management projects, including data-driven approaches to water resource management and climate adaptation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• mysociety: UK nonprofit building civic-tech tools (e.g., FixMyStreet, TheyWorkForYou) that improve government transparency and citizen participation — analogous to TSB's open-government, open-data, and Gießen-den-Kiez-style citizen platforms.
• Amsterdam Smart City: Public-private partnership platform driving Amsterdam's smart-city innovation through open data, IoT (LoRaWAN), and citizen participation. Directly comparable to TSB's smart-city, open-data, and LoRaWAN initiatives.
• Open Knowledge Foundation Germany (Code for Germany): Germany's leading civic-tech open-data and transparency nonprofit, operating Code for Germany and civic-tech volunteer networks. Directly comparable to TSB on open-data infrastructure, civic participation projects, and public-sector collaboration in Germany.
• Helsinki Digital Helsinki Program: Helsinki city's digital transformation unit focusing on AI (e.g., AuroraAI), open data, and citizen-centric services. Comparable to TSB's BärGPT/Tobi-style municipal AI deployments and Verwaltungsdigitalisierung work.
• Barcelona Digital City: Municipal program driving Barcelona's digital transformation, open data, and citizen-driven technology initiatives. Directly comparable to TSB as a city-backed smart-city and digital-sovereignty program.
• Civic Innovation Lab Vienna: Municipal civic-innovation lab in Vienna focused on co-developing digital services with the city's administration and citizens. Closely comparable to TSB's CityLAB Berlin model of prototyping civic tech with government.

Broad incumbents

• Mozilla Foundation: Global nonprofit advocating for a healthy internet through open-source and AI-for-public-interest programs. Comparable to TSB on open-source principles, AI governance, and civic-tech funding models, though much larger and global in scope.
• Nesta (UK Innovation Foundation): UK innovation foundation applying evidence, technology, and design to public-interest challenges. Comparable to TSB's positioning as a publicly funded, mission-driven innovation foundation, though with national (UK) rather than city-level scope.

Emerging players

• GovTech Germany / Open Knowledge Foundation Labs (UK): Global open-knowledge network providing reusable open-source tools and open-data standards adopted by governments. Comparable to TSB on the open-data infrastructure layer (ODIS analog) underpinning civic-tech deployments globally.
• Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (now: Interface): Berlin-based independent think tank working at the intersection of technology and public policy in Germany. Comparable to TSB on policy-tech advisory, AI governance, and Berlin-based civic-tech thought leadership, though focused on policy research rather than deployment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/technologiestiftung
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXKw3_0L2rqLpz94L7YwFqg
• Facebookfacebook.com/3654871
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/technologiestiftung
• Instagraminstagram.com/technologiestiftung
• Xx.com/TSBBerlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Technologiestiftung Berlin