Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science

What Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science does

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS) is an Austrian independent, non-profit research and knowledge transfer institute founded in 2012 and headquartered at designforum Wien in the MuseumsQuartier, Vienna. It is dedicated to advancing systems concepts and trans-disciplinary approaches—spanning science, humanities, engineering, and design—to develop solutions for sustainable development and address global challenges such as circular economy transition. The center serves an international community of recognized scientists, researchers, policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, designers, and leaders, organized around eight named programs: Circular Economy Forum Austria, Ecocivilisation, Transdisciplinarity Lab, European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research (EMCSR), Young Scientists and Researcher Awards, Systems Philosophy Lab, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, and the Bertalanffy Archive for Systems Research & Cybernetics. It maintains the legacy of the Ludwig von Bertalanffy Archive and related scientists' work, and has hosted the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) since 2018.

The center's core technology and intellectual assets are qualitative systems-science methodologies—including systems thinking, cybernetics, complexity thinking, network thinking, and transdisciplinary research frameworks—combined with curated content libraries (the Bertalanffy Archive and the International Encyclopedia) and conference-based knowledge exchange platforms (EMCSR and partner forums). It produces a recurring stream of publications, including the journal "Systems. Connecting Matter, Life, Culture and Technology," and has delivered 45 projects, 230 publications, and 189 conferences/lectures/talks/workshops cumulatively. Strategic partnerships span IFSR, ISSS, WOSC, IASCYS, UES, the European Commission, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP), and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

BCSSS is structured as a non-profit, charitable organization under Austrian law with a small staff (5 employees) and a defined community of 44 members and 70 visiting scholars. Revenue is generated through membership contributions, charitable donations, research project funding, and grants; no commercial products or pricing are offered. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on event-based distribution, publications, and direct engagement at conferences and workshops rather than traditional sales channels.

Name

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science

Legal name

Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS)

Website

https://bcsss.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BCSSS is a Vienna-based non-profit research and knowledge transfer institute advancing systems science and transdisciplinary approaches for sustainable development. It serves scientists, policymakers, and innovators through conferences, research programs, awards, and the Bertalanffy Archive, and hosts the IFSR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees and contributions: Non-profit organization funded through membership contributions and charitable donations as a non-profit, charitable organization under Austrian law.
2. Research projects and grants: Activities comprise research projects, education and training as well as awards, especially for the next generation of system scientists.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BCSSS is an Austrian independent research and knowledge transfer institute dedicated to advancing systems concepts and systemic approaches for sustainable development. It operates research programs (Systems Philosophy Lab, Transdisciplinarity Lab), conferences (European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research), awards (Ludwig von Bertalanffy Young Scientist Award), reference works (International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics), and maintains the Bertalanffy Archive for Systems Research & Cybernetics. It also serves as the legal body of the Circular Economy Forum Austria.

Product overview

BCSSS operates as an independent Austrian research and knowledge transfer institute offering a portfolio of programs focused on systems science, cybernetics, and sustainable development. The organization provides research platforms (Systems Philosophy Lab, Transdisciplinarity Lab), conference programs (European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research), educational initiatives (Young Scientists Awards), reference works (International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics), and thematic programs addressing circular economy and ecological civilization. BCSSS also maintains the Bertalanffy Archive for Systems Research & Cybernetics, which preserves the scientific legacy of Ludwig von Bertalanffy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Circular Economy Forum Austria: A program under BCSSS focused on circular economy systems and sustainable practices
• European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research (EMCSR)
• Bertalanffy Archive for Systems Research & Cybernetics
• Young Scientists and Researcher Awards
• Systems Philosophy Lab
• Transdisciplinarity Lab
• Ecocivilisation

Products and services

• Circular Economy Forum Austria A platform organized by BCSSS that facilitates discussions and best practices on circular economy principles and practices for sustainable development.
• Ecocivilisation A program focused on developing systems solutions for sustainable development and ecological civilization transitions.
• Transdisciplinarity Lab A laboratory program for transdisciplinary research and collaborative approaches across science, humanities, engineering, and design disciplines.
• European Meetings on Cybernetics and Systems Research (EMCSR) An international conference series organized by BCSSS that brings together researchers in cybernetics and systems science.
• Young Scientists and Researcher Awards Awards program recognizing outstanding contributions by young researchers in systems science.
• Systems Philosophy Lab A research lab focused on philosophical foundations and theoretical frameworks of systems science.
• International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics A comprehensive reference work documenting and organizing knowledge in the fields of systems science and cybernetics.
• Bertalanffy Archive for Systems Research & Cybernetics An archive preserving and making accessible the scientific heritage of Ludwig von Bertalanffy and related systems scientists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45 projects completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018BCSSS has hosted the IFSR since 2018. IFSR is the largest umbrella organization in the field of systems science and systems engineering. BCSSS acts as an organizer of international science and practice forums in collaboration with IFSR.
• European Union for Systemics (UES)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Representatives of five international organisations met including UES to strengthen cooperation in the systems movement. UES caters mainly to French-speaking scientists.
• International Society for the Study of Systems Science (ISSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS has been working in close collaboration with ISSS since its startup. The ISSS was initially conceived in 1954 at the Stanford Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences by Ludwig von Bertalanffy among others.
• Circular Economy Forum AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS serves as the legal body of the Circular Economy Forum Austria. The forum facilitates exchange of best practices and innovations and promotes circular economy principles and practices.
• World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement established to coordinate information about systemic conferences and organize collections of abstracts from systemic journals.
• International Academy of Systems and Cybernetic Sciences (IASCYS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIASCYS was discussed as a potential neutral platform for collection and distribution of systems science information.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBCSSS co-hosted the Disruptive Innovation Festival 2018 organized by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in Vienna, promoting circular economy awareness.
• Academy for Circular Economy BelgrademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS Research Group Leaders Ladeja Godina Košir, Karin Huber-Heim and Stefan Blachfellner contributed to co-designing the ACE Circular Economy Academy in Belgrade, Serbia.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS has been invited and connected to several advisory positions and bodies including the European Commission and European Stakeholder platforms.
• European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS Research Group Leader Ladeja Godina Košir was elected Chairwoman of ECESP coordination group in November 2018.
• Business Systems LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCSSS partnered with Business Systems Laboratory after successful EMCSR collaboration to co-produce the 3rd B.S.Lab International Symposium on Advances in Business Management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Santa Fe Institute: U.S.-based independent research center focused on complexity science and complex adaptive systems. Peer because both organizations operate as independent, non-university institutes advancing systems/complexity research and convening visiting scholars.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Austria/Luxembourg-based intergovernmental research institute applying systems science to global challenges (energy, climate, population). Directly comparable to BCSSS as a similarly-missioned systems-research institute operating in Europe with trans-disciplinary scope.
• International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS): Long-standing international society (originating in 1954 at Stanford) for systems-science research, of which BCSSS is a close collaborator. Comparable as a global convening organization in the same systems-science community.
• World Organisation for Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC): International organization dedicated to systems and cybernetics. Listed as a core partnership for BCSSS, comparable as a global umbrella body operating in the same intellectual tradition.
• Business Systems Laboratory: Research-oriented organization focused on systems thinking in management and organizations. Strategic partner of BCSSS with shared EMCSR programming; comparable as a parallel systems-research-oriented association.
• New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI): Independent research institute covering complex systems, networks, and societal applications. Directly comparable as an independent (non-university) systems/complexity research body publishing original work and convening an academic community.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Large UK-based circular-economy foundation with which BCSSS has co-hosted events. Comparable because both advance circular-economy thinking via convening and publications, though EMF is much larger in funding, staff, and global scope.
• Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton): Independent, privately-endowed research institute advancing theoretical scholarship across disciplines. Comparable to BCSSS as an independent, member/community-driven research organization, though at materially greater scale and funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bcsss

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science