What German Technology & Engineering Cooperation does

German Technology & Engineering Cooperation (GTEC) is a private professional services firm founded by CEO Karlheinz Zuerl, delivering interim management, executive consulting, and training to Western industrial companies — predominantly automotive suppliers and machinery manufacturers — operating in China, Southeast Asia, and broader BRICS+ markets. The company operates a network-based delivery model combining a lean core team of consultants and interim managers with a wider bench of freelance experts, enabling on-site engagement at client facilities across Shanghai, Suzhou, and a newer Chiang Mai hub. Its service portfolio spans cost reduction (ECOCUT™ tooling optimization), product authentication (DATADOTDNA® microdots), lean automation consulting, ESG regulatory compliance (CSRD/ESRS/LKSG/CBAM), and the Profit Growth Academy online training platform.

GTEC's business model blends professional services billing (consulting at $300/hour, project-based interim manager placements), subscription training revenue (Profit Growth Academy), a crowdfunding/investment platform with tiered returns of 6%–66%, and a real estate arm that owns and trades serviced apartments, offices, and villas in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Chiang Mai. Proprietary brand assets include ECOCUT™, DATADOTDNA®, and LEANFLOW AI (a Lean + AI agent framework). The company extends its reach via the BRICS Project Network, an international referral ecosystem of consultants across roughly 15+ country clusters, and through partnerships with United Interim and Steinbeis Augsburg Business School, where the CEO was awarded Expert of the Year 2024. Reference clients include BMW, Bosch, GM, Siemens, Hella, Schaeffler, Valeo, and ZF. Recent strategic moves include the 2025 joint takeover of SENIOTOPIA Holding Ltd. Hong Kong, the launch of the BRICS Project Network, and the 2024 opening of a Chiang Mai regional hub.

Name

German Technology & Engineering Cooperation

Legal name

The Things We Do PR, LLC (d/b/a Company GTEC)

Website

https://gtec.asia

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GTEC is a private professional services firm providing interim management, consulting, and training to Western automotive and industrial companies operating in Asia and BRICS+ markets, led by founder Karlheinz Zuerl from a Shanghai base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting Services

NAICS

Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process Mapping & Improvement (SIPOC, VSM, BPM) (EDABAKAG), Enterprise Applications & ERP/CRM (SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Workday) (EDABAFAJ), Product Operations & Lifecycle Management (Launch, GTM, Sunset) (EDABAHAI)

Keywords

• Interim management services
• Cost reduction consulting
• Profit growth consulting
• Lean manufacturing consulting
• Industrial automation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schneckenlohe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interim Management Services: GTEC provides interim managers (General Managers, Operations Managers, Plant Managers, etc.) to companies in China, Asia, and BRICS countries on a project basis. Interim managers are placed at client sites to deliver specific outcomes such as turnaround, restructuring, profit growth, business development, and operational improvements. Revenue is earned per project/engagement.
2. Executive Consulting & Training: Management consulting, business development advisory, and training programs delivered through the Profit Growth Academy. Includes webinars, master programs, and on-site training for companies and universities.
3. Investment & Crowdfunding Platform: GTEC offers commission-based multi-level crowdfunding investment opportunities targeting hidden champions worldwide, with returns ranging from 6% to 66% depending on deposit size and risk profile. GTEC also acts as a business angel investing in startups.
4. Real Estate Services: GTEC owns and rents/sells properties in Shanghai (Hongqiao Hub), Suzhou, and Chiang Mai (Thailand) to Western companies and individuals as serviced apartments, offices, and villas. Revenue from rental income and property sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GTEC delivers interim management, executive consulting, and training services to Western industrial companies operating in Asia and BRICS countries, focused on cost reduction and profit growth. Core deliverables include on-demand interim managers placed at client sites, technical services such as ECOCUT™ tooling cost optimization and DATADOTDNA® microdot anti-theft technology, automation/MES implementation, the Profit Growth Academy online training platform, and the BRICS Project Network for cross-border business development. The company also generates revenue from serviced real estate rentals in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Chiang Mai and an affiliate/investment program targeting hidden champions worldwide.

Product overview

GTEC (German Technology & Engineering Cooperation) is a professional services firm offering an integrated portfolio of consulting, interim management, and training services focused on cost reduction and profit growth for industrial companies operating in Asia. The core offerings include Interim Management Services (providing on-demand industry experts on a flexible, pay-to-use basis), Technical Services (comprising ECOCUT™ for cutting optimization, DATADOTDNA® for product authentication, Toolmaking Services, and Automation/MES Services), the Profit Growth Academy for education and training, and the BRICS Project Network for international business development. Additional services include real estate rental (serviced offices and apartments in China and Thailand) and an e-commerce platform (GTEC Shop). The company operates primarily as a service-based consultancy rather than a software product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GTEC Profit Growth Academy: Educational platform offering trainings, master programs, and investment opportunities
• GTEC Shop
• ECOCUT™
• DATADOTDNA®
• BRICS Project Network
• Profit Growth Academy

Products and services

• Interim Management Services On-demand interim management solutions delivering industry experts to client sites in China, Asia, and BRICS countries for cost reduction, profit growth, turnaround, restructuring, and operational leadership engagements on a flexible pay-to-use basis.
• ECOCUT™ Technical Service Trademarked technical service offering tooling cost reduction and machining optimization for manufacturing operations in Asia, helping companies reduce production costs in high-pressure Asian manufacturing environments.
• DATADOTDNA® Microdot Authentication Service Registered microdot technology service that makes products less attractive to thieves by enabling product identification and authentication for industrial and consumer goods.
• Toolmaking Services Tooling cost optimization service including direct payment options, tooling cost subsidies of up to 80% of tooling costs for qualifying toolmaking projects in Asia, and spare parts provision for manufacturing operations.
• Automation/MES Services Manufacturing automation and MES (Manufacturing Execution System) implementation services including robot integration for the automotive industry and supplier optimization for manufacturing clients.
• Profit Growth Academy Online academy offering training programs, master programs of excellence, webinars, and published methodologies for professional development in cost optimization, lean management, business transformation, and AI education, with registration accepting multiple currencies (RMB, HKD, USD, EUR).
• BRICS Project Network International network connecting consultants and interim managers to support Western companies in BRICS countries (and vice versa), covering management consulting, business development, project management, training, and education across China, Hong Kong, India, Southeast Asia, Middle East, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
• Rental Services (China and Thailand) Real estate services offering serviced offices and apartments for rent and sale in Shanghai (Hongqiao Hub), Suzhou (Chiang Mai serviced offices), and Chiang Mai (villas and land), serving expatriate managers, consultants, and Western companies operating in Asia.
• GTEC Shop Online shop for GTEC products and services accessible at www.gtec-shop.de, providing a digital storefront for the company's service offerings.
• Investment and Crowdfunding Platform Commission-based multi-level crowdfunding investment opportunities targeting hidden champions worldwide, with returns ranging from 6% to 66% depending on deposit size and risk profile; BRICS members receive free consultations (vs. $300/hour for non-members).

Quantifiable outcome

• Interim managers deliver up to 6x (600%) return on their cost
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United InterimcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2025United Interim is the leading community for interim managers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. GTEC (Karlheinz Zuerl) is an active member, publishes case studies and blogs on the platform, and was awarded Expert of the Year 2024 through this community. The partnership serves as a key marketing and client referral channel for GTEC's interim management services.
• Steinbeis Augsburg Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Steinbeis Augsburg Business School co-organized the Interim Management Forum 2024 where Karlheinz Zuerl was awarded Expert of the Year 2024. Karlheinz Zuerl also completed an AI course at Steinbeis in summer 2024. The school is a key educational partner for GTEC's Profit Growth Academy and professional development programs.
• HJM (Consulting Partner)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2025GTEC and HJM won a joint consulting project for ESG Reporting in Germany, completed in January 2025. HJM is a consulting partner for specific project engagements.
• SENIOTOPIA Holding Ltd. Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025GTEC and two partner companies took over SENIOTOPIA Holding Ltd. Hong Kong in equal shares. This represents a significant strategic acquisition expanding GTEC's presence in the Asian market.
• ATTA (Asia Turnaround and Transformation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Karlheinz Zuerl was accepted into the ATTA Club as an expert in corporate restructuring. ATTA (Asia Turndown and Transformation Association) provides a professional network for turnaround and transformation experts in Asia.
• BRICS Project Network PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 September 2024The BRICS Project Network is an international business network of consultants and interim managers covering China, Hong Kong, India, Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand), UAE, Iran, Brazil, South America, Mexico, Canada (USMCA), Russia, Eastern Europe, and African countries (South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt). Other experts, managers, consultants, and companies can join the network to participate in cross-border business facilitation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alvarez & Marsal: Global professional services firm best known for turnaround, restructuring, and interim management. Closest large-scale analog to GTEC's interim GM/turnaround model, particularly for distressed industrial situations in Asia.
• BearingPoint: European-origin management and technology consultancy with strong automotive and industrial practices including supply chain, ESG, and transformation work. Competes with GTEC across multiple service lines but with a global delivery model.
• Roland Berger: Top-tier European-origin strategy and operations consultancy with a strong automotive and industrial manufacturing practice and significant China/Asia presence. Competes with GTEC on enterprise transformation mandates, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Porsche Consulting: Management consultancy owned by Porsche AG specializing in automotive, industrial, and operational excellence work. Comparable customer base (BMW, Bosch, Schaeffler-adjacent OEMs and suppliers) and shares GTEC's lean/operational improvement focus, but operates at significantly greater scale globally.
• Horváth & Partners: European (German-headquartered) management consultancy specializing in performance management, transformation, and controlling for industrial clients. Comparable in DACH-centric customer focus and lean/performance orientation, though broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Atreus GmbH: Leading German provider of interim management solutions placing C-level executives into industrial clients for turnaround and transformation projects. Direct overlap with GTEC's interim management services and is listed as a reference partner on GTEC's own site.
• Höveler Holzmann Consulting: Boutique German consultancy focused on supply chain, operations, and procurement optimization for industrial clients. Direct overlap with GTEC's supply chain and cost reduction offerings for DACH manufacturing clients in Asia.
• Staufen AG: German management and lean consulting firm focused on operational excellence and transformation for industrial clients. Highly comparable to GTEC's lean management, cost reduction, and operations turnaround offerings for the same German Mittelstand and OEM customer base.

Emerging players

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with an interim management practice serving industrial clients. Comparable in placing senior executives into transformation roles, though primarily a search/advisory firm rather than a hands-on consulting practice.

Others

• United Interim: DACH-region community and marketplace platform for interim managers. Functions as both a marketing channel and a peer ecosystem for GTEC's interim management offering, having co-awarded the firm's CEO its Expert of the Year 2024 recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@automotiveinterimmanagemen8793/playlists

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 German Technology & Engineering Cooperation