ECOS GmbH

What ECOS GmbH does

ECOS GmbH (legally ECOS Consult GmbH) is a German-Japanese consulting and project development firm headquartered in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, founded in 1988 by Wilhelm Meemken. The firm specializes exclusively in facilitating cooperation between Germany and Japan, with a thematic focus on environmental technology, renewable energies, energy efficiency, circular economy, and sustainable food. It operates from four offices (Osnabrück HQ, Berlin, Tokyo/Nihonbashi, Fukuoka) and is staffed by approximately 11 employees, including bilingual specialists with prior experience at Mitsubishi Corp., NEC, and other major corporates.

The company monetizes through project-based and retainer consulting fees across five core service lines: Japan Consulting (market entry support for German companies entering Japan), Project Management (international project coordination), Location Marketing (investor attraction for German states including Lower Saxony, Thuringia, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg), Energy Consulting, and Funding Advice. Revenue is generated from corporate clients (Tokyo Gas, Osaka Gas, Sumitomo Electric, Kyushu Electric, NTT Facilities, Yazaki), German federal and state government mandates (BMUV, Lower Saxony, Thuringia), and research partnerships (Wuppertal Institute, IEEJ). The business model is sales-led B2B consulting with no software product, no public pricing, and no disclosed recurring SaaS or subscription layer.

ECOS differentiates itself through 35+ years of accumulated bilateral network capital and ownership of recurring platforms, most notably the annual German-Japanese Economic Forum at Hannover Messe (since 2006), the German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum (since 2007), and the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) co-founded in 2016 with the Wuppertal Institute and IEEJ. The company is privately held by founders and management, with no external investors, no subsidiaries, and no M&A history. Operating geographies are confined to Germany and Japan.

Name

ECOS GmbH

Legal name

ECOS Consult GmbH

Website

https://ecos.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECOS GmbH is a German-Japanese consulting firm offering market entry, project management, location marketing, and energy consulting services between Germany and Japan. Founded 1988, it serves German state governments, Japanese utilities, and corporate clients from offices in Osnabrück, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Business Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Compliance & Permitting (BPAHAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Corporate & Voluntary Procurement Policy (PPAs, Green Tariffs, 24/7 CFE) (EUAMANAH), Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency (BPADALAM)

Keywords

• Market entry consulting
• Bilateral trade facilitation
• Energy transition advisory
• Location marketing services
• Project management consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Osnabrück

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for market entry, project planning, and business development in the German-Japanese context. Services include Japan consulting, project management, location marketing, energy consulting, and funding advice. Revenue generated through consulting fees, project-based engagements, and ongoing advisory relationships with corporate and government clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ECOS GmbH is a consulting and project development firm that supports companies and public authorities with market entry, project planning, and business development in the German-Japanese context, with focus on environmental and energy technology. Core deliverables include Japan Consulting (market studies, sales network setup, branch office establishment), Project Management (international project coordination in renewable energies, electromobility, smart community), Location Marketing for German federal states, Energy Consulting (renewable energy, decarbonization), and Funding Advice for public financing programs.

Product overview

ECOS GmbH is a consulting and project development company offering professional services for German-Japanese cooperation in environmental and energy technology. The core offerings consist of consulting services: Japan Consulting (market entry support), Project Management (international project coordination), Location Marketing (investor attraction for German states), Energy Consulting, and Funding Advice. These services are complemented by event platforms including the German-Japanese Economic Forum at Hannover Messe (held annually since 2006), the German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum (alternating annually since 2007), and the German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) established in 2016. The company also publishes studies and factsheets on energy, environmental, and circular economy topics. ECOS does not offer a software product; its offerings are service-based consulting engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japan Consulting Advisory services supporting companies and public authorities with market entry into Japan, including market studies, sales network establishment, and branch office establishment. Targeted at German and international companies seeking to enter the Japanese market.
• Project Management Coordination of international projects in areas such as renewable energies, electromobility, smart community, and organization of conferences, seminars, and technical excursions. Targeted at corporate and government clients with bilateral German-Japanese project needs.
• Location Marketing Location marketing services for German states (Niedersachsen, Thüringen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg) to attract Japanese companies and investment. Targeted at German state governments and economic development corporations.
• Energy Consulting Advisory services on energy policy, renewable energies, energy efficiency, and decarbonization strategies for German-Japanese cooperation. Targeted at energy companies, utilities, and government bodies.
• Funding Advice Advisory services on public funding programs and financing options for international projects in Germany and Japan. Targeted at companies and public authorities undertaking cross-border projects.
• German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) Joint German-Japanese expert council established in 2016 by ECOS, Wuppertal Institute, and IEEJ to facilitate scientific exchange on energy policy and mutual learning between Germany and Japan. Targeted at research institutes, policy makers, and energy stakeholders.
• German-Japanese Economic Forum (at Hannover Messe) Annual economic forum held at Hannover Messe since 2006, providing a discussion and networking platform for German-Japanese industrial cooperation on sustainable manufacturing. Targeted at industrial firms, policymakers, and trade associations.
• German-Japanese Environment and Energy Dialogue Forum Annual alternating forum in Germany and Japan since 2007 for environmental and energy dialogue between experts from both countries. Targeted at energy and environmental policy experts, researchers, and corporate stakeholders.

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016ECOS co-founded the GJETC with Wuppertal Institute and Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ) in 2016. GJETC facilitates scientific exchange on energy policy and mutual learning between Germany and Japan. The council holds regular meetings, stakeholder dialogues, and outreach events.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partnership with JETRO including coordination of German participation in Japanese trade events, joint events, and Foreign Direct Investment advisory work (2003-2010). ECOS also supported JETRO's location marketing activities.
• New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on smart community projects including the Smart Community Project in Speyer (2015-2018) where NEDO and the City of Speyer partnered on a demonstration project for smart grid technology.
• German Industry and Trade (AHK Japan)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (AHK Japan). AHK serves as an important network partner for German companies entering Japan.
• Deutsch-Japanischer Wirtschaftskreis (DJW)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the German-Japanese Business Circle (DJW), an organization promoting economic relations between Germany and Japan.
• Lower Saxony State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2020, ECOS has been commissioned to represent the state of Lower Saxony in Japan, handling investor marketing, networking, and support for Japanese companies interested in Lower Saxony.
• LEG Thüringen (Thuringia Economic Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOS supports location marketing for Thuringia in Japan since 2021, conducting investor attraction activities and webinars to promote Thuringia as an investment destination.
• Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin (JDZB)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerJDZB is a partner organization that promotes Japanese-German and international cooperation in science and culture, supporting economic dialogue and cooperation at all levels.
• Deutsche Messe AGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership with Deutsche Messe for organizing the German-Japanese Economic Forum at Hannover Messe since 2006. ECOS coordinates speakers, program content, and promotes bilateral business relations.
• EU-Japan Centre for Industrial CooperationstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for webinar series and market information. ECOS experts present market studies and opportunities through EU-Japan Centre webinars on topics including solar energy, green transformation, and market entry strategies.
• Wuppertal InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of GJETC with ECOS and Institute of Energy Economics Japan (IEEJ). The Wuppertal Institute is a leading research institute on climate, environment, and energy issues.
• VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of VDI, the Association of German Engineers, supporting professional networking in engineering and technology domains.
• German Japanese Society Osnabrück (DJG)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the German-Japanese Society in Osnabrück, supporting cultural and business exchange activities.
• DIL Deutsches Institut für LebensmitteltechnikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of DIL, a research institute for food technology, supporting cooperation in sustainable food and agricultural sectors.
• Agrotech Valley ForumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the Agrotech Valley Forum, supporting agricultural technology cooperation and networking.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• IEEJ (Institute of Energy Economics Japan): Japanese energy economics think tank and third co-founder of GJETC alongside ECOS and Wuppertal Institute. Operates in adjacent space of energy policy research and bilateral German-Japanese dialogue, though as a research rather than consulting entity.
• Deutsche Messe AG: Operator of Hannover Messe and long-standing partner of ECOS for the German-Japanese Economic Forum since 2006. Adjacent rather than directly competing — Messe organizes trade fairs while ECOS provides consulting and content/programming for German-Japanese sessions.
• Wuppertal Institute: Leading German research institute for climate, environment, and energy, co-founder of GJETC with ECOS and IEEJ. Comparable energy policy expertise and partnership activity, though Wuppertal is research-focused while ECOS is consulting/commercial.

Broad incumbents

• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan's government-affiliated trade promotion body that facilitates Japanese companies' overseas expansion and inward FDI, with established long-term partnership with ECOS. Overlaps directly with ECOS's market-entry facilitation role but operates at much larger scale and broader sector scope.
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal investment promotion agency that supports foreign companies entering the German market. Highly comparable to ECOS's location-marketing mandate for German states, though GTAI operates at federal level and across all sectors, not just German-Japan bilateral.

Direct peers

• AHK Japan (German Chamber of Commerce in Japan): Official German Chamber of Commerce in Japan, of which ECOS is a member. Both serve as entry points for German companies entering Japan and provide market information, networking, and trade fair coordination services — overlapping core offerings with ECOS's Japan consulting arm.
• EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation: Joint EU-Japan initiative under EU-Japan EPA facilitating industrial cooperation, with whom ECOS co-hosts webinars. Directly comparable as a German-Japanese/EU-Japanese cooperation facilitation body, particularly in market information dissemination.
• Japanisch-Deutsches Zentrum Berlin (JDZB): Berlin-based bilateral institution promoting Japanese-German cooperation across science, culture, and economic dialogue. ECOS is an active partner; comparable in mission to support German-Japanese cooperation at the institutional level.
• Deutsch-Japanischer Wirtschaftskreis (DJW): German-Japanese Business Circle promoting economic relations between the two countries. Highly comparable organizational mission and member base to ECOS's German-Japanese economic forum activities and consulting work.

Regional players

• NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization): Japanese government agency supporting industrial technology and energy R&D, which partnered with ECOS on the Speyer Smart Community project (2015-2018). Comparable in facilitating international energy cooperation projects, though as a much larger Japanese public-sector counterpart.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ecos_consult
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecos-consult

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 ECOS GmbH