BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven

What BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven does

BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven is the legally independent economic development and urban development agency for the city of Bremerhaven, operating as BIS Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung mbH. The organization delivers three integrated service lines: (1) Business Services — consulting, digitalization advisory, network facilitation, startup incubation via the Starthaus initiative, skilled-labor programs, funding guidance, and commercial real estate brokerage through an online property portal; (2) Sustainable Economy development — including the 150-hectare LUNEDELTA commercial and industrial zone, the Hydrogen Lab Bremerhaven (10 MW electrolyzer testing capacity with an 8 MW wind turbine), coordination of Germany's first Hydrogen Valley (H2B:IMPACT, ~€9M EU funding), and facilitation of international electrolyzer testing; (3) Urban Development — encompassing the 140-hectare Werftquartier (targeting 6,000 residents and 4,000 jobs), Germany's first public-sector Integrated Project Alliance (IPA) for three new school buildings, the 29-hectare Rudloffstrasse development area, and the 4.2-hectare Kistner mixed-use quarter.

The business model is a publicly funded agency construct: the company does not charge direct fees for advisory services to investors and startups, and revenue is derived from municipal allocations from the City of Bremerhaven, state government funding, EU structural funds (including EFRE), and project-specific grants such as the H2B:IMPACT hydrogen funding. Customer segments are horizontal and diversified across inbound investors, local startups, and existing Bremerhaven businesses in industries including ports and logistics, maritime technologies, renewables, fish and food, tourism, creative industries, and retail. Go-to-market is sales-led: direct consultation through the BIS office, the Starthaus startup program, and the Gewerbeimmobilienportal self-serve property portal, supplemented by LinkedIn/Instagram presence, a monthly newsletter, and event series including the Bremerhavener Wirtschaftsdialog.

Core technology assets are co-developed with research partners rather than built in-house: BIS coordinates access to Hydrogen Lab Bremerhaven testing infrastructure (with Fraunhofer IWES), seawater electrolysis and offshore-platform hydrogen research, the H2-3D maritime hydrogen test facility, and the Wind2Hydrogen, IBOH2P, HydrASys, MariSynFuel, and H2AM research projects with AWI, ttz Bremerhaven, and Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. Construction innovation is centered on BIM digital-twin methodology, Lean Construction, and the IPA collaborative contract framework pioneered publicly on the 3 Schools Bremerhaven project alongside architectural partners gmp, Cobe, WES, and the University of Bremen.

Name

BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven

Legal name

BIS Bremerhavener Gesellschaft für Investitionsförderung und Stadtentwicklung mbH

Website

https://bis-bremerhaven.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven is the city of Bremerhaven's publicly funded economic development and urban development agency, providing investment attraction, startup incubation (Starthaus), hydrogen ecosystem coordination (Hydrogen Lab, H2B:IMPACT), and large-scale urban development projects (Werftquartier, LUNEDELTA).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Investment promotion
• Urban development
• Startup incubation
• Business consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremerhaven

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Services: BIS operates as a government-backed economic development agency providing business support services, investment promotion, and urban development. Revenue is derived from municipal and state funding, EU grants, and service fees for specific programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven is a municipal economic development agency for the city of Bremerhaven. It provides business consulting, investment promotion, funding guidance, network facilitation, real estate/site selection support, startup incubation through the Starthaus initiative, and urban development project coordination. The organization also coordinates regional hydrogen and renewable energy initiatives and manages major commercial and residential development projects.

Product overview

BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven is a municipal economic development and investment promotion organization, not a product company. Its 'offerings' are public services and development projects rather than commercial products. The organization operates as a unified service portfolio organized into Business Services (consulting, digitalization, networks, founding support, funding, real estate), Green Economy initiatives (LUNEDELTA commercial area, Hydrogen Lab testing infrastructure, startup incubator), and Urban Development projects (Werftquartier shipyard quarter, school construction via IPA, Rudloffstraße and Kistner area developments). These are government-sponsored programs and infrastructure projects, not commercial software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Services Comprehensive consulting and support services for businesses including digitalization assistance, network facilitation, startup founding support, skilled labor recruitment, funding programs, and commercial real estate services. For companies seeking to establish or expand in Bremerhaven.
• Starthaus Bremerhaven Startup incubation and support initiative providing individual consulting, crowdfunding support, and funding program access for founders and entrepreneurs from initial idea through financing and networking.
• LUNEDELTA Commercial Area A 150-hectare commercial/industrial development area in southern Bremerhaven focused on sustainable business development under the Green Economy initiative. Provides commercial and industrial plots for businesses.
• Commercial Real Estate Portal Online portal providing overview of commercial areas and properties in Bremerhaven, including technology and startup centers. Used by companies seeking commercial space.
• Hydrogen Lab Bremerhaven Hydrogen testing infrastructure (HLB) with up to 10 MW electrolyzer testing capacity across ten test fields, supported by an 8 MW wind turbine, focused on combining wind energy with electrolytic hydrogen production. Used by international hydrogen manufacturers.
• Werftquartier Urban Development Project Largest urban development project on the German North Sea coast (140 hectares), transforming the former Schichau-Seebeck shipyard area into mixed commercial, residential, recreational and R&D space for approximately 6,000 residents and 4,000 jobs.
• 3 Schools Bremerhaven IPA Project First public sector Integrated Project Alliance (IPA) in Germany for building three new schools, using innovative construction methods including Building Information Management (BIM) and Lean Construction.
• Rudloffstraße Development Area 29-hectare urban revitalization project near city center combining living, working and services with public participation in planning.
• Kistner Area Development
• Test Region for Mobile Hydrogen Applications Infrastructure for long-term real-world testing of hydrogen-powered vehicle prototypes including laboratories, workshops, technology center, test benches and measurement systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Hydrogen Valley in Germany with 9 million euros EU funding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• Fraunhofer IWEScoreTechnology or IntegrationFraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems provides hydrogen testing infrastructure and expertise. The Hydrogen Lab Bremerhaven is operated in collaboration with Fraunhofer IWES, which also leads projects like IBOH2P and HydrASys focusing on offshore hydrogen production and autonomous offshore measurement stations.
• Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)coreTechnology or IntegrationLeading research institution for polar and marine research. Collaborates on hydrogen projects including MariSynFuel for synthetic methanol production using research vessel Uthörn.
• Bremerhaven University of Applied SciencescoreTechnology or IntegrationHigher education institution providing expertise in hydrogen applications and mobility. Partner in Wind2Hydrogen project and H2AM testing facility development.
• ttz BremerhavencoreTechnology or IntegrationApplied research institute experts in hydrogen for food industry and mobility applications. Coordinates MariSynFuel project and provides testing facilities for maritime hydrogen components.
• H2BX AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent network association focused on hydrogen information and communication in Bremerhaven and the region. Promotes the enormous potential of hydrogen to people, companies, and institutions.
• WAB e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading industry association for offshore wind and promoter of green hydrogen production from wind power. Nationwide contact for the offshore wind industry and onshore network in northwest Germany.
• bremenportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort management company working towards climate neutrality by 2035. Initiatives include Climate-Neutral Overseas Port, Fisheries Port Climate Cooperation, and alternative marine fuels bunkering facilities.
• Bremerhaven BuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transport operator operating ten hydrogen-powered buses (seven standard and three articulated) since 2025. Uses green hydrogen produced locally in Bremerhaven.
• HY.City.BremerhavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany operating electrolysis plant with capacity up to 2 MW and hydrogen refueling station near Bremerhaven Bus. Produces green hydrogen from wind energy.
• evb (Eisenbahnen und Verkehrt GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRail operator that launched world's first permanent hydrogen train service in summer 2022 with Coradia iLint hydrogen train.
• Hochschule BremerhavencoreTechnology or IntegrationUniversity of Applied Sciences with expertise in hydrogen applications and mobility. Partner in Wind2Hydrogen, H2-MetaStore, and H2AM projects.
• STÄWOG (Städtische Wohnungsgesellschaft Bremerhaven)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal housing company and client for the 3 Schools Bremerhaven IPA project. Develops residential and commercial properties in Bremerhaven including the Werftquartier and Kistner site.
• Cobe (Copenhagen-based architects)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm selected in public tender to create the urban development framework plan for the Werftquartier district.
• von Gerkan, Marg und Partner (gmp)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLeading architecture firm part of the 3 Schools Bremerhaven alliance, responsible for building planning alongside WES GmbH LandschaftsArchitektur.
• University of BremenmajorTechnology or IntegrationScientific support for the 3 Schools Bremerhaven project, contributing pedagogical expertise to school building planning.
• NOW GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational hydrogen and fuel cell technology coordination organization driving development on behalf of German Federal Government. Manages National Innovation Program (NIP).
• Starthaus Bremen & BremerhavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup support initiative providing individual consultation, crowdfunding support, and access to funding programs for entrepreneurs in Bremerhaven.
• Social Impact Lab BremenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContact point for exchange and networking on sustainable start-ups and business in the federal state of Bremen.
• HilfswerftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork encouraging social entrepreneurship through events like Social Entrepreneurship Camps and workshops on sustainable founding.
• Climate House Bremerhaven (Klimahaus)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobally unique climate experience center providing education on climate change and sustainability. Partner in hydrogen education and acceptance initiatives.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Business Finland: Finland's national innovation-funding and investment-promotion agency. Comparable as a government-affiliated body providing funding advisory, network facilitation, and innovation-services support to domestic and international companies investing in the country.
• Invest in Denmark: Denmark's national investment-promotion agency. Comparable as a publicly-backed investment-attraction body offering site-selection and cluster-development services, with particular overlap to BIS in offshore wind and hydrogen — a strategic focus area for both.
• IFB Hamburg (Investitions- und Förderbank Hamburg): Hamburg's state investment and development bank. Comparable as a publicly-backed funding-advisory and development-financing institution serving a major German port region, with overlap to BIS's role in identifying and brokering public-funding programs for businesses.

Broad incumbents

• hamburg invest: Hamburg's investment-promotion and economic-development agency. Comparable as a German municipal/state-level investment attraction body serving a major port city, though operating at significantly larger scale and with a broader industry mandate.
• NRW.Global Business: North Rhine-Westphalia's state economic-development agency. Comparable in promoting investment, innovation, and trade for a German federal state, though with materially larger budget, headcount, and international footprint than BIS.
• Berlin Partner: Berlin's business and technology promotion agency. Comparable as a publicly-backed investment-promotion and cluster-development body providing funding guidance, network facilitation, and location marketing — though at metropolitan scale far exceeding Bremerhaven.
• Hessen Trade & Invest: The economic-development corporation of the State of Hesse. Comparable in providing site-selection, funding guidance, and innovation-services support to businesses, but with a state-level rather than municipal focus and broader geographic scope.

Others

• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's government agency supporting business growth and investment. Comparable as a publicly-backed economic-development body with site-selection, capability-building, and sector-promotion services, though operating in a very different geographic and policy context.
• Climate-KIC: EU-backed climate-innovation community and accelerator. Comparable to BIS only at the margin in the hydrogen/green-economy ecosystem — both engage in EU-funded innovation programs and partner with research institutions, but Climate-KIC operates pan-European rather than at the municipal level.

Direct peers

• WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen: The sister economic-development agency for the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. BIS is explicitly a partner of WFB for press releases and media coverage, and both agencies share the federal-state economic-development mandate for the Bremen region. They are the closest functional peer in terms of scope, services, and customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bis-bremerhaven
• Instagraminstagram.com/bis_bremerhaven

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 BIS Wirtschaftsförderung Bremerhaven