BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler

What BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler does

BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler e.V. is a registered non-profit professional association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1984 and headquartered in Bonn, Germany. It functions as the primary professional body for geoscientists in Germany — encompassing geologists, geophysicists, mineralogists, and related disciplines — serving approximately 2,200 individual members across industry and business, government agencies, freelancers and geo-offices, universities and research institutions, students, and raw materials geologists, plus 120 corporate members. Through membership in the European Federation of Geologists (EFG), it also represents German geoscientists in EU institutions and administers the European Geologist (EurGeol) title domestically.

The BDG's service portfolio spans multiple functional areas: certification (Beratender Geowissenschaftler BDG, Geprüfte Qualitätsfirma Geophysik, EurGeol), online platforms (GUIDE-Portal for study program comparison, Geo-Experten-Suche expert directory with 368 entries, Jobbörse job board), the BDG-Bildungsakademie e.V. continuing-education subsidiary (400+ seminars at 50 venues since 1993, training 4,000+ participants), publications (BDG-Mitteilungen, GMIT journal), events (Meggener Rohstofftage, Willicher Praxistage Geothermie, Forum Endlagersuche, MineFuture & GeoNext, BDG-Stammtisch regional meetups), awards (Stein im Brett, Gestein des Jahres), mentoring, and legal advisory services. Technology assets are limited to web platforms; the core technology is the GUIDE-Portal comparison site developed by the AHF committee, supplemented by Matomo analytics and Google Places Autocomplete integrations.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues across three categories (Studierende, Berufstätige, Unternehmen), supplemented by fees from the Bildungsakademie seminars, certification services, publications, and events. The go-to-market is community-led, targeting students, working professionals, and companies in the German geoscience sector through professional networking, advocacy, certification, the job board, mentoring, and regional events. The association actively lobbies on behalf of geoscientists in political and public discourse, including advocacy on legislation such as the Geologiedatengesetz. The organization is governed by an elected board led by Chairman Prof. Dr. Christoph Hilgers, with Dr. Friedwalt Weber as First Deputy Chairman and Christian Kiesl as Treasurer; day-to-day operations are run by Geschäftsführer Andreas Günther-Plönes and a staff of approximately five at the Bonn Geschäftsstelle.

Name

BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler

Legal name

BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler e.V.

Website

https://geoberuf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler is a German non-profit professional association founded in 1984 that represents approximately 2,200 individual geoscientists and 120 corporate members across industry, government, academia, and freelance practice, delivering certification, advocacy, continuing education, and networking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: The BDG generates revenue primarily through annual membership fees from individual geoscientists (students, professionals) and corporate/company members. Membership categories include Studierende (students), Berufstätige (working professionals), and Unternehmen (companies).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BDG is a non-profit professional membership association representing geoscientists in Germany. It sells individual and corporate memberships, administers professional certifications (Beratender Geowissenschaftler BDG, European Geologist, Geprüfte Qualitätsfirma Geophysik), and runs continuing education seminars through its BDG-Bildungsakademie subsidiary. Additional services include online platforms (GUIDE-Portal for study program comparison, Geo-Experten-Suche expert directory, Jobbörse), a Geo-Mentoring program, legal advisory, publications (BDG-Mitteilungen, GMIT), and industry advocacy/lobbying.

Product overview

BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler is a professional association for geoscientists in Germany, not a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of member services including publications (BDG-Mitteilungen, GMIT), online platforms (GUIDE-Portal, Geo-Experten-Suche, Jobbörse), professional certifications (Beratender Geowissenschaftler BDG, European Geologist, Geprüfte Qualitätsfirma Geophysik), and the BDG-Bildungsakademie for continuing education. It organizes events (Meggener Rohstofftage, Willicher Praxistage Geothermie, Forum Endlagersuche, MineFuture & GeoNext, BDG-Stammtisch, Georunde Saar) and presents awards (Stein im Brett, Gestein des Jahres). The organization also operates forums and committees for different professional sectors including the Forum der Rohstoffgeologen, Ausschuss Freiberufler und Geobüros, and Arbeitskreis Umweltgeologie.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BDG Individual Membership (Studierende and Berufstätige)
• BDG Corporate Membership (Unternehmen)
• Beratender Geowissenschaftler BDG certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 368 geoscience experts and companies searchable in the Geo-Experten-Suche directory
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Geopark Sachsens Mitte e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Geopark Sachsens Mitte e.V. is a cooperation partner for the 2026 Rock of the Year (Gestein des Jahres) celebration. They will host the Rock Baptism ceremony on September 20, 2026, at the historic Rhyolith quarry 'Porphyrfächer' in Mohorn-Grund, Wilsdruffer Ortsteil, combining the celebration with the Day of the Geo-Site.
• Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und GeologieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026A partner in the 2026 Rock of the Year (Gestein des Jahres) initiative, contributing to the Gesteinstaufe ceremony and related activities.
• Unternehmerverband Mineralische Baustoffe UVMB e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026A partner in the 2026 Rock of the Year (Gestein des Jahres) initiative, contributing to public outreach on the significance of rhyolite and other rocks.
• Stadt WilsdruffminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in the 2026 Rock of the Year initiative, hosting the Gesteinstaufe celebration in the municipality.
• VBGU (Verband für Bergbau, Geologie und Umwelttechnik)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-organizer of the MineFuture & GeoNext event on November 24, 2026, in Berlin, focused on geology, raw materials, and securing the future.
• Akademie für Geowissenschaften und Geotechnologien e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-organizer of the MineFuture & GeoNext event on November 24, 2026, in Berlin.
• Scientists4Future — Fachgruppe RohstoffeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026A specialized group under the Scientists4Future umbrella (an independent, interdisciplinary association of ~30,000 scientists) focused on raw materials, founded from discussions within the BDG Forum der Rohstoffgeologen. Operates independently despite significant personnel overlap with the BDG.
• CEEGS (Novel CO2-based electrothermal energy and geological storage system)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023CEEGS is an EU-financed project developing a novel concept for increasing energy storage capacity for renewable energy sources while promoting CO2 storage technologies. The BDG's role is to distribute information and articles to bring the project and its results into public focus, supporting the European Green Deal.
• RohstoffWissen! e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020RohstoffWissen! e.V. is a non-profit association founded in 2018 in Berlin that emerged from a BDG public outreach initiative on raw materials. It provides science-based, neutral, and industry-independent information on raw materials topics. The association is neutral, independent, and not tied to any industry, with members from science, associations, and industry.
• European Federation of Geologists (EFG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BDG is a member of the European Federation of Geologists, which provides representation in relevant institutions and bodies of the European Union in Brussels. Through this membership, the BDG coordinates, reconciles, and harmonizes the varied interests of geoscientific professional groups at the European level. The BDG also administers the 'European Geologist' (EurGeol) title in Germany through EFG.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/geoberuf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bdg-berufsverband-deutscher-geowissenschaftler
• Instagraminstagram.com/bdg_geoberuf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 BDG Berufsverband Deutscher Geowissenschaftler