Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

What Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries does

The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) is a publicly funded, non-profit research institute headquartered in Berlin at Müggelseedamm 310, with a secondary research site at Lake Stechlin in Brandenburg. It operates as a member of the Leibniz Association and within the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., and is described as Germany's largest research center for inland waters. The institute conducts research on the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the impacts of global environmental change, organized across five disciplinary departments — Ecohydrology and Biogeochemistry; Ecology of Communities and Ecosystems; Plankton and Microbial Ecology; Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture; and Evolutionary and Integrative Ecology — and integrated through four cross-disciplinary program areas.

IGB's core technology and product stack combines large-scale physical research infrastructure with data platforms. Physical assets include the LakeLab mesocosm facility in Lake Stechlin, the River Lab on the Tagliamento, fish and invertebrate husbandry facilities, chemistry and isotope laboratories, and molecular genetics and genomics laboratories, supported by remote sensing, sensor technology, and AI-assisted image analysis. Data and software assets include the Freshwater Information Platform (FIP), the Freshwater Research and Environmental Database (FRED), Hydrography90m, GeoNode, GeoFRESH, and the Global Freshwater Biodiversity Atlas, together with a long-term monitoring network covering 18 rivers and lakes in North-East Germany. Outputs include 7,662 scientific publications and 151 active/completed research projects.

IGB is funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Berlin on a 50/50 basis, supplemented by EU, national, and international research grants; it does not operate commercial pricing and distributes outputs (publications, manuals, data, consultation) free of charge. Its stakeholder groups include the scientific community, government and regulatory bodies, NGOs and environmental organizations, schools and educational institutions, industry partners, and media; engagement occurs through open-access publishing, conferences, expert consultation, knowledge transfer, and public outreach rather than traditional go-to-market channels.

Name

Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries

Legal name

Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei (IGB) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.

Website

https://igb-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) is Germany's largest publicly funded freshwater research institute, conducting ecosystem, biodiversity, and fisheries research across five departments using unique mesocosm infrastructure, long-term monitoring data, and open-access data platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freshwater Ecology Research

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Aquaculture (11251), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC), Water Sampling, Testing & Laboratory Analysis (Legionella/Microbiology) (BPABAJAB), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Freshwater ecology research
• Inland fisheries science
• Aquatic ecosystem studies
• Biodiversity conservation research
• Hydrography data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Funded by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Berlin, each contributing 50% of research costs. As a member of the Leibniz Association and Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., core funding comes from federal and state government allocations, supplemented by project-based research grants from EU, national, and international funding bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IGB conducts fundamental and applied research on the structure, functioning, biodiversity and ecosystem services of inland waters and their responses to global change. It operates as Germany's largest freshwater research centre, delivering open-access research data platforms (Freshwater Information Platform, FRED, Hydrography90m, GeoNode, GeoFRESH, Global Freshwater Biodiversity Atlas) and unique large-scale experimental infrastructure (LakeLab in Lake Stechlin, River Lab in the Tagliamento, chemistry/isotope laboratories, fish facilities, molecular genetics labs, and long-term monitoring of 18 rivers and lakes). Its outputs include expert policy advice, publications, and educational materials for government, scientific community, NGOs, schools, industry, and media stakeholders.

Product overview

The Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) operates as Germany's largest freshwater research center with a multi-platform data infrastructure. The core products include the Freshwater Information Platform (FIP), FRED (Freshwater Research and Environmental Database), Hydrography90m dataset, GeoNode geodata archive, GeoFRESH online platform, and the Global Freshwater Biodiversity Atlas. These platforms are complemented by extensive research infrastructure including the LakeLab in Lake Stechlin, River Lab in the Tagliamento, chemistry and isotope laboratories, fish facilities, molecular genetics labs, and long-term monitoring stations across 18 rivers and lakes. The institute also produces publications and guides such as the IGB Manual for lake management. IGB's research infrastructure is integrated into international programs and supports both internal and external researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freshwater Information Platform (FIP) Open-access network platform for freshwater research that provides current research information and a range of research resources and tools for assessing and managing freshwater ecosystems, with a focus on Europe and a global perspective.
• Freshwater Research and Environmental Database (FRED) IGB's open-access environmental database providing access to its research data to all users.
• Hydrography90m Dataset Globally complete, standardized hydrographic network dataset providing comprehensive global hydrological data.
• GeoNode IGB's geodata archive providing spatial data management and visualization capabilities.
• GeoFRESH Online platform for processing river geodata, supporting spatial freshwater data processing workflows.
• Global Freshwater Biodiversity Atlas Global atlas providing biodiversity mapping data for biological diversity in rivers, lakes and wetlands.
• Global Database of Biological Field Stations Information platform covering approximately 1,300 biological field stations worldwide.
• IGB LakeLab (Seelabor) Large-scale experimental facility in Lake Stechlin, Brandenburg, with circular mesocosms for studying the effects of global environmental change on lakes.
• River Lab (Tagliamento) Field laboratory located in the Tagliamento River supporting river ecosystem research.
• Chemistry and Isotope Laboratories Laboratories for chemical analysis, biogeochemistry, laser isotopes, and isotope ratio mass spectrometry supporting IGB research.
• Fish Facilities Fish husbandry facilities supporting aquaculture, ecophysiology, biodiversity and behavioural research.
• Molecular Genetics and Genomics Laboratories Laboratories, equipment and expertise for molecular and genomic analyses including Omics methods.
• Long-term Monitoring Network Long-term monitoring of 18 rivers and lakes in North-East Germany providing continuous environmental data.
• Research Data Management Platform Competence and Technology Platform (CTP) supporting efficient organisation of, and access to, IGB's research data.
• IGB Manual: Help for Lakes in Poor Condition Freely available IGB guide providing first orientation and practical advice for those affected when lakes appear to be out of balance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7662 scientific publications produced, with approximately half published in open access
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Freie Universität Berlin (FUB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Opened new collaborative building for biodiversity research on the Dahlem research campus on June 30, 2026. Eight research groups from FUB and IGB work together under one roof in this joint facility, representing a major infrastructure investment and long-term collaborative commitment.
• Alliance for Freshwater Life (AFL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterdisciplinary network of scientists, conservation experts, educators, policy experts, creatives, and engaged citizens working to improve protection and sustainable use of freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. Contact: Sonja Jähnig and Michael T. Monaghan.
• AlterNetmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings together international natural and social scientists from 21 European countries to deepen understanding of biodiversity, ecosystems, and their services, creating a platform for dialogue with policymakers and the public. Contact: Sonja Jähnig.
• AQUACOSMmajorTechnology or IntegrationEU network of mesocosm facilities for marine and freshwater ecosystem research, open to global collaboration. Over 60 different mesocosm facilities across Europe representing aquatic ecosystems from subarctic to Mediterranean, freshwater to marine, and ultra-oligotrophic to hyper-eutrophic conditions. Contacts: Stella A. Berger and Jens C. Nejstgaard.
• Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates innovative science through high-resolution sensor data sharing and interpretation to understand, predict, and communicate the role and response of lakes in a changing global environment. Global network of instrumented lake buoys. Contacts: Jens C. Nejstgaard and Sabine Wollrab.
• Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoal is to provide knowledge to address the fundamental global challenge of rapid biodiversity change. Integrates competencies in ecology, evolution, social and political sciences across four universities and five Leibniz Association institutes. Contacts: Mark O. Gessner, Hans-Peter Grossart, and Jonathan Jeschke.
• Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity (LFN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBundles and networks expertise of 18 Leibniz institutions in environmental, life, spatial, social, and economic sciences. Pioneer in developing global and regional models in climate and land use, with comprehensive expertise in molecular biodiversity genomics.
• Leibniz Research Network 'Integrated Earth System Research' (iESF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelops innovative principles of integrated Earth system research, examining oceans and their use, biodiversity, environmental migration, urban-rural relations, and bioeconomy potential from an Earth system perspective.
• Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur (NFDI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFDI consolidates all data from publicly funded research projects in Germany, preparing and sharing them. IGB participates in three thematic consortia. Contacts: Sami Domisch and Hans-Peter Grossart.
• International Society of Limnology (SIL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1922 with 1250 members from 70 countries. Integrates research-based knowledge into practical questions of freshwater resource use. Contacts: Thomas Mehner and Martin Pusch.
• Leibniz-Gemeinschaft (Leibniz Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGB is a member of the Leibniz Association, a network of non-university research institutions. Provides institutional framework, funding support, and research coordination across 70+ Leibniz institutes.
• Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. (FVB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGB is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V., an association of research institutes providing shared administrative services and institutional support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI): SMHI is Sweden's government agency for meteorology, climatology, and hydrology, operating extensive water-quality monitoring networks. Comparable to IGB for its freshwater monitoring infrastructure and hydrological data services, though it operates primarily in Sweden and is government-administration-focused.

Direct peers

• Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology): Eawag is Switzerland's federal institute for aquatic science and technology, conducting research on freshwater ecosystems, water resources, and aquatic ecology. It is the closest direct peer to IGB given the shared federal research-institute model, freshwater focus, and combination of basic research with applied water-management consulting for government and industry.
• Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE): SYKE is a Finnish government research institute operating under the Ministry of the Environment, focused on water ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental data. Comparable to IGB for its freshwater ecosystem research, environmental monitoring networks, and policy advisory function.
• UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH): UKCEH is a UK public research center covering hydrology, freshwater ecology, and environmental monitoring with extensive long-term datasets and experimental infrastructure. It is highly comparable to IGB in mission, funding model (public-sector research), and the integration of monitoring networks with ecosystem research.
• Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): UFZ is a German Helmholtz Association research center focused on environmental research including freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, and integrated water resource management. Comparable to IGB for its scale, public funding model, and integrated environmental science approach.
• Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA): NIVA is Norway's leading water research institute conducting applied and basic research on freshwater, coastal, and marine environments. It is directly comparable to IGB in its freshwater-research focus, public-sector funding model, and combination of monitoring, ecological research, and policy advisory services.
• Deltares: Deltares is a Dutch applied research institute focused on water, subsurface, and infrastructure with extensive expertise in water quality, hydrology, and applied water management. It is comparable to IGB for its applied freshwater and water-quality research and its consulting role for government and policy.

Broad incumbents

• Senckenberg Society for Nature Research: Senckenberg is a major German natural-history research society conducting biodiversity and ecosystem research including freshwater studies. Comparable to IGB for its biodiversity research mission and Leibniz Association membership, though it covers a much broader taxonomic and ecosystem scope.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU): SLU is a major Swedish public university with significant freshwater ecology, fisheries, and aquaculture research capacity. Comparable to IGB particularly through its Department of Aquatic Resources, though it is a broader institution with extensive additional agricultural and forestry programs.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): IIASA is an Austria-based international research institute conducting systems-analysis work on environment, water, and sustainability topics. Comparable to IGB for its environmental research, international network participation, and policy advisory role, though IIASA operates at a broader systems level rather than freshwater-specific.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LeibnizIGB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leibniz-igb
• Xx.com/LeibnizIGB
• Facebookfacebook.com/IGB.Berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries