CONUS

What CONUS does

CONUS (Kompetenznetz urban-industrielle Versorgung am Niederrhein / Competence Net urban-Industrial Supply) is an EFRE-funded research project launched in February 2020 and coordinated by the Zentrum für Logistik und Verkehr (ZLV) and Joint Centre Urban Systems (JUS) at the University of Duisburg-Essen, in collaboration with Hochschule Niederrhein and Hochschule Rhein-Waal. The network brings together more than 50 partners — universities, municipalities, companies, and public institutions — to develop sustainable, digital solutions for the Lower Rhine region using a Living Lab research methodology organized around four thematic labs: BioEconomy (circular economy and bioplastics), Genussregion Niederrhein (regional food marketing and e-food marketplace), AgriWear (wearable technology and computer-vision-based pest detection in agriculture), and Autonomer ÖPNV-Pilot (autonomous public transport in rural areas).

The network's technology stack combines participatory Living Lab methodology with digital platforms, notably an Open Innovation Platform and an e-food back-office system developed by technology partner zubIT, alongside wearable devices for environmental data capture in agriculture and AI-based systems for logistics optimization, route planning, demand forecasting, and predictive analytics. AI modalities span text, structured data, and multimodal (e.g., visual yellow-card analysis) inputs, supporting capabilities in process automation, computer vision, autonomous agents, optimization, and predictive analytics across the Living Labs. An associated sub-project, SmartPark-City-Hubs (SPaCiH), extends the portfolio into sustainable logistics hub concepts.

CONUS is not a commercial enterprise: its revenue model is professional-services research funding through the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE) with co-financing from the Ministry of Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia, and there are no priced products or services. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on public events (CONUS Meetups), workshops, webinars, academic publications, and direct stakeholder engagement through the four Living Labs. Customer-facing engagement spans SMB agricultural businesses (41 interviewed farms), enterprise collaborators (HelloFresh, DeltaPort), regional startups (EEDEN), municipalities, and public transport operators, all participating as research partners rather than paying customers.

Name

CONUS

Legal name

CONUS – Kompetenznetz urban-industrielle Versorgung am Niederrhein

Website

https://conus.nrw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CONUS is an EFRE-funded research competence network coordinated by the University of Duisburg-Essen that runs four Living Labs (BioEconomy, Genussregion Niederrhein, AgriWear, Autonomer ÖPNV) to develop sustainable logistics, mobility, and agricultural solutions with over 50 regional partners in the Lower Rhine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Research and Innovation Network Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Sustainable & Responsible Supply Chain (ESG, Scope 3) (BPAHAHAM), ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)

Keywords

• Regional innovation research
• Sustainable logistics networks
• Agricultural digitalization research
• Autonomous transport pilots
• Bioeconomy value chains

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. EFRE Research Funding: CONUS is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRE/NRW) with co-financing from the Ministry of Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia. This is a research grant covering project costs, personnel, and operational expenses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CONUS is a publicly funded research and innovation network that operates four thematic Living Labs in the Niederrhein region of Germany: Genussregion Niederrhein (regional food direct marketing), Autonomer ÖPNV-Pilot (autonomous public transport), AgriWear (digital agriculture with wearables and AI), and BioEconomy (bio-based value chains). It delivers applied research, pilot projects, workshops, events, and digital platforms (including an Open Innovation/e-food marketplace and SmartPark-City-Hubs logistics platform) in collaboration with regional partners.

Product overview

CONUS (Competence Network Urban-Industrial Supply at the Lower Rhine) is an EFRE-funded research network that operates as a platform combining four thematic Living Labs: Genussregion Niederrhein (regional food marketing), Autonomer ÖPNV-Pilot (autonomous public transport), AgriWear (digital agriculture with wearables), and BioEconomy (bio-based economy). The network is supported by an Open Innovation Platform and includes the SmartPark-City-Hubs (SPaCiH) initiative for sustainable logistics. The interconnected Living Labs share methodologies (Living Lab approach), personnel, and research infrastructure, with cross-cutting themes in AI applications, sustainability, and regional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Autonomer ÖPNV: Living Lab focused on autonomous public transportation in the Lower Rhine region.
• AgriWear
• BioEconomy
• Genussregion Niederrhein

Products and services

• Living Lab Genussregion Niederrhein A Living Lab focused on strengthening direct marketing of regional products and supporting small agricultural and food-processing businesses in the Lower Rhine (Niederrhein) region through digital sales, logistics optimization, pricing, and sustainable development. Target users are small and medium-sized farms and regional food producers.
• Living Lab Autonomer ÖPNV-Pilot A Living Lab investigating autonomous public transport solutions, including acceptance studies for self-driving buses and examining how automated mobility can increase social equity in rural areas. Target users are public transport operators, municipalities, and citizens in rural Lower Rhine.
• Living Lab AgriWear A Living Lab focused on digitization of agriculture in the Lower Rhine through wearable technology, AI-based plant disease and pest detection, and digital supply-chain optimization for agribusiness. Target users are regional farms, agribusinesses, and partners such as HelloFresh.
• Living Lab BioEconomy A Living Lab establishing regional bioeconomy value chains at the Lower Rhine, focusing on bioplastics, circular economy, and sustainable use of biomass and waste streams. Target users are regional companies exploring bio-based production methods, including textile recycling startups such as EEDEN.
• SmartPark-City-Hubs (SPaCiH) A logistics hub concept featuring extra-urban logistics facilities that bundle goods and shift last-mile delivery to sustainable transport modes, with a digital platform for virtual infrastructure exchange. Target users are regional logistics companies and port operators including DeltaPort GmbH & Co. KG.

Quantifiable outcome

• 435 survey respondents provided insights on autonomous bus acceptance in Kleve region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Joint Centre Urban Systems (JUS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Represents the Profilschwerpunkt Urbane Systeme at University of Duisburg-Essen since 2019. Brings interdisciplinary research activities in sustainable urban and metropolitan research. Co-responsible for Living Lab Genussregion Niederrhein and Open Innovation Platform.
• Zentrum für Logistik und Verkehr (ZLV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in the CONUS project, responsible for scientific coordination and management. Located at University of Duisburg-Essen with over 50 members from various academic departments. Focuses on logistics, mobility, and sustainable supply chain management research.
• GEMIT Institute (Hochschule Niederrhein)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Business Process Management and IT at Hochschule Niederrhein in Mönchengladbach. Focuses on applied research in logistics, IT, and human resources. Contributes to Living Labs AgriWear and BioEconomy with expertise in wearables and bio-based materials.
• Hochschule Rhein-WaalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences with campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort. Contributes to Living Lab Autonomer ÖPNV-Pilot with behavioral science research on future forms of regional public transport.
• DIALOGistik Duisburg e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience and industry platform for logistics and innovation management. Led by duisport and regional actors. Provides networking and knowledge transfer in logistics innovation, sustainable management, and qualification.
• Regionalagentur NiederrheinmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional agency that initiates and organizes cooperation between institutional actors in labor market policy. Connects labor policy goals with economic structural requirements in the Niederrhein region.
• Niederrheinische IHK Duisburg Wesel-KleveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of commerce representing approximately 69,000 member companies in industry, trade, and services in Duisburg and the Wesel and Kleve districts. Acts as economic developer and driver of structural change.
• DeltaPort GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort association including Weseler Stadthafen, Rhein-Lippe-Hafen Wesel, and Hafen Emmelsum. Develops and markets areas to port-affine companies and provides infrastructure for three port areas.
• EEDENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMönchengladbach-based textile recycling startup developing sustainable chemical recycling process for cotton-containing textiles. Partnership with Living Lab BioEconomy to identify potential and cooperation partners for innovative recycling.
• HelloFreshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin-based meal kit company founded in 2011. Collaboration in Living Lab AgriWear to analyze meal kit assembly processes and optimize production through advanced algorithms.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Kreis Kleve GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEconomic development agency connecting 16 cities and municipalities in Kleve district to strengthen economic growth and regional attractiveness through consulting and support.
• Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork for the entire value chain of agriculture and horticulture in the Niederrhein region. Goal is to strengthen competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation through exchange and cooperation.
• startport GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStartup accelerator and innovation platform. Hosted AI in Logistics event with CONUS, featuring startup pitches from companies in their program.
• Transdev GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility service provider potentially involved in autonomous public transport solutions within Living Lab Autonomer ÖPNV.
• Johannes-Rau-Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch association representing state research institutes in North Rhine-Westphalia. Co-organized events with CONUS on topics of regional mobility and sustainable development.
• zubIT (Zühlke und Bieker GmbH)majorTechnology or IntegrationSoftware developer creating logistics and warehouse management solutions. Developing e-food platform and Open Innovation platform for Living Lab Genussregion Niederrhein. Co-moderator of CONUS events.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Joanneum Research: Austrian applied research institute operating multi-disciplinary programs across mobility, logistics, and digitalization with regional funding. Comparable as a publicly funded regional research network using Living Lab methodology to bridge universities and SMEs.
• SIRRIS: Belgian collective research center running Living Lab-style programs helping SMEs adopt digital and sustainable technologies. Comparable as a regional applied research network focused on SME digitalization with EU/regional funding.
• Wageningen University & Research: Dutch university-research hybrid with strong applied Living Lab-style programs in sustainable agriculture, food systems, and bioeconomy. Directly comparable given CONUS's cross-border DE-NL cooperation and its AgriWear/BioEconomy/Genussregion Niederrhein Living Labs.
• Agrobusiness Niederrhein e.V. Stated CONUS network partner and regional agribusiness network strengthening competitiveness, sustainability, and innovation across the Niederrhein agriculture value chain. Comparable as a regional network covering the same thematic overlap (AgriWear, BioEconomy Living Labs) in the same geography.
• DIALOGistik Duisburg: Science-industry platform for logistics and innovation in Duisburg, a stated core partner of CONUS. Directly comparable as a regional logistics innovation cluster operating in the same geographic area and overlapping theme.
• German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI): Publicly funded German AI research consortium with university partners running applied AI projects in logistics, agriculture, and mobility. Comparable as a multi-university research network developing applied AI (computer vision, optimization) for industrial domains overlapping CONUS's AI capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization running cross-border programs in mobility, logistics, and circular economy. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research body operating living lab-style field experiments and cross-border DE-NL cooperation themes.
• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organization running multi-institute programs with industry partners across logistics, mobility, and production. Comparable as a publicly-funded applied research network coordinating consortia of universities, Fraunhofer institutes, and commercial partners.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research center running Living Lab-style programs in autonomous mobility, smart logistics, and bioeconomy. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research organization addressing the same thematic verticals as CONUS.

Regional players

• Region Köln/Bonn (Regionalagentur): NRW regional development agency running workforce, structural change, and innovation programs funded by EFRE/state sources. Comparable as a publicly funded NRW regional development body but operating in a different geographic region than Niederrhein.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CONUS_NRW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcfoQKKhziq8omDmNqgjrhA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conus-nrw
• Instagraminstagram.com/conus_niederrhein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CONUS