DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH

What DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH does

DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH is a publicly initiated innovation agency headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, founded in 2015 at the impulse of the Baden-Württemberg state government. The firm operates as a neutral coordinator and advisory body that supports companies, research institutions, municipalities, and political decision-makers in digital transformation, with a thematic focus on artificial intelligence and IT security. Its service portfolio spans eight core offerings: Forschungszulage advisory (research subsidies), Fördermittelberatung (funding advisory), Innovationsunterstützung (innovation support), KI-Seminare (AI training), Projektkoordination (project coordination), Marktverwertung und Kommunikation (market exploitation and communication), Matching und Stakeholdermanagement, and Programmentwicklung und Politikberatung. Beyond fee-for-service advisory, DIZ coordinates larger publicly funded programs including the 17 Digital Hubs in Baden-Württemberg under the BMWK de:hub initiative, the EDIH-AICS European Digital Innovation Hub, the KI-Transfer BW network of 19 regional AI labs, and the KIsS ZIM Innovation Network for AI in technical service.

The business model is overwhelmingly professional services delivered on a quote-based, project-by-project basis, layered on top of publicly funded coordination mandates. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the Edda Fördermittelfinder tool is offered as a public resource, while commercial work is bundled into customized engagements, often co-financed through government subsidy programs. Customer segments are horizontally diversified across SMEs (the primary segment), public administration and municipalities, research institutions, and political stakeholders at regional, national, and EU levels. Named collaborations include IHK Karlsruhe, Handwerkskammer Karlsruhe, Handelsverband Württemberg, BioLAGO, connect.IT Heilbronn-Franken, Axoom Solutions, and imsimity. DIZ reaches customers through a multi-channel mix spanning direct consultation, partner-network distribution (60+ organizations), events (AIxIA, EFRA, InnovationCamp BW), a quarterly newsletter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and a techtag.de content partnership.

The firm reports only 7 employees, indicating that the bulk of program throughput is delivered through a partner-mediated model rather than direct headcount scaling. Gennadi Schermann serves as Managing Director (Geschäftsführer), with senior staff including Christoph Ziegler (Business Development) and Nina Hofmeister (Project and Innovation Management). Ownership is independent (GmbH) with no parent company or venture capital backing identified; the entity is sustained through state, federal, and EU program funding, presenting durability but also concentration risk tied to public budget cycles.

Name

DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH

Legal name

DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH

Website

https://diz-bw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DIZ is a Karlsruhe-based innovation agency founded in 2015 at the initiative of the Baden-Württemberg state government, providing advisory and project coordination in AI, IT security, and digital transformation to SMEs, research institutions, municipalities, and policy makers across regional, national, and EU levels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Consulting

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Strategy & Transformation (BPAHAEAA), Business Process & Digital Transformation Consulting (BPAEAAAD), Digital Learning Content Development (eLearning, Labs, Simulations) (BPAEANAD)

Keywords

• Digital transformation consulting
• Innovation consulting
• AI consulting services
• IT security consulting
• SME digitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

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. Innovations- und Fördermittelberatung: Consulting services for companies in innovation and funding, including research subsidies (Forschungszulage), funding advice, and innovation support.
2. KI-Schulungen und Seminare: AI seminars and training programs for employee education in artificial intelligence.
3. Projektkoordination: Project coordination services for research projects including dissemination and communication support.
4. Matching und Stakeholdermanagement: Partner matching and stakeholder management services connecting companies with relevant partners in the innovation ecosystem.
5. Programmentwicklung und Politikberatung: Program development and policy consulting services for public sector clients on digital transformation topics.
6. Marktverwertung und Kommunikation: Market exploitation and communication services for research project results.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH is an innovation agency that supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with digital transformation initiatives. The company delivers consulting, workshops, and project-based support focused on digitalization, applied artificial intelligence, and IT security. It was established with the support of the Baden-Württemberg state government to drive regional digital innovation among SMEs.

Product overview

DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH operates as a neutral innovation agency offering consulting and advisory services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides eight core service offerings: Forschungszulage (research subsidy consulting), Fördermittelberatung (funding advisory), Innovationsunterstützung (innovation support), KI Seminar (AI training), Projektkoordination (project coordination), Marktverwertung und Kommunikation (market exploitation), Matching und Stakeholdermanagement (partner networking), and Programmentwicklung und Politikberatung (policy consulting). These services are complemented by network initiatives including KIsS (ZIM innovation network for AI in technical service), EDIH-AICS (European Digital Innovation Hub for AI and Cybersecurity), and Digital Hub Karlsruhe. The organization also maintains communication channels including a quarterly newsletter and the Techtag digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KIsS | KI im technischen Service: ZIM-Innovationsnetzwerk KIsS supporting SMEs in utilizing Artificial Intelligence in technical service, including predictive maintenance, intelligent error diagnostics, and AR-based remote support.
• EDIH-AICS
• Digital Hub Karlsruhe

Products and services

• Digital Transformation Consulting

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Land Baden-Württemberg (State Government)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Baden-Württemberg state government initiated DIZ in 2015 and continues to support its operations as a neutral innovation agency for digital transformation in the region.
• Digital Hub KarlsruhecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the nationwide Digital Hub Initiative (Digital Hub-Initiative) funded by BMWK. DIZ collaborates with Digital Hub Karlsruhe to strengthen the AI location and connect startups, SMEs, and research institutions.
• European Digital Innovation Hub applied Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity (EDIH-AICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDIH-AICS provides comprehensive services to support SMEs, startups, and public sector organizations with digitalization in AI applications, cybersecurity, and related infrastructure across production, mobility, energy, trade, and public administration.
• Digital Hub-Initiative (de:hub)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative funded by BMWK (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz). DIZ coordinates the network of 17 Digital Hubs in Baden-Württemberg.
• Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Tourismus Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry that commissions DIZ to coordinate the Digital Hub network in Baden-Württemberg and supports various innovation projects.
• FZI Forschungszentrum InformatikcoreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner for AI and digital projects. Located in Karlsruhe's technology corridor with Fraunhofer institutes and KIT.
• Fraunhofer-Institut für Optronik, Systemtechnik und Bildauswertung (IOSB)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner in Karlsruhe focusing on applied AI and related technologies.
• CyberForum e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarlsruhe-based entrepreneur network, part of the regional AI ecosystem.
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)coreTechnology or IntegrationMajor research university partner in Karlsruhe, part of the AI research ecosystem.
• BioLAGO e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional biotech network (Lake Constance region) collaborating on digitalization of biotech business processes.
• IHK Karlsruhe (Industrie- und Handelskammer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of commerce partner for joint event series on digitalization topics.
• Handwerkskammer KarlsruheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of crafts partnership for Handwerk 4.0 digitalization initiatives.
• Allianz Industrie 4.0 Baden-WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry 4.0 network partnership for German-French networking on AI and industrial digitalization.
• Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational business development partner for cross-border innovation and trade activities.
• Hochschule PforzheimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner for cooperation between companies and higher education institutions.
• connect.IT Heilbronn-Franken e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT network partner in Heilbronn-Franken region, member of the 60+ partner ecosystem.
• Handelsverband WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetail association partnership for e-commerce and IT security workshops.
• Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) FellbachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirtual reality and 3D technology network partner.
• KIsS Network PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZIM Innovation Network 'KIsS - KI im technischen Service' includes: AFSMI, CODE.science, connecting media, Ferdinand-Steinbeis-Institut, Fraunhofer IAO, FZI, Hochschule Furtwangen, IAI, infai, inovex, KVD, Michael Lachner, mobile-function, PH Ludwigsburg, Reasonance, Smateso, square neo, Transaction Network, Trumpf, Uni-Kassel. Network focuses on AI in technical service for SMEs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bitkom: Germany's digital industry association providing consulting, events and policy advice on digitalisation, AI and IT security. Competes for the same SME-facing advisory agenda but at a national industry-association scale.
• VDMA: Germany's mechanical and plant engineering industry association, operating a digital transformation / Industry 4.0 programme for SME members — overlapping DIZ's Baden-Württemberg Mittelstand focus at national sector scale.
• Fraunhofer IAO: Stuttgart-based applied research institute (part of the Fraunhofer network) covering corporate transformation, innovation management and AI in production — a much larger but mission-adjacent R&D and advisory organisation that DIZ explicitly partners with.
• AiF Projekt GmbH: Project management arm of the AiF industrial research associations and coordinator of ZIM innovation networks (the same federal programme that funds DIZ's KIsS network). Operates a comparable ZIM-coordination mandate at national scale.
• Steinbeis-Europa-Zentrum: Technology-transfer and EU project consultancy within the Steinbeis Foundation, listed as a DIZ partner. Comparable in EU funding advisory and SME research collaboration but on a wider geographic and sector footprint.

Direct peers

• ZENIT GmbH: North Rhine-Westphalia's state innovation agency providing technology consulting, EU funding advice and innovation management to SMEs — structurally the most direct DIZ counterpart in another large German state.
• Bayern Innovativ: State-level innovation agency for Bavaria with a near-identical mandate to DIZ: supporting SMEs, research and politics on digital transformation and emerging technologies. Direct comparable in size, structure and public funding model.

Regional players

• Baden-Württemberg International (bw-i): State-owned internationalisation and innovation agency for Baden-Württemberg and an explicit DIZ partner. Overlaps in policy consulting, SME support and cross-border project work within the same regional ecosystem.
• CyberForum e.V. Karlsruhe-based entrepreneur network and explicit DIZ partner that supports the regional AI/startup ecosystem. Comparable in network orchestration and SME digital support but focused on a narrower startup cluster.

Emerging players

• European Digital Innovation Hub Network: Network of EU-funded EDIHs — DIZ sits inside EDIH-AICS and works alongside sibling hubs (e.g., other German EDIHs and EU EDIHs in applied AI and cybersecurity). The peer set whose collective growth or consolidation directly affects DIZ's mandate continuity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DIZDigitalesInnovationszentrum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/diz-bw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 DIZ | Digitales Innovationszentrum GmbH