BGR

What BGR does

BGR (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe / Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources) is a German federal agency (Bundesanstalt) under the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), headquartered in Hannover and employing approximately 800 staff across research, field operations and regulatory functions. Founded in 1958, BGR delivers scientific advising, research, and data products to the German Federal Government and federal ministries on geosciences, raw materials, groundwater, soil, nuclear-test ban verification, geohazards, and radioactive waste repository siting. Its core technology stack comprises helicopter-based geophysical surveying, geodata and remote sensing infrastructure, research laboratories, geological sampling and drilling, geoscientific collections, polar logistics, and the National Polar Sample Archive (NAPA). Product portfolio is data and publication-led rather than software-led: the BGR Geoportal for searching/viewing/downloading national and international geodata; the GRUVO web tool providing nationwide groundwater level forecasts to 2100; annual BGR Energiedaten and biennial Energiestudien publications; plus commodity briefs, raw materials fact sheets, situation reports and thematic maps - all provided free of charge under its federal mandate.

BGR operates a non-commercial revenue model funded entirely through federal budget allocation, with all publications, data products and tools free at point of use. Its GTM is institutional rather than commercial: scientific publications, the BGR Geoportal, GRUVO, public press releases, newsletters, the BGR YouTube channel (GeoChannelBgrLbeg) and LinkedIn presence, plus international technical cooperation projects. Customer segments include the German Federal Government and federal ministries (BMWK, BMWi), German industry via DERA (Deutsche Rohstoffagentur - BGR's mineral resources competence center), German EU-importers of conflict minerals subject to DEKSOR oversight under EU Regulation 2017/821, partner-country governments in technical cooperation (e.g., Indonesia), the scientific community, and the general public. Distribution is direct institutional via web portals, email, events and conferences - with no commercial sales motion.

A strategically significant layer is BGR's regulatory and international role: DEKSOR (Deutsche Kontrollstelle EU-Sorgfaltspflichten in Rohstofflieferketten) was designated by the German government as the competent member state authority for EU Regulation 2017/821 on conflict mineral supply chain due diligence and has been conducting risk-based compliance controls on German EU-importers since Q1 2022; BGR holds two active International Seabed Authority (ISA) deep-sea exploration licenses (manganese nodules, equatorial NE Pacific 2006–2026; massive sulfides, central Indian Ocean 2015–2030); and BGR participates in the GSEU (Geological Service for Europe) project (2022–2027) supporting the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. These statutory, regulatory and license-backed roles - rather than a competitive commercial product - constitute BGR's structural position.

Name

BGR

Legal name

Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe

Website

https://bgr.bund.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

BGR (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources) is a German federal government institute under BMWK providing geoscientific research, raw materials advising, groundwater forecasting, and polar research to the German Federal Government, federal ministries, and German industry. It holds Germany's only International Seabed Authority deep-sea exploration licenses and operates DEKSOR, the competent German authority for EU conflict minerals supply chain due diligence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geoscientific Research and Government Advisory

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain Sustainability & Responsible Sourcing (SMETA, supplier ESG) (EUAHAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supplier Engagement & Value-Chain Decarbonization Programs (EUABAKAE), GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC)

Keywords

• Geoscientific research services
• Mineral resources data
• Groundwater forecasting
• Energy raw materials
• Geological survey

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: BGR is a German Federal Institute (Bundesanstalt) funded by the German Federal Government. It operates as a non-revenue-generating public institution providing research, advisory services, and public data products at no cost to the German government and public. Revenue is derived entirely from federal budget allocations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BGR is a German federal government research institute that conducts geoscientific research and provides policy advice on raw materials, groundwater, energy, soil, subsurface use, nuclear test ban verification, and geohazards. It delivers a portfolio of free public data products including the BGR Geoportal (geodata access), GRUVO (groundwater level forecasts to 2100), BGR Energy Data, BGR Energy Studies, Commodity TopNews, Raw Materials Fact Sheets, and the German Raw Materials Situation Report. Through its sub-brand DERA it serves as the German Mineral Resources Agency for industry consulting, and through DEKSOR it operates as the German inspection body enforcing EU Regulation 2017/821 on conflict minerals supply chain due diligence.

Product overview

BGR (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe / Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources) is a German federal government research institute, not a commercial software product company. Its offering consists of a portfolio of research publications, data services, and web tools rather than a unified software platform. The core products include: the BGR-Geoportal for searching and downloading geodata; GRUVO for groundwater level predictions; BGR Energiedaten and BGR Energiestudie for energy statistics; Commodity TopNews and Rohstoffwirtschaftliche Steckbriefe for raw materials analysis; and Rohstoffkarten for geographic mapping. The portfolio also includes sub-brands DERA (German Mineral Resources Agency) for industry consulting, and DEKSOR for EU supply chain compliance monitoring. These products are largely informational and data-focused rather than integrated software platforms, with no documented API or module architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DEKSOR: Deutsche Kontrollstelle EU-Sorgfaltspflichten in Rohstofflieferketten - German inspection body for EU due diligence obligations in raw material supply chains, established within BGR
• DERA
• GRUVO
• BGR Geoportal

Products and services

• BGR-Geoportal A web-based geoportal allowing users to search, view, and download national and international geodata from fields including soil, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, groundwater, and raw materials, as well as scientific publications from BGR. Also lists specialized internet applications offered by BGR.
• GRUVO Groundwater Forecasting Tool A web tool providing nationwide groundwater level forecasts up to the year 2100, offering seasonal and long-term predictions for groundwater levels across Germany.
• BGR Energiedaten (Energy Data) Annual data and facts publication covering worldwide availability, production, import and export of energy raw materials including fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. A classified and evaluated extract of BGR's energy raw materials database.
• BGR Energiestudie (Energy Study) Biennial publication presenting data on worldwide energy raw materials supply and trade in natural gas, petroleum, nuclear fuels, and coal, as well as information on global renewable energy generation including geothermal and hydrogen.
• Commodity TopNews Periodic publications covering current commodity market developments, analyses, and insights on raw materials.
• Rohstoffwirtschaftliche Steckbriefe (Raw Materials Fact Sheets) Fact sheets providing overviews of specific raw materials including supply chain information, applications, and market data.
• Bericht zur Rohstoffsituation in Deutschland (Raw Materials Situation Report) Annual report on the raw materials situation in Germany, analyzing domestic production, imports, and supply security for mineral raw materials.
• Rohstoffkarten (Raw Materials Maps) Geographic and thematic maps showing raw materials deposits, production sites, and resource distribution across Germany and internationally.
• DERA (Deutsche Rohstoffagentur) The German Mineral Resources Agency, a competence center and central information and consulting platform for mineral raw materials and recycling raw materials for the German economy, operating within BGR.
• DEKSOR (Deutsche Kontrollstelle EU-Sorgfaltspflichten in Rohstofflieferketten) German control body for EU due diligence obligations in raw material supply chains, responsible for monitoring compliance of German EU importers with the EU Regulation 2017/821 on conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, gold).
• Marine Rohstoffe Newsletter Newsletter providing updates on marine mineral resources research, deep-sea mining exploration, and developments in the field.

Quantifiable outcome

• BGR holds deep-sea exploration licenses in two international seabed areas: manganese nodules (equatorial NE Pacific, license 2006–2026) and massive sulfides (central Indian Ocean, license 2011–2030)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2017BGR was designated by the German government as the competent member state authority responsible for implementing EU Regulation (2017/821) on supply chain due diligence for Union importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten, their ores, and gold from conflict and high-risk areas. BGR serves as the national authority accountable to the EU Commission for enforcement.
• Internationale Meeresbodenbehörde (ISA) - International Seabed AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica, administers all marine mineral resources in international seabed areas outside national jurisdiction. ISA has issued exploration licenses to BGR since 2001. BGR holds active exploration licenses from ISA for manganese nodules in the equatorial Northeast Pacific (since July 2006) and for massive sulfides in the central Indian Ocean (since May 2015), both under mandate from the German Federal Government.
• Staatliche Geologische Dienste der Bundesländer (State Geological Services of German Federal States)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR maintains close exchange with the State Geological Services of the German federal states and with European partners for strengthening raw material security and extraction in Germany. This networking supports Germany's domestic raw materials policy and the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
• EU-Mitgliedstaaten (EU Member States) / European PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR participates in EU-level cooperation including the GSEU (Geological Service for Europe) project (2022–2027) and coordinates with European partners on raw materials, geological data, and subsurface use to support the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and European raw materials security.
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi) / Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR provides raw materials economic advising to the BMWi and delivers BGR Energy Data and studies for the ministry's policy work. The energy data serves the raw materials economic advising of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, German industry, science, and the public.
• EU-Mengenschwellen (EU Quantity Thresholds) / EU Regulatory FrameworkcoreOthersThe EU Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1588 established quantity thresholds for Union importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten, their ores, and gold under EU Regulation (2017/821). BGR/DEKSOR uses these thresholds to determine which companies fall within the scope of mandatory due diligence obligations for compliance control purposes.
• GSEU - Geological Service for EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSEU (Geological Service for Europe) is a collaborative project (01.09.2022 – 31.08.2027) in which BGR participates to develop a European geological service for raw materials, supporting the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and European raw materials independence.
• Indonesian Government / Indonesian Authorities (Indonesische Behörden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR experts support Indonesian authorities in measures for sustainable reclamation of open-pit mines as part of technical cooperation (Technische Zusammenarbeit) between Germany and Indonesia, aiming to create new perspectives for former mining regions.
• International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP3)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR coordinates IODP3 (International Ocean Discovery Program) as part of its international cooperation activities, contributing to global deep-sea geoscientific research and ocean drilling initiatives.
• International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) National CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR coordinates the IUGS National Committee as part of its international cooperation and scientific networking activities, connecting German geoscience with the global geological sciences community.
• Research Institutes and State Geological/Mining Services GloballyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR's ore deposit research (Lagerstättenforschung) is conducted globally, typically in cooperation with research institutes and state geological and mining services. Ore deposit research focuses on complex deposits of economically strategic and critical raw materials.
• Weltenergierat Deutschland e.V. (World Energy Council Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGR is a member of the editorial group 'Energie für Deutschland' (Energy for Germany) of the World Energy Council Germany (WEC), contributing to the annual energy outlook publication.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): U.S. federal geoscience agency conducting geological surveys, mineral resource assessments, energy and water research. Closest international analogue to BGR in mandate, scale, and product portfolio, including national mineral assessments analogous to BGR Energy Data.
• Geological Survey of Finland (GTK): Finnish geological survey conducting mineral resource assessments, bedrock and soil mapping, and providing industrial raw materials expertise. Functional peer in mineral intelligence and EU-level geological data cooperation.
• Natural Resources Canada / Geological Survey of Canada (NRCan/GSC): Canadian federal geoscience agency under NRCan, delivering national geological mapping, mineral and energy resource assessments, and groundwater science. Closest North American peer to BGR in scope and federal mandate.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières): France's national geological survey combining research, mineral resource assessment, and applied geoscience services. Operates as a public institution with industry-facing consulting, comparable to BGR's DERA function and federal advisory role.
• British Geological Survey (BGS): UK's principal geoscience organization under UKRI/Natural Environment Research Council, providing national geological mapping, mineral resource data, and groundwater research. Direct functional peer to BGR in data products, groundwater modelling, and minerals intelligence.
• Geoscience Australia: Australian government's geoscience agency providing national geological mapping, mineral resource assessments, and groundwater data. Comparable peer given similar mineral-resource advisory mandate and public-good data products.
• Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU): Swedish authority for geological surveys, mineral resources information, and groundwater management. Shares BGR's mandate of providing national geoscience data for policy and industry, including mineral supply analyses.
• GEUS (De Nationale Geologiske Undersøgelser for Danmark og Grønland): Geological survey of Denmark and Greenland with similar responsibilities in mineral resources, groundwater, energy data, and polar research. Direct peer given overlap with BGR's polar and raw materials mandates.
• Geologische Bundesanstalt (GBA): Austrian federal geological survey covering national geological mapping, mineral resources, groundwater, and geohazards. Closest German-speaking peer to BGR in mandate, federal structure, and product set.

Broad incumbents

• European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) / GSEU consortium: Pan-European geological data infrastructure project building a federated Geological Service for Europe in which BGR participates. Comparable as the supranational aggregator and coordinator of the same kind of national geoscience data BGR produces.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GeoChannelBgrLbeg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bgr-bund
• Xx.com/bgr_bund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 BGR