Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen

What Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen does

Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen is a publicly funded transformation support initiative operated by Niedersachsen.next GmbH on behalf of the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Bauen und Digitalisierung. Headquartered in Hannover, Germany, it serves as the central point of contact (zentraler Ansprechpartner) for small and medium-sized enterprises (KMEs), startups, and research institutions in the Lower Saxony automotive and mobility economy. The agency supports KMEs through the digital and green transformation of the automotive industry by providing free knowledge transfer, networking facilitation, project initiation, and access to federal transformation programs. It serves a distributed base of regional KMEs rather than earning commercial revenue.

The agency operates three federally funded programs: TraWeBa (Transformations-Hub Wertschöpfungskette Batterie) covering the battery value chain, Transfer-X addressing data economy and Industry 4.0 via data spaces and Gaia-X/Catena-X infrastructure, and DiSerHub for digital mobility services. Its proprietary tools include hybrid business simulation games with Sankey-diagram projections for modeling battery material flows, the AR Experience 'Mission Dataspace' developed with SICP for visualizing digital twins and data spaces, and the Battery Circularity Game co-developed with BAX Innovation Consulting. It maintains a network of regional partner nodes (regionale Knotenpunkte) including Automotive Nordwest, ITS mobility, NEU/WAGEN, ReTraSON, and IHKs to ensure comprehensive geographic coverage, and participates in 26 federal Transformations-Netzwerke and 11 Transformations-Hubs nationwide.

The business model is non-commercial: services are provided free of charge to eligible recipients, funded entirely through state appropriations and federal project funding. Distribution occurs through the agency's own Themenmanager staff, the website automotive.nds.de, an email newsletter, LinkedIn presence, and event-based engagement including an annual 'Automotive in Motion' network meeting, Hannover Messe (Hall 16) and Internationale Zuliefererbörse (IZB) participation, and recurring symposia and workshops. Customer segments are KMEs (primary), startups, and research institutions, with thematic focus areas including battery value chain, data economy, automation and structural change, and circular economy.

Name

Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen

Legal name

Niedersachsen.next GmbH

Website

https://automotive.nds.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen is a publicly funded initiative operated by Niedersachsen.next GmbH on behalf of the Lower Saxony Ministry, serving as the central contact point for SMEs, startups, and research institutions in Lower Saxony's automotive and mobility transformation, providing free knowledge transfer, networking, and federal program access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Industry Transformation Consulting

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomous Vehicles & Ground Mobility (HDAAAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Mobility & Ground Transport Management (THALANAI)

Keywords

• Automotive transformation support
• Battery value chain consulting
• Mobility industry networking
• Automotive SME advisory
• Industrial knowledge transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding / Government Initiative: The Automotive Agentur operates as a funded initiative of the Niedersachsen.next GmbH on behalf of the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Bauen und Digitalisierung. It provides free support services (consulting, knowledge transfer, networking, project initiation) to SMEs and institutions in the automotive and mobility sector. No commercial revenue model applies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Automotive Agentur Niedersachsen is a government-funded central point of contact (zentraler Ansprechpartner) for small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU) and institutions in the automotive and mobility economy of Lower Saxony, Germany. It provides free consulting, knowledge transfer, networking facilitation, project initiation, and interactive learning tools (business simulation games, AR/VR experiences) to support SMEs through the digital and green transformation of the automotive industry. The agency operates two federal projects, Transfer-X (data economy) and TraWeBa (battery value chain), as consortium partner.

Product overview

Niedersachsen.next Automotive Agentur is a central contact point and transformation support organization for SMEs in the automotive industry and mobility sector in Lower Saxony, Germany. The organization operates as a network agency rather than a product company, offering a portfolio of services including: the core automotive agency coordination, federal projects TraWeBa (battery value chain) and Transfer-X (data economy), best-practice knowledge resources, interactive business simulation games (Planspiele), VR/AR experiences for knowledge transfer, annual networking events, and funding advisory services. The offering combines consulting, knowledge transfer, networking facilitation, and interactive learning tools to support companies through the automotive transformation process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transfer-X: Federal project supporting SMEs in the automotive industry and mobility sector with their digital transformation process, providing knowledge and resources for data spaces and Industry 4.0 technologies.
• TraWeBa
• DiSerHub

Products and services

• Niedersachsen.next Automotive Agentur Central contact point and transformation support program for SMEs and institutions in the automotive and mobility economy in Lower Saxony. Provides free consulting, networking facilitation, and project initiation to help companies navigate the digital and green transformation of the automotive industry.
• TraWeBa (Transformations-Hub Wertschöpfungskette Batterie) Federally funded transformation hub organizing cross-regional knowledge transfer from research to companies along the automotive battery value chain. Develops interactive business simulation games, facilitates international cooperation, and organizes workshops on battery legislation and recycling for industry participants.
• Transfer-X (Datenökonomie) Federal knowledge transfer program providing free web-based learning courses for SMEs in the automotive industry on data spaces, Gaia-X infrastructure, Industry 4.0 technologies, CO2-footprint tracking, and supply chain resilience via the Catena-X Automotive Network.
• Business Simulation Games (Planspiele) Interactive workshop service combining haptic materials with projection-based Sankey diagrams to model battery recycling and production material flows. Includes the Battery Circularity Game developed with BAX Innovation Consulting, which uses role-play with custom 'Ions' currency to train participants on battery value chain cooperation and regulatory frameworks.
• AR Experience Mission Dataspace VR application developed for commercially available VR glasses that makes digital mobility concepts, data space technologies, digital twins, CO2-footprint tracking, and supply chain resilience tangible for SMEs within a virtual automotive factory environment.
• Förderung (Innovation Funding Advisory) Advisory service supporting companies in accessing the Niedersächsisches Innovationsförderprogramm (IFP) and other federal and state funding programs, with current focus on Circular Economy calls and automotive innovation areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 federal transformation networks and 11 transformation hubs funded nationwide as of 2025, with the agency coordinating Lower Saxony's participation in all of them
• +3 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

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer Institut für Schicht- und Oberflächentechnik IST (Fraunhofer IST)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Fraunhofer IST in Braunschweig is a key research partner for battery technology. It collaborated with the agency on international cooperation with Proterial Ltd. and on trajectory mixing technology with hs-tumbler GmbH. The institute provides laboratory facilities for aerogel-it GmbH's pilot production and hosts research on battery cell production processes.
• Proterial Ltd. (Japan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Proterial Ltd. (formerly Hitachi Metals Ltd., established 1899) developed CALISMAT™ cathode active material technology. The agency initiated contact between Proterial and Lower Saxony's battery ecosystem actors at Hannover Messe 2025, facilitating discussions on battery production and recycling cooperation at Fraunhofer IST in Braunschweig.
• Hochschule Osnabrück (Growth-Team für regionalen Wissenstransfer)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hochschule Osnabrück collaborated with the agency's Dr.-Ing. Mathias Rechel, Dr. Norbert Gebbe, Katja Kulke, and Dr. Nina Löchte to run the CISC (Cross-Industrial Supply-Chain) innovation workshop, focusing on circular economy in plastics, biobased interior components for automotive, and sustainable plastic feedstocks. Partners include Volkswagen, CLAAS, Exipnos GmbH, and revoltech.
• Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik (NFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025NFF (Niedersächsisches Forschungszentrum Fahrzeugtechnik) is a key research partner for automotive technology in Lower Saxony. It co-organized the CISC workshop series and the 'Crossindustrial Supply Chain – Vom Rohstoff zum Serienprodukt' workshop with the agency.
• Volkswagen AG and CLAASminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Volkswagen and CLAAS participate as industry partners in the CISC (Cross-Industrial Supply-Chain) project led by the agency and Hochschule Osnabrück, focusing on biobased interior automotive components and sustainable plastic feedstocks.
• BAX Innovation Consulting S.L. (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BAX Innovation Consulting S.L. from Spain developed the Battery Circularity Game used in the agency's 'Battery legislations: mission possible' workshop at the 2025 annual network meeting. The game uses custom 'Ions' currency for participant role-play along the battery value chain. Facilitated by Maarten Buysse.
• AES Akku Energie Systeme GmbHminorOthers · 1 January 2025AES Akku Energie Systeme GmbH provided a battery storage exhibit (Batteriespeicher-Exponat) for display at the annual network meeting 2025, supporting the agency's exhibition of battery ecosystem competencies in Lower Saxony.
• Rüstungscluster Niedersachsen (Defense Industry Cluster Lower Saxony)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The agency announced its strategic partnership with the newly established defense industry cluster in Lower Saxony (led by Dr. Joachim Algermissen of Unternehmerverbände Niedersachsen) at its 2025 annual network meeting, aiming to foster knowledge transfer and networking between the defense and automotive industries.
• Clavey Automobil Dienstleistungs GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Clavey Automobil (Braunschweig) entered a strategic partnership with FORMHAND Automation GmbH, providing the startup with immediate market access and several hundred additional colleagues through the combined team. This 'Win-Win' arrangement allows Clavey to offer technological solutions and hardware alongside its existing services.
• TU BraunschweigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TU Braunschweig joined the trajectory mixing technology development with hs-tumbler GmbH, creating synergies with Fraunhofer IST competencies. The cooperation was facilitated by the agency's TraWeBa project, which continues to serve as a contact point for further collaboration.
• Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023TUHH provides laboratory and pilot plant facilities for aerogel-it GmbH's aerogel development. Three of aerogel-it's founders have been working at TUHH for years. The university also hosts the high-pressure drying process equipment needed for aerogel production.
• Hochschule Osnabrück (additional cooperation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Hochschule Osnabrück has started various cooperation projects with aerogel-it GmbH on biobased high-performance insulation in construction, supported by DBU funding.
• Automotive NordwestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Automotive Nordwest is a competency cluster for mobility in northwestern Germany. It is listed as a key partner cluster on the Automotive Agentur's website, representing regional expertise and network connectivity for the Lower Saxony automotive ecosystem.
• ITS mobilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ITS mobility is a cluster for intelligent mobility, listed as a key partner on the agency's website. It provides expertise in connected and automated driving and smart mobility solutions as part of the Lower Saxony automotive network.
• NEU/WAGEN (Transformations-Netzwerk Automotive)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022NEU/WAGEN is a federally funded transformation network for the automotive sector in Lower Saxony. It is listed as a key partner and supported by the Automotive Agentur as part of the 26 federal transformation networks. Representatives from NEU/WAGEN participated in the Brussels discussion on automotive transformation.
• ReTraSON (Regionales Transformationsnetzwerk SüdOstNiedersachsen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ReTraSON is a regional transformation network for Southeast Lower Saxony, forming part of the federal transformation network ecosystem. Representatives Thomas Ahlswede Brech and Florian Rehr participate in agency-organized events and discussions at the EU level.
• REWIMET e.V. (Recycling-Cluster wirtschaftsstrategische Metalle)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022REWIMET is the recycling cluster for strategically important metals, co-organizing symposia on critical raw materials with the agency. The agency and REWIMET jointly initiated a consortium for establishing a battery recycling park in the Harz region, involving Albemarle Germany GmbH, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, LB.systems GmbH, Battery Damage Service GmbH, and Electrocycling GmbH. REWIMET awarded the 2023 Klimaschutzpreis (Climate Protection Award) to aerogel-it GmbH.
• Transfer-X (Bundesprojekt Datenökonomie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Transfer-X is a federally funded project (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie) that the agency operates as a consortium partner. It provides free web-based learning courses for KMUs on data spaces, Gaia-X, and Industry 4.0 technologies. The agency presents Transfer-X outcomes at events including DiSerHub Expert Summit 2025 in Munich.
• TraWeBa (Transformations-Hub Wertschöpfungskette Batterie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022TraWeBa (Transformations-Hub Wertschöpfungskette Batterie) is a federally funded transformation hub for the battery value chain, organized by the agency as consortium partner. It develops business simulation games, facilitates international cooperation (e.g., with Proterial Ltd. and the Transatlantic EV Triangle), and organizes workshops on battery legislation and recycling. Funding extended through end of 2026.
• DiSerHub (Bundesprojekt Digitale Services für die Mobilitätswende)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022DiSerHub is a federally funded transformation hub for digital services in mobility. The agency participates as a consortium partner, presenting AR/VR experiences ('Mission Dataspace') at the DiSerHub Expert Summit 2025 in Munich alongside SICP (Software Innovation Campus Paderborn). Like Bayern Innovativ GmbH, the agency supports DiSerHub as a platform bridging theory and practice.
• Niedersachsen.next GmbHcoreOthers · 1 January 2022Niedersachsen.next GmbH is the parent organization operating the Automotive Agentur on behalf of the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Bauen und Digitalisierung. Managed by Geschäftsführer Uwe Ilgenfritz-Donné (Spokesman) and Christian Kotschy, with Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender Björn Ungruhe from the Niedersächsische Staatskanzlei. Located at Schiffgraben 22-28, 30175 Hannover.
• Innovationszentrum Niedersachsen GmbHminorOthers · 1 January 2019Innovationszentrum Niedersachsen GmbH (IZ) manages the accessibility statement for the Automotive Agentur's website and serves as the contact point for reporting accessibility deficiencies. Located at Schillerstraße 32, 30159 Hannover, Tel: 0511 760 726 0, [email protected].

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/automotive-agentur-niedersachsen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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