What Careum does

Careum is a Swiss non-profit foundation (Careum Stiftung) headquartered in Zürich that operates an integrated healthcare education and research group across the full career lifecycle of health professionals. Its portfolio spans vocational schools (AGS EBA, FaGe EFZ, MPT EFZ) and five higher vocational schools (HF) in nursing, biomedical analytics, radiology, surgical technology, and dental hygiene — operated under mandate from Canton Zürich — as well as Careum Hochschule Gesundheit, the health department of Kalaidos Fachhochschule Schweiz, which delivers Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing programs and continuing education (MAS/DAS/CAS/SAS). Careum Weiterbildung AG, based in Aarau, runs the leading continuing education program for healthcare and social-services professionals in German-speaking Switzerland across seven thematic areas.

Careum's commercial and research engine is built around Careum Verlag (publishing, learning materials, and the Sphere/Navira AI learning coach launched in 2025), Edubase (a B2B e-book platform for educational institutions), Careum Zentrum für Gesundheitskompetenz (health literacy research, including the national HLS-CH survey commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health), and Careum Dentalhygiene (a training clinic). Revenue is generated through government-mandated educational programs (subscription-recurring), tuition and continuing-education fees (CHF-denominated, modular and installment pricing), publishing and e-book sales (unit pricing with volume discounts for schools), research contracts with federal/cantonal authorities and foundations, and auditorium and room rentals in Zürich and Aarau (commercial venue hire). In FY2025, the group reported consolidated revenue of CHF 60.9 million across approximately 320 FTE employees, serving roughly 2,917 enrolled students and 6,200+ continuing education participants.

The organization runs on a Microsoft Azure (Switzerland Nord/Zürich) cloud stack, with Drupal 10 CMS, Shopware 6 e-commerce, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Brevo email, and a swiss moonshot AG-built chatbot called Carea. Distribution is almost exclusively direct and Switzerland-domestic: enrollment is funneled through institutional info events (Infoveranstaltungen) and self-serve Microsoft Bookings appointments, while learning materials are sold through the careum.ch/shop storefront and Edubase. Careum operates from five Zürich sites (Plattenstrasse headquarters, Gloriastrasse 16/18a vocational and university campuses, Pergamin Manegg, Minverastrasse dental clinic) plus the Aarau continuing-education campus, and runs flagship events including the Careum Forum, Führungstagung (~400 attendees annually), Impuls, Pflegesymposium, and Summer School.

Name

Careum

Legal name

Careum Stiftung

Website

https://careum.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Careum is a Swiss non-profit foundation operating vocational schools, a nursing university of applied sciences, continuing education, healthcare publishing, and health literacy research, primarily serving healthcare and social-services professionals in German-speaking Switzerland under mandate from Canton Zürich.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Academic Medical Centers & Teaching Hospitals (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAGAA), Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF), Health Sciences & Nursing (EDAGABAF), Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC), Healthcare & Medical Licensure Exam Prep (USMLE/COMLEX, NCLEX, Dentistry, Pharmacy, PA) (EDANAIAA), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ)

Keywords

• Healthcare education
• Nursing vocational training
• Continuing professional development
• Healthcare publishing
• Health literacy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vocational and Higher Education (Careum Bildungszentrum): Operates vocational schools (Berufsfachschule, Sekundarstufe II) and Higher Vocational Schools (Höhere Fachschulen) on behalf of Canton Zürich. Revenue from government-mandated educational programs.
2. Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences): Careum Hochschule Gesundheit is the health department of Kalaidos Fachhochschule Schweiz. Offers Bachelor and Master degrees in Nursing as well as continuing education (MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS modules).
3. Continuing Education: Careum Weiterbildung offers a comprehensive range of continuing education for specialist and management professionals in health and social services in German-speaking Switzerland. Offerings include Leadership & Management, Nursing & Care, Medicine & Pharmacy, Age & Society, Consulting & Teaching, Care Gastronomy & Hospitality, and federal exam preparation courses.
4. Publishing and Learning Materials (Careum Verlag): Careum Verlag develops and produces learning materials for health and social professions and publishes non-fiction books on health topics. Sales through the careum.ch/shop e-commerce platform. Print and e-book bundles available. Educational institutions receive volume discounts.
5. Auditorium and Room Rentals: Careum Auditorium in Zürich and rooms in Aarau (Aula, group rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms) are rented out for events. Technical support, event services, and catering are additional revenue streams.
6. Research Contracts: Careum conducts research on health literacy, health system strengthening, and healthcare topics. Projects are commissioned by government bodies (BAG, cantonal authorities), foundations, and international organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Careum operates a comprehensive healthcare education group providing vocational training (Berufsfachschule, Höhere Fachschulen), university-level nursing degrees (Bachelor/Master of Science in Nursing), continuing education for healthcare professionals, and publishing of specialized learning materials. The foundation delivers these services through five core divisions — Careum Bildungszentrum, Careum Hochschule Gesundheit, Careum Weiterbildung, Careum Verlag, and Edubase — with revenue from government-mandated programs, tuition, publication sales, and research contracts.

Product overview

Careum is a not-for-profit foundation operating a diversified educational group focused on healthcare. The portfolio consists of five core educational divisions: Careum Bildungszentrum (vocational schools at secondary and tertiary B levels, offering programs including AGS EBA, FAGE EFZ, MPT EFZ, and five HF programs in nursing, biomedical analytics, radiology, operating technology, and dental hygiene), Careum Hochschule Gesundheit (university of applied sciences department offering BSc and MSc in Nursing and continuing education), Careum Weiterbildung (continuing education for specialists and leaders in German-speaking Switzerland), and Careum Verlag (publishing of learning materials for healthcare professions with an AI-powered learning coach brand called Sphere, including the Navira product integrated into FaBe learning materials). Supporting units include the Zentrum für Gesundheitskompetenz (health literacy research and practice), Careum Dentalhygiene (dental hygiene clinic), and Edubase (e-book platform for educational institutions). Careum Campus also provides venue rental facilities including a recently modernized auditorium in Zurich.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• capito: Easy-to-understand language services and training for barrier-free communication
• Sphere
• Navira
• InfoCure
• Careum Forum
• Careum Führungstagung
• Careum Impuls
• Careum Pflegesymposium
• Careum Summer School

Products and services

• Careum Bildungszentrum Vocational and Higher Vocational Education Vocational education institution operating on behalf of Canton Zürich, offering three secondary-level vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen) and five higher vocational schools (Höhere Fachschulen HF) for healthcare professions. Programs include Assistant of Health and Social Services (AGS EBA), Specialist in Healthcare (FAGE EFZ), Medical Device Technologist (MPT EFZ), HF Nursing, HF Biomedical Analytics, HF Medical-Technical Radiology, HF Operating Technology, and HF Dental Hygiene.
• Careum Hochschule Gesundheit University Programs University of applied sciences department (Fachbereich Gesundheit der Kalaidos Fachhochschule Schweiz) offering bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing science, along with a broad portfolio of continuing education programs (MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS, and individual modules). New specialization in Geriatrie launched autumn 2025.
• Careum Weiterbildung Continuing Education

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ learners educated over 20 years across all programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration26 records

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bertelsmann StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBertelsmann Stiftung collaborates with Careum Zentrum für Gesundheitskompetenz and Gesundheit Österreich GmbH on the InfoCure project, developing an international certification system for digital health information providers to combat misinformation and strengthen trustworthy health content.
• Gesundheit Österreich GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developing the InfoCure international certification system for digital health information alongside Careum and Bertelsmann Stiftung.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareum Hochschule Gesundheit is the health department of Kalaidos FH. Careum contributes to degree programs in nursing (Bachelor, Master), continuing education (MAS/DAS/CAS/SAS), and conducts joint research projects.
• gfs.berncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolling and research institute commissioned by Careum for the Health Literacy Survey Switzerland 2025–2027, conducted on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (BAG).
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner with Careum Hochschule Gesundheit on the SNF-funded TEEN LIT project to assess and strengthen digital health literacy among Swiss adolescents.
• Universität Zürich – Institut für Epidemiologie, Biostatistik und Prävention (EBPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in multiple projects including the Ambulatory Patient Letter project (under Gesundheitskompetenz Zürich program) and the Selbstcheck GKO organizational health literacy project.
• Universität Balgrist – WirbelsäulenzentrumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractice partner providing development, piloting, and evaluation support for the digital patient letter solution for chronic back pain patients developed under the Gesundheitskompetenz Zürich program.
• Gesundheitsförderung SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funding and strategic partner in multiple health literacy projects including the Selbstcheck GKO 2.0, the ambulatory patient letter, and projects under the Gesundheitskompetenz Zürich program.
• Spitex ZürichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractice partner in the Selbstcheck GKO 1.0 project, piloting the organizational health literacy self-assessment tool in home care settings.
• Kanton Zürich (Gesundheitsdirektion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioner and co-funder of the Gesundheitskompetenz Zürich program, within which Careum contributes to multiple health literacy and patient communication projects.
• Gesundheitsnetz 360°minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Careum's 'Social Prescription in General Practice' project, recognizing its model for integrating social determinants into primary care. Joint development of the intervention with practice partners.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz): Swiss UAS with a Hochschule für Life Sciences and nursing programs in northwestern Switzerland. Direct competitor for healthcare professional students and faculty in German-speaking regions.
• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH): Swiss UAS with health/nursing and allied health programs across Bern and Biel. Closely comparable in scope (vocational through UAS), target market (German-speaking Switzerland), and degree offerings.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften): Swiss University of Applied Sciences with a Department of Health Professions offering BSc/MSc in Nursing, midwifery, and physiotherapy. Most direct competitor to Careum Hochschule Gesundheit in the Zürich catchment, competing for students, faculty, and research grants.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule Schweiz: Private Swiss UAS under which Careum Hochschule Gesundheit operates its degree programs. Strategic partner and structural peer in private Swiss higher education, with a similar multi-department model across health, business, and music.

Regional players

• HES-SO (Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale): UAS umbrella for French-speaking Switzerland offering nursing, physiotherapy, and allied health degrees. Operates the same business model in a different linguistic region, making it a structural parallel to Careum rather than a direct competitor for students.

Emerging players

• SRH Hochschule Gesundheit (Germany): Private German health-focused university of applied sciences offering nursing and therapy degrees. Comparable business model (private UAS, healthcare-only focus) but in a different regulatory jurisdiction; represents an international model Careum could mirror.

Others

• Universität Zürich – Universitäre Medizin: Academic medical center and teaching hospital affiliated with Universität Zürich. Overlaps with Careum in research collaboration (multiple joint projects) and in producing the health workforce, but at a research-university tier rather than applied sciences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrgOHl5ElXoZAErqQ3WnPdA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/careum
• Instagraminstagram.com/careumgruppe
• Xx.com/CareumCH

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Careum