Institute for Underground Infrastructure

What Institute for Underground Infrastructure does

IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure gGmbH is a neutral, independent, non-profit research and testing institute founded in 1994 and headquartered in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, with an additional contact presence in Arnhem, Netherlands. It is supported by more than 150 German municipalities including Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg. IKT conducts applied research, material testing, CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe) liner quality testing, consultations, and professional seminars focused on the construction, operation, and renovation of underground sewer and conduit infrastructure. Its primary customers are operators of public and private sewer networks, with secondary customer groups including product manufacturers, rehabilitation companies, certified consultants, and courts requiring expert appraisals.

IKT operates three accredited test centres: the DIBt-accredited Test Centre for Construction Products (accreditation D-PL-18196-01-00), the nationally accredited Test Centre for Flow Measurements (under SüwV-kom NRW), and the DIBt-designated Test Centre for Stormwater. The institute runs a CIPP Liner Test Centre that performs approximately 4,000 quality tests per year on four standardized criteria (wall thickness, modulus of elasticity, flexural strength, water tightness), publishing results in the annual IKT LinerReport (17 editions since 2003). Unique large-scale physical infrastructure includes a Heavy Rain Testing Facility simulating up to 1,000 L/s/hectare rainfall (€11M project, >€9M EU/NRW funded), an IKT Jacking Simulator (ND 1600), and a custom MAC/Mini-MAC system for non-destructive assessment of large-diameter pipes. IKT also hosts KomNetGEW (65 municipal network operators), KomNetAbwasser (~60 wastewater network owners), the Sewer Operators Forum, and two formal industry associations, supported by an active program of international conferences, webinars, and the IKT Master Course in Amsterdam and Paris.

IKT generates revenue from four professional-services streams: (1) fee-for-service testing and laboratory work (CIPP, construction products, flow measurements, comparative product testing); (2) applied research projects funded by municipalities, government bodies (EU, NRW), and industry clients with steering-group governance; (3) advanced vocational training and certification (IKT Master Course, CSPE certification, Site Drainage Day, Conduit Cleaning Day); and (4) consultancy and expert appraisals for courts, municipalities, contractors, manufacturers, and engineering consultancies. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the LinerReport and newsletter are free. The institute's go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, leveraging direct engagement, biennial international conferences, participation in IFAT, the China-Europe Trenchless Technology Conference, and online seminars, with community-led engagement through its KomNet networks and membership associations.

Name

Institute for Underground Infrastructure

Legal name

IKT - Institute for Underground Infrastructure gGmbH

Website

https://ikt-online.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IKT – Institute for Underground Infrastructure is a neutral, independent, non-profit research and testing institute in Gelsenkirchen, Germany that conducts CIPP liner quality testing, material testing, applied research, and professional training for municipal sewer network operators, product manufacturers, and engineering professionals across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underground Infrastructure Testing & Research Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Engineering Services (54133), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

Keywords

• Sewer infrastructure testing
• CIPP liner testing
• Underground pipeline research
• Wastewater network consulting
• Municipal infrastructure certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelsenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Testing and Laboratory Services: Fee-for-service material testing, CIPP liner quality testing, construction product testing, and flow measurement services. IKT's Test Centre for CIPP conducts approximately 4,000 quality tests per year for network operators and rehabilitation companies. Pricing is quote-based, tailored to whether standard or expanded-scope tests are required.
2. Research Projects: Application-oriented research projects funded by network operators, municipal associations, government bodies (EU, NRW), and industry clients. Steering groups of system operators support and monitor research, with findings incorporated into services and recommendations.
3. Training and Certification: Advanced vocational training programmes including the IKT Master Course 'Sewers and Pipelines – Construction, Operation and Maintenance' offered in Amsterdam and Paris, and certification of consultants and sewer leak-tightness inspectors. Site Drainage Day and Conduit Cleaning Day events also generate training revenue.
4. Consultancy and Expert Appraisals: Fee-based consulting services including on-site analysis, feasibility studies, technical and economic assessments, expert damage assessments for courts, municipalities, building contractors, product manufacturers and engineering consultancies. Also includes consulting on implementation of legal requirements (EKVO, SüwVKan).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IKT is a neutral, independent non-profit institute that provides accredited material testing, CIPP liner quality testing, comparative product testing, research projects, expert witness assessments, and vocational training for the construction, operation and renovation of underground sewer, pipe and conduit infrastructure. Its primary customers are operators of public and private sewer/network systems, supported by product manufacturers, professional sewer specialists and courts requiring independent technical expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IKT-Association of Network Operators: Association of network operators that participate in IKT research and testing activities
• IKT-Association of Industry and Services
• KomNetGEW
• Sewer Operators Forum

Products and services

• CIPP Liner Testing Standardized short-term laboratory testing of Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) liner samples across four test criteria, delivered to municipal network operators, product manufacturers and rehabilitation companies to verify material characteristics against target specifications.
• IKT Comparative Tests Intensive product and method testing programmes comparing competing sewer and pipe products under both laboratory and field conditions, with steering groups of network operators jointly determining test methods, procedures, criteria and result assessments to ensure impartiality and practical relevance.
• DIBt Approvals & Construction Product Testing Accredited testing, supervision and certification of construction products under DIBt (German Institute for Building Technology) accreditation, providing manufacturers with regulatory approvals and product certification evidence.
• Concrete and Component Testing Laboratory testing of concrete and prefabricated components used in sewer and underground infrastructure, delivered to manufacturers, contractors and network operators.
• Plastic Materials Testing Laboratory testing of plastic materials used in sewer, pipe and conduit infrastructure, delivered to manufacturers, contractors and network operators.
• Sewer Cleaning Vehicle Check Performance testing and evaluation of sewer cleaning vehicles to support municipal network operators in equipment selection and procurement decisions.
• Flow Measurement Calibration & Testing Accredited calibration of flow-measurement and control instruments, comparative flow measurements at sewage treatment plants, stormwater tanks and reservoir channels, and detection/quantification of extraneous water, delivered to utilities and wastewater network operators.
• Heavy Rain Testing Facility Services Full-scale (1:1) heavy rainfall and urban flooding simulation research services at IKT's globally unique Heavy Rain Testing Facility, enabling studies of rainwater flow behaviour and flood protection for municipalities, utilities and researchers.
• Applied Research Projects Application-oriented commissioned research projects on sewer, pipe and underground infrastructure topics, funded by network operators, municipal associations, government bodies (EU, NRW) and industry clients, and guided by steering groups of system operators.
• Expert Witness Assessments and Consulting Fee-based consulting including on-site analysis, feasibility studies, technical and economic assessments, expert damage assessments for courts, municipalities, contractors, manufacturers and engineering consultancies, plus consulting on legal requirements (EKVO, SüwVKan).
• IKT Master Course 'Sewers and Pipelines – Construction, Operation and Maintenance' Two-day advanced vocational master course covering construction, operation and maintenance of sewers and pipelines, taught by Prof. Bert Bosseler at university level, offered in Amsterdam (April) and Paris (October) and available as in-house delivery for organisations.
• Training Seminars, Webinars and Industry Events Online seminars, webinars and industry events including Site Drainage Day and Conduit Cleaning Day, combined with virtual trade show exhibitions to disseminate research findings and provide continuing professional education for sewer and pipeline professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87.5% of CIPP liner samples passed all four test criteria in 2020 (down from higher levels in prior years), indicating quality variation in the market
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WRc plc – Water Research Centre (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKT partnered with WRc plc (Water Research Centre, Swindon, UK) as a project participant in the international research project 'Root intrusion into waste-water conduits – passive preventative measures (CP523)'. WRc manages and coordinates the project while IKT contributes technical expertise on underground infrastructure testing and assessment.
• Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSAA hosted the interim results presentation of the international LinKa – Liner for Sewers research project at its Melbourne headquarters. Project partners from Australia and New Zealand participated in the hybrid workshop to discuss findings and exchange expertise on CIPP liner performance limits.
• IKT-Association of Industry and Service (member companies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IKT-Association of Industry and Service comprises member companies that participated in the 'Innovation and Knowledge for Sewer Technology' online seminar and trade show event organised by IKT. Members included S&P Consult, Reinert-Ritz, MC-Bauchemie, Steinzeug Keramo, and Ingenieurbuero Scheer.
• Four British Sewer-System OperatorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour British sewer-system operators served as clients for the 'Root intrusion into waste-water conduits – passive preventative measures' research project. They funded the project and contributed practical requirements for passive root barrier assessment.
• KomNetAbwasser (ComNetWasteWater) – Municipal Network MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKT organises and supports KomNetAbwasser, an initiative of approximately 60 wastewater network owners. The network jointly addresses municipal wastewater disposal obligations, shares information weekly online, reviews flooding episodes, and participates in IKT research projects including the Heavy Rain Check.
• KomNetGEW – Municipal Network for Site DrainagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIKT established and leads KomNetGEW (Municipal Network for Site Drainage), comprising 65 municipal network operators focused on customer-friendly implementation of sewer leak tightness testing. Materials for PR activities and advisory services are centrally drafted and provided to all participants. The group has certified several hundred site drainage consultants and expert sewer leak-tightness inspectors.
• Tianjin University of Science and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dr. Jingguo Cao from Tianjin University of Science and Technology organised the 2024 China-Europe Conference on Pipelines and Trenchless Technology. IKT's Managing Director and Scientific Director presented research, and Chinese hosts plan a return visit to IKT in May 2024 to discuss further cooperation on sewer rehabilitation.
• Detmold District Government and North Rhine-Westphalian Environmental AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThese government bodies co-funded the Heavy Rain Check research project alongside 13 members of KomNetAbwasser. Representatives supplemented the expert panel and the NRW Environmental Agency provided project funding.
• Coventry UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoventry University collaborated with IKT on the Heavy Rain Check research project. Prof. Bert Bosseler and colleagues co-authored the paper 'Living with Urban Flooding' with Matteo Rubinato of Coventry University, published in the Water journal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• STUVA (Studiengesellschaft für unterirdische Verkehrsanlagen): German research association for underground transportation infrastructure (tunnels, subways, pipelines). Highly comparable to IKT as a German non-profit applied-research institute focused on underground infrastructure testing, standards and consulting.
• WRc plc (Water Research Centre): UK-based independent water research organisation that partnered with IKT on the 'Root intrusion into waste-water conduits' project. Operates as a comparable neutral, applied-research and testing body serving wastewater network operators in the UK and internationally.

Broad incumbents

• Kiwa: Netherlands-headquartered global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) group with significant operations in water and wastewater infrastructure. Provides accredited certification across broader TIC categories than IKT, overlapping on water/sewer testing.
• SGS: World's largest TIC company, providing infrastructure, environmental and industrial testing services globally. Overlaps with IKT on water and construction-product testing as a broad incumbent rather than a sewer-specialist.
• Bureau Veritas: France-based global TIC company providing infrastructure, water, and construction-product testing and certification. Overlaps with IKT in independent infrastructure testing but at significantly larger scale and broader industry coverage.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC giant offering infrastructure, water and construction-product testing services. Overlaps with IKT in third-party testing, certification and code-compliance services but operates across many more verticals and geographies.
• TÜV SÜD: Global TIC provider with infrastructure, water and industrial testing capabilities. Competes with IKT for accredited infrastructure testing mandates but serves a far broader portfolio of industries and services.

Others

• SKZ (Süddeutsches Kunststoff-Zentrum): German testing and research institute focused on plastics. Adjacent to IKT's plastics and CIPP liner material testing activities, supplying third-party plastics characterisation and certification that complements IKT's sewer-specific applications.
• DIBt (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik): German construction-products regulatory authority that grants IKT its DIBt accreditation and designation. Ecosystem participant rather than competitor, as DIBt oversees approvals while IKT executes the underlying testing and certification work.

Emerging players

• OFI (Österreichisches Forschungsinstitut für Chemie und Technik): Austrian research and testing institute for chemistry, plastics and materials. Comparable to IKT as a regional applied-research and material-testing body, with overlap on plastics and construction-material testing relevant to CIPP liner work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IKT_Institut
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IKTonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/IKTonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikt-institut-fuer-unterirdische-infrastruktur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute for Underground Infrastructure