Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs

What Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs does

Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs (ECBO) is a Dutch research and knowledge institute specializing in scientifically sound, policy and practice-oriented research on secondary vocational education (mbo) and lifelong learning. The organization is headquartered in 's-Hertogenbosch, operates under the legal entity Stichting CINOP-ECBO (KvK 17162246), and serves as the central node in the Dutch vocational education and labor market knowledge infrastructure. ECBO is the national ReferNet partner for CEDEFOP and the national coordination point for EQAVET, anchoring it within the European vocational education policy architecture.

ECBO's core deliverable is commissioned research, including monitoring, evaluation, literature studies, pilot studies, focus groups, interviews, and analysis of large-scale educational databases (including DUO registration data). It publishes a freely accessible research library organized across five thematic areas: alignment of education and labor market, basic skills, student inflow/progression/outflow, teacher and trainer professionalization, and educational organization. Alongside publications, ECBO delivers knowledge-utilization products such as podcasts, webinars, interactive tools, Kennisateliers (knowledge ateliers), learning networks, the De Vliegende Brigade mobile support team, the Pre-promotietraject, the KOMPAS21 program, and the Canon beroepsonderwijs. Internationally, it contributes to CEDEFOP, OECD, and European Commission studies and is establishing the Netwerk lectoren, practoren en hoogleraren beroepsonderwijs.

ECBO's business model is professional services funded through commissioned research. Clients include Dutch government ministries (OCW, SZW), municipalities and provinces, the NRO (Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek), MBO institutions (ROCs, AOCs, vakscholen), sector organizations (MBO Raad, SBB, BVMMO), and international organizations (CEDEFOP, OECD, European Commission). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization employs 11-50 staff, predominantly PhD-qualified and Drs.-level researchers, and pursues a sales-led GTM through direct engagement with commissioning bodies, complemented by content marketing via open-access publications, newsletters, webinars, and social channels. No revenue, funding, or M&A history is publicly disclosed.

Name

Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs

Legal name

Stichting CINOP-ECBO

Website

https://ecbo.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs (ECBO) is a Dutch research institute conducting policy and practice-oriented research on vocational education and lifelong learning for the Ministry of OCW, MBO institutions, sector organizations, and international bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

's-hertogenbosch

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research and Government Contracts: ECBO conducts research commissioned by government ministries (OCW, SZW), educational institutions, sector organizations, municipalities, provinces, and international organizations like CEDEFOP, OECD, and European Commission. Work is performed in public programs and commissioned research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECBO is a research expertise center that conducts scientifically sound, policy- and practice-oriented research on secondary vocational education (mbo) and lifelong learning in the Netherlands. It delivers commissioned research, monitoring, and evaluation services using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including analysis of large-scale databases. Beyond research, ECBO disseminates knowledge through publications, podcasts, tools, webinars, knowledge ateliers, and learning networks aimed at educational practitioners and policymakers.

Product overview

ECBO (Expertisecentrum Beroepsonderwijs) is a research and knowledge center for vocational education and lifelong learning in the Netherlands. The organization does not offer a unified software product but rather provides a portfolio of knowledge products and services including research publications, podcasts, tools (interactive instruments for educators), webinars, and professional development programs. The core offerings include the freely accessible Research Publications repository organized across five thematic areas, and Knowledge Ateliers MBO (a practice-oriented research method). Additional products include learning networks, the KOMPAS21 program, Canon beroepsonderwijs, and the Pre-promotietraject for academic development. ECBO also conducts and publishes research projects on specific topics such as student success tracking (Fieldlab Studievoortgang), literacy policy monitoring (Beleidsmonitor Tel mee met Taal), digital learning in energy transition, and formative assessment toolkits. Internationally, ECBO participates in ReferNet (European VET information network) and EQAVET (European quality assurance framework).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Onderzoekspublicaties (Research Publications)

Quantifiable outcome

• Research with impact leading to individual development and school development
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 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

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEDEFOP (ReferNet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO is the national ReferNet partner of Cedefop in the Netherlands. ReferNet is a network of institutions established by Cedefop in 2002 throughout the EU. The network provides information about national VET systems and policy in EU member states, Iceland, and Norway. The national partners are important experts on vocational education in their countries.
• OECDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO collaborates with OECD on international studies related to vocational education and training.
• Europese CommissieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO contributes to studies for the European Commission on vocational education topics.
• EQAVETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national coordination point EQAVET works on ensuring and securing educational quality in Dutch MBO. ECBO has the important task of bringing together, informing and activating various stakeholders.
• KennisrotondeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO researchers serve as knowledge brokers for the Kennisrotonde, helping education professionals articulate questions and find answers through literature.
• NRO (Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO conducts multiple research projects commissioned by NRO, including research on educational quality, student success, and prevention of youth unemployment.
• SEO Economisch OnderzoekcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO collaborates with SEO Economisch Onderzoek on monitoring and evaluation studies, such as the Monitor Sterk Beroepsonderwijs.
• Kohnstamm InstituutcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO partners with Kohnstamm Instituut on educational research, including monitoring studies on vocational education.
• Universiteiten en HogescholenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO collaborates with universities, hogescholen, lectorates, and university-affiliated research institutes on various research projects.
• KBA NijmegencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO collaborates with KBA Nijmegen on evaluating and monitoring education laws, such as the Wet VATmbo.
• RegioplancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO partners with Regioplan on policy research and evaluation projects.
• ResearchNedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO collaborates with ResearchNed on educational research projects.
• Ockham IPScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerECBO partners with Ockham IPS on policy monitoring, including the Beleidsmonitor Tel mee met Taal.
• ITTA / Universiteit UtrechtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO collaborated with ITTA and Universiteit Utrecht on research into formative assessment techniques for language and math education in MBO.
• Expertisecentrum NederlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO collaborates with Expertisecentrum Nederlands on language development research in vocational education.
• TIAS School for Business and Society (Tilburg University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO and TIAS collaborate on research into strengthening the administrative capacity of MBO institutions for professionalization of educational teams.
• MBO RaadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO conducts research in partnership with MBO Raad on sector-wide educational issues and policy monitoring.
• SBB (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECBO collaborates with SBB on research related to vocational education and business sector alignment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kohnstamm Instituut: Dutch educational research institute conducting scientific research on education, learning, and child development. Directly comparable to ECBO as a fellow applied education research organization in the Netherlands with overlapping monitoring and evaluation mandates.
• Researchcentrum voor Onderwijs en Arbeidsmarkt (ROA): Maastricht University research center focused on education and the labor market. Highly comparable to ECBO given the shared focus on transitions between education and work, graduate outcomes, and vocational education policy research in the Netherlands and Europe.
• SEO Amsterdam Economics: Dutch economic research institute conducting policy evaluations and sector studies, including the Monitor Sterk Beroepsonderwijs with ECBO. Comparable as a fellow applied research organization competing for Dutch ministry and policy-evaluation contracts.
• KBA Nijmegen: Dutch research and advisory firm specializing in educational policy evaluation and monitoring of education laws (e.g., Wet VATmbo with ECBO). Directly comparable as an applied research provider serving Dutch ministries and educational institutions.
• Regioplan: Dutch research and consultancy organization conducting policy research and evaluation projects for ministries and public bodies. Comparable to ECBO as a competing/cooperating provider of commissioned educational and social-policy research in the Netherlands.
• ResearchNed: Dutch research firm conducting educational research projects including cohort studies and policy evaluations. Directly comparable to ECBO in scale, mission, and Dutch-public-sector client base.
• Ockham IPS: Dutch research and policy-monitoring organization working on policy evaluations including the Beleidsmonitor Tel mee met Taal alongside ECBO. Comparable as an applied Dutch research firm sharing ECBO's ministerial client base and monitoring-evaluation focus.
• ITTA (Instituut voor Toegepaste Taalkunde): Institute for Applied Language Studies at Utrecht University, partnered with ECBO on formative assessment research in MBO. Comparable as a research organization collaborating on Dutch vocational education studies, with overlap on basic-skills and language-acquisition themes.

Broad incumbents

• Stichting CINOP: Parent organization of ECBO and a broader Dutch education advisory/training organization operating across vocational, higher, and lifelong learning. Comparable as a larger umbrella entity offering adjacent research, advisory, and training services in the Dutch education sector.

Emerging players

• Kennisland: Dutch knowledge organization focused on lifelong learning, social innovation, and knowledge utilization in education and labor market. Adjacent peer to ECBO with thematic overlap on learning networks, knowledge dissemination, and lifelong learning research.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ECBO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCj0R4jE3oLP6aUyJKhbL5Lg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/expertisecentrum-beroepsonderwijs-ecbo-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Expertisecentrum beroepsonderwijs