Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen

What Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen does

Stichting Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen, founded in 2020 and headquartered in Ede, Gelderland, is a Dutch non-profit foundation that coordinates collaboration between entrepreneurs, green mbo (vocational) educational institutions, and government across the Netherlands. The organization is structured around five sector-based practice clusters — Dier (Animal), Agro, Food, Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving (Green Nature & Living Environment), and Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen (Horticulture & Starting Materials) — each managed by a dedicated Netwerkregisseur and supported by a board-level Programmamanager. Its core mission is to better align regional labor demand with graduate supply, integrate the latest knowledge in digitalization, technology, and internationalization into mbo programs, and translate regional and national policy goals into practical education and applied research.

CIV Groen's product surface consists of regional Meetingpoints and Hotspots where educators, students, and industry partners collaborate physically; digital knowledge platforms including Groen Kennisnet, Openteelten.nl, and Kennisbank Food & Feed; educational technology such as VR learning modules for animal husbandry and arable farming; publications including H@P Magazine; and recurring events such as the annual VHG/CIV Groen Docentendag and Food for Teachers. Underlying technology is primarily web-based content distribution and partnership coordination infrastructure rather than proprietary software. The foundation partners with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), industry associations (LTO Nederland, VHG, FNLI, Glastuinbouw Nederland, Plantum, Seed Valley), educational institutions (Aeres, Yuverta, Zone.college, Terra, Curio, Lentiz, Scalda), and the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.

The business model is government and project-grant funded. CIV Groen does not charge for its core coordination services; participation in programs and access to educational resources are provided at no cost to educational institutions and students. Revenue streams consist of direct government funding for the foundation's coordination mandate and project-based subsidies channeled through partners (including subsidy application support for green mbo education and co-financing for practorates). With approximately 10 employees and a nationwide operational footprint, CIV Groen functions as a policy-aligned coordination body rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen

Legal name

Stichting Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen

Website

https://civ-groen.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIV Groen is a Dutch non-profit foundation coordinating collaboration between green mbo educational institutions, green-sector businesses, and government across five practice clusters — Dier, Agro, Food, Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving, and Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen — via regional Meetingpoints, digital knowledge platforms, and recurring industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a foundation for collaboration between entrepreneurs, green mbo educational institutions, and government, CIV Groen operates primarily through government funding and strategic partnerships rather than commercial revenue generation.
2. Project-based Subsidies: The organization helps with subsidy applications to promote knowledge transfer to green mbo education and organizes guidance and co-financing for green practorates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CIV Groen is a foundation that coordinates collaboration between entrepreneurs, green MBO (vocational) educational institutions, and government on practical innovation, labor market development, and educational renewal. It operates five sector-based practice clusters (Dier, Agro, Food, Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving, Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen) through regional Meetingpoints and Hotspots across the Netherlands, providing educational resources, practitioner research coordination, knowledge platforms, and professional development events for the Dutch green sector.

Product overview

CIV Groen operates as a foundation facilitating collaboration between entrepreneurs, green mbo educational institutions, and government in the areas of practical innovation, labor market, and educational renewal. The organization is structured around five sector-based 'praktijkclusters' (practice clusters): Dier (Animal), Agro (Arable Farming), Food, Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving (Green Nature & Living Environment), and Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen (Horticulture & Starting Materials). Each cluster operates through regional meetingpoints or hotspots where education, research, and industry meet. CIV Groen provides educational resources including teaching materials, VR learning modules, publications like H@P Magazine, and knowledge platforms such as Groen Kennisnet and the Kennisbank Food & Feed. The organization also coordinates events including Food for Teachers, teacher development days, student challenges, and supports practitioner research (practoraten) to keep education aligned with industry developments and policy goals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Praktijkcluster Dier Practice cluster focusing on animal husbandry education, connecting businesses, branch associations, and educational institutions in Production Animals, Horses, Paraveterinary, and Companion Animals sectors.
• Praktijkcluster Agro Practice cluster connecting companies, branch organizations, and educational institutions in the arable farming and contract work sector, focusing on practical innovation, labor market, educational renewal, and Lifelong Learning.
• Praktijkcluster Food Practice cluster encompassing the entire food and nutrition chain including production, processing, supply, distribution, logistics, hospitality, retail, and healthcare organizations, addressing themes such as nutrition & health, sustainability, and technological developments.
• Praktijkcluster Groen, Natuur & Leefomgeving Practice cluster covering green spaces in both rural and urban environments, including gardeners, green contractors, tree specialists, interior landscapers, floristry, garden centers, and forest, nature, and water management.
• Praktijkcluster Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen Practice cluster encompassing bulb cultivation, tree and perennial plant cultivation, fruit cultivation, greenhouse horticulture, breeding, open-field vegetable cultivation, and mushroom cultivation, organized through seven regional Meetingpoints across the Netherlands.
• Food for Teachers Event
• Lesmateriaal Teelt (Openteelten.nl)
• Virtual Reality Leermodules
• H@P Magazine
• Docentendag (Teacher Day)
• Kennisbank Food & Feed
• Groen Kennisnet
• Groene Practoraten

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual events such as Food for Teachers, VHG Docentendag, and regional teacher days engage hundreds of educators
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• GroenpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIV Groen is a partner of Groenpact, the collaboration between education, business, and government in green education. This partnership forms the basis infrastructure for cooperation in green education across the Netherlands.
• Aeres MBOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner providing meetingpoints for multiple practice clusters including Agro, Dier, Food, and Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving. Operates Aeres Farms as a dedicated meetingpoint for the Agro cluster.
• YuvertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor green mbo educational institution with multiple meetingpoints including Yuverta Boxtel, Houten, Velp, Nijmegen, and Aalsmeer. Hosts hotspots for both Groen Natuur & Leefomgeving and Food practice clusters.
• Zone.collegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution operating multiple hotspots including Hotspot Tuin en Landschap, Hotspot Groene Retail, and Proces Your Future House of Skills. Serves as meetingpoint for multiple practice clusters.
• LTO NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading agricultural entrepreneurs organization and key partner for practical innovation and educational renewal in the agricultural sector.
• Koninklijke VHG (Vereniging van Hoveniers en Groenvoorzieners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal association of gardeners and green space providers. Co-organizes annual VHG/CIV Groen Docentendag and developed the Handboek Groene Hotspots with guidelines for business-education collaboration.
• Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality is a government partner supporting the foundation's mission to integrate policy goals into green mbo education.
• FNLI (Federatie Nederlandse Levensmiddelen Industrie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of Dutch Food Industry, partners with Praktijkcluster Food for national collaboration and alignment with the Human Capital Agenda Food & Feed.
• SOL (Stichting Ontwikkelingsfonds Levensmiddelenindustrie)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation managing development funds for the food industry. Coordinates Human Capital Agenda Food & Feed with Praktijkcluster Food.
• Glastuinbouw NederlandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch greenhouse horticulture industry association, partner in the horticulture and starting materials practice cluster.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading agricultural and environmental research university. Partners in knowledge development, practoraten coordination, and connecting green mbo with green hbo and university education.
• PrivonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation managing funds for initiatives in intensive livestock farming and Nuffield Scholars in poultry, pig, calf, and goat husbandry. Associated with Praktijkcluster Dier.
• Poultry Expertise Centre (PEC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional expertise center including poultry, calves (CEC), Insect Experience Centre (IEC), and Praktijkcentrum emissiereductie Veehouderij (PEV). Primary meetingpoint for Praktijkcluster Dier.
• AgricominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPotato breeding and trading company, partner in the Agro practice cluster.
• BO AkkerbouwmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArable farming sector organization. Collaborates with Praktijkcluster Agro on developing teaching materials for cultivation through Openteelten.nl.
• TalentOogstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with Praktijkcluster Agro on student challenges and educational materials development.
• GroentenFruitHuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh produce trade organization, partner in the food practice cluster.
• Seed ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of plant breeding companies in the Netherlands, partner in Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen practice cluster.
• PlantumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association for plant propagation material producers, partner in horticulture practice cluster.
• NAJK (Nederlandse Agrarische Jongeren Kontakt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Agricultural Youth Contact, partners with Praktijkcluster Dier and Agro for student engagement.
• CumelaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector organization for mobile mechanization and agricultural contractors, partner in Agro practice cluster.
• Groen KennisnetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital knowledge platform making information and learning resources accessible for green sector education. CIV Groen uses this platform to distribute educational materials.
• Terra MBOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution operating Groene Hotspot DC Terra and Hotspot Groenstylist Terra in the northern Netherlands.
• CuriocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution operating Groene Hotspot Curio in Breda, serving the southern Netherlands.
• LentizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution operating Groene Hotspot Lentiz in Maasland (Zuidwest Nederland).
• ScaldacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution operating Groene Hotspot Scalda in Zeeland.
• World Horti CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational horticulture knowledge and innovation center in Naaldwijk. Hosts meetingpoint for Praktijkcluster Tuinbouw & Uitgangsmaterialen.
• Food Academy NijkerkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeetingpoint for Praktijkcluster Food focused on food production and innovation.
• SVO Vakopleiding FoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational training provider for the food sector, hosts Meeting Point Food.
• Greenports NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch horticulture cluster organization, partner in horticulture practice cluster.
• Connect GroenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaintains contacts with Connect Groen as part of cooperation infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Topsector Agri & Food: Dutch top-sector public-private partnership for the agri-food industry. Comparable as a tri-party (business, education, government) coordination platform addressing knowledge, innovation, and human capital in overlapping sectors with CIV Groen.
• Greenports Nederland: National organization coordinating Dutch greenhouse horticulture clusters. Comparable as a tri-helix coordination body across business, education, and government in a green sub-sector also covered by CIV Groen.
• Groenpact: National Dutch partnership platform connecting education, business, and government in the green sector. CIV Groen is a core partner of Groenpact and operates as its primary operational arm in green mbo education, making it the closest comparable coordination entity.
• FNLI (Federatie Nederlandse Levensmiddelen Industrie): Dutch federation of the food industry and active partner in CIV Groen's Food practice cluster. Comparable as a sector association aligning industry with education, government, and applied research in food.
• AOC Raad: Dutch sector council for agricultural vocational education centers (AOCs). Comparable as a coordinating body for green/agricultural mbo institutions with which CIV Groen's member schools overlap heavily.
• SBB (Stichting Samenwerking Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven): National Dutch foundation that coordinates vocational education (mbo) with the labor market across all sectors. Comparable as a sector-wide skills/qualification coordination body, with a similar public-funded foundation structure and stakeholder model.
• CIV Tech (Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap Tech): Sister CIV organization focused on the technology/maker mbo sector. Directly comparable as a sibling 'Centrum voor Innovatief Vakmanschap' structure applying the same Dutch government-backed model to a different mbo sector.
• MBO Raad: Dutch association of all mbo institutions. Highly comparable as CIV Groen works directly with mbo schools and addresses sector-specific curriculum and labor-market alignment, paralleling MBO Raad's broader coordination role.

Emerging players

• Food Valley NL: Dutch food innovation network linking companies, research institutes, and government in agri-food. Comparable as a coordination/innovation platform overlapping with CIV Groen's Food cluster and broader mandate to connect education with industry.

Broad incumbents

• Wageningen University & Research (WUR): Leading Dutch agricultural and food research university that is a core partner of CIV Groen. Comparable as the dominant green-sector knowledge institution CIV Groen connects mbo to, though operating at a much larger scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GroenCiv
• Facebookfacebook.com/civgroen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/civ-groen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Centrum Innovatief Vakmanschap (CIV) Groen