Logistics Initiative Hamburg

What Logistics Initiative Hamburg does

Logistik-Initiative Hamburg Management GmbH (LIHH), founded in 2006 and headquartered at Wexstraße 7, Hamburg, operates as a Public Private Partnership network organization for the Hamburg logistics industry. With over 500 member companies and institutions spanning logistics service providers, industry and trade, research and development, start-ups, and public bodies, it is positioned as Europe's largest logistics location network. Core operations consist of a member network platform, an event portfolio (Sommerfest, Logistics Morning Coffee, MetroLog, TechFast, focus:on, Eyes on Innovation, Ladies Logistics Lounge, Bahnkonferenz, innovate:me, update:me, and others), expert circles (Fachkreise) on rail, logistics real estate, urban delivery, intralogistics, and digital HR, and the HANSE GLOBE international prize for sustainable logistics.

The technology and product surface is a portfolio of EU- and EFRE-funded innovation projects that LIHH coordinates or co-develops, including InnoWaTr (inland waterway transport), DECARBOMILE (green last-mile, 31 partners across 10 countries), MoLo Hubs (urban mobility/logistics hubs), Connected River (waterfront usage conflicts), CritSupPort (critical supply chain resilience), LogIsInTheAir (drone logistics with Hamburg Aviation), TALENTready (digital HR and AI recruiting for SMEs, 2025-2028), and KLIMAready (energy/climate transition). LIHH also runs the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Hamburg partnership and the Logistik Lernen Hamburg youth brand for talent recruitment. Operations are supported by standard third-party tools — Matomo analytics, CleverReach email, Cisco WebEx conferencing, HERE Maps, and Google reCAPTCHA.

The business model is a community-led, membership-driven organization. Revenue is derived primarily from annual corporate membership subscriptions across tiers (pricing not publicly disclosed), supplemented by co-funding from EU programs (Interreg North Sea, Horizon Europe), EFRE, and project partnerships with members such as Deutsche Post DHL, TOP Mehrwert-Logistik, H. Beckröge, Schiffswerft von Cölln, Fraunhofer CML, TUHH, and Hamburg Aviation. The go-to-market combines a public website with a members-only portal, direct membership sales, an active content and social channel mix (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, Xing, blog, newsletter), and a heavy event-led engagement model. Carmen Schmidt serves as Managing Director, with Kerstin Wendt-Heinrich as Chair and Lutz Birke as Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board; the team of ~22 FTE expanded in 2026 with new senior and management-level roles.

Name

Logistics Initiative Hamburg

Legal name

Logistik-Initiative Hamburg Management GmbH

Website

https://hamburg-logistik.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Logistik-Initiative Hamburg (LIHH) is a Public Private Partnership network organization connecting over 500 logistics companies, research institutions, and public bodies in the Hamburg metropolitan region, coordinating EU-funded innovation projects, industry events, expert circles, and the HANSE GLOBE sustainability award.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Transportation & Logistics Coordination (HSACADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Logistics, Freight Forwarding & Supply Chain Operations (EDAOANAG)

Keywords

• Logistics network platform
• Public private partnership
• Innovation project management
• Logistics industry collaboration
• Sustainable logistics initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Annual membership subscriptions for companies and institutions providing access to network benefits, events, and services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Logistics Initiative Hamburg (LIHH) operates a member-based logistics network platform and Public Private Partnership that connects more than 500 companies and institutions across logistics services, industry, research, start-ups, and public bodies in the Hamburg metropolitan region. It acts as a catalyst, initiator, and manager of regional, national, and international innovation projects, and delivers recurring event formats, expert circles (Fachkreise), publications, and awards such as HANSE GLOBE that members and stakeholders can access through annual membership subscriptions.

Product overview

Logistics Initiative Hamburg (LIHH) operates as a comprehensive logistics network organization and Public Private Partnership, functioning as a platform-plus-project portfolio rather than a single product. The core offering consists of a member network platform connecting over 500 companies across logistics service providers, industry, trade, research, and public institutions. This is supplemented by specialized project initiatives including InnoWaTr (waterway logistics), DECARBOMILE (last-mile delivery), TALENTready (digital HR), KLIMAready (climate), MoLo Hubs (mobility), Connected River, CritSupPort (supply chain resilience), and LogIsInTheAir (drone logistics). The organization also runs diverse event formats (Sommerfest, LMC, MetroLog, TechFast, etc.), expert circles (Fachkreise), the Ladies Logistics Lounge networking format, the HANSE GLOBE sustainability award, publications, and the Logistik Lernen Hamburg youth brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LIHH Network Membership Annual subscription membership giving companies and institutions access to the 500+ member network, exclusive member portal content, networking formats, project participation, and Fachkreis working groups in the Hamburg logistics ecosystem.
• Hamburger Logistik-Sommerfest Annual flagship member-exclusive networking event for the Hamburg logistics community, featuring Elbblick location, beachclub, harbour cranes, and on-site member networking.
• Logistics Morning Coffee (LMC) Recurring morning networking and briefing event that brings logistics professionals together for short presentations and informal exchange.
• MetroLog Logistics Conference Logistics conference serving the Hamburg metropolitan region, providing a venue for industry stakeholders to discuss trends and projects.
• Fachkreise (Expert Circles) Recurring expert working groups for members on topics such as rail (Bahnkonferenz), logistics real estate, urban delivery traffic (hosted at TU Hamburg), intralogistics, and digital HR, providing peer exchange and joint positions.
• Ladies Logistics Lounge (LLL) Quarterly networking and knowledge-sharing event for women in logistics, co-organized with BVL Hamburg, Handelskammer Hamburg, and Hamburg Cruise Net e.V., with thematic sessions such as the AIDAluna cruise-ship edition.
• HANSE GLOBE International Prize for Sustainable Logistics Award program run by LIHH recognizing companies for outstanding sustainable logistics projects (e.g., 2024 HOYER Group for holistic sustainability management; 2026 Beiersdorf AG for Sustainable Transport Transformation 2025).
• InnoWaTr Project (Inland Waterway Transport) EU co-financed project strengthening sustainability and resilience of inland waterway shipping, with a Hamburg pilot operating the electric boat 'Cöllni' on the Alster canals to test beverage delivery via waterways.
• DECARBOMILE Project EU Horizon Europe project aimed at innovative improvement of green last-mile logistics in Europe, with a Hamburg pilot coordinated by LIHH testing waterway transport followed by cargo-bike delivery.
• TALENTready Project Project supporting Hamburg companies with digital solutions for skilled worker retention, addressing digital HR challenges, AI in recruiting, and employer branding for SMEs, running from 2025 to 2028.
• LogIsInTheAir Project EFRE-funded joint project with Hamburg Aviation making Hamburg logistics companies 'drone-ready' by identifying drone use potential in logistics and connecting industry actors.

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hamburg AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation partner for LogIsInTheAir project, an EFRE-funded initiative aimed at making Hamburg logistics companies 'drone-ready'. The project explores drone potential in logistics and connects industry actors.
• Interreg North Sea (InnoWaTr)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterreg North Sea project focused on strengthening sustainability and resilience of inland waterway transport. LIHH leads the Hamburg Freight Flow Coalition exploring urban waterway logistics.
• EU Horizon Europe (DECARBOMILE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU project with 31 partners from 10 countries aimed at innovative improvement of green last-mile logistics in Europe. LIHH coordinates Hamburg pilot testing waterway and cargo bike delivery.
• EU Connected RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU project addressing challenges related to increasing usage conflicts in shared waterfront areas. Focus on sustainable and resilient waterway development.
• EU MoLo HubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransnational innovation project aimed at reducing urban traffic by developing people-centric mobility and logistics hubs.
• CritSupPortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch project strengthening resilience of critical supply chains. Investigates supply of important goods with partners including HHLA and DPDHL.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support SMEs and crafts businesses in the region with practical digitalization support. LIHH collaborates on AI competency development.
• Hamburg Cluster ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with European logistics clusters for knowledge exchange and cross-border learning, including visits from 7 European logistics clusters to Hamburg.
• BVL Regionalgruppe HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBundesvereinigung Logistik regional group co-organizes Ladies Logistics Lounge events with LIHH since 2010.
• Handelskammer HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg Chamber of Commerce collaborates on Ladies Logistics Lounge and various industry events.
• Behörde für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Innovation (BWAI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg government authority is public partner in PPP structure and co-organizes initiatives like 5-Sterne-Logistikstandort Hamburg campaign.
• TOP Mehrwert-Logistik GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in InnoWaTr Hamburg pilot, operating electric boat 'Cöllni' for beverage delivery tests along Alster canals.
• Deutsche Post DHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in DECARBOMILE Hamburg pilot testing parcel delivery via waterways with subsequent cargo bike last-mile delivery.
• Technische Universität HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in DECARBOMILE project and host for Fachkreis Urbaner Lieferverkehr meetings.
• Fraunhofer CMLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter for Maritime Logistics at Fraunhofer provides expertise for InnoWaTr and DECARBOMILE projects on urban waterway logistics potential.
• Hanse-Office BrüsselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg representation in Brussels that helps address European topics, infrastructure, sustainability, and innovation issues.
• Hamburg Cruise Net e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Ladies Logistics Lounge events, focusing on cruise logistics networking for women in the industry.
• Hanseatic Help e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian logistics organization, partner in Ladies Logistics Lounge event on humanitarian logistics topics.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Handelskammer Hamburg (Hamburg Chamber of Commerce): Hamburg's official chamber of commerce and LIHH partner on Ladies Logistics Lounge. Comparable as a Hamburg-based institutional convener of business stakeholders with PPP-style industry engagement.
• Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL): Germany's national logistics association and a direct partner of LIHH (BVL Regionalgruppe Hamburg). Comparable as an industry-association model convening logistics stakeholders, but at a national rather than regional scale with broader membership and advocacy mandate.
• European Logistics Association (ELA): Pan-European federation of national logistics associations. Comparable as a logistics industry-association network operating across multiple European countries, though at a supranational rather than regional level.
• Fraunhofer IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics): Major applied research institute for logistics with an innovation cluster and PPP-style industry engagement model. Comparable as a research-and-network organization convening logistics stakeholders and managing EU-funded innovation projects.

Emerging players

• Cool Chain Association: Industry association focused specifically on temperature-controlled logistics. Comparable as a logistics-themed industry association model, though narrower in scope than LIHH's broad logistics mandate.

Regional players

• Flanders Logistics: Belgian regional logistics cluster organization promoting Flemish logistics capabilities and coordinating industry stakeholders. Comparable regional-cluster model serving a different European geography.
• Nieuwe Waterweg Noordzeekanaal cluster (Port of Rotterdam cluster initiatives): Rotterdam port region runs various cluster and innovation initiatives analogous to LIHH's Hamburg cluster model. Comparable as a major European port-region logistics ecosystem organization, though tied to a competing port geography.

Direct peers

• DINALOG (Dutch Institute for Advanced Logistics): Dutch logistics cluster organization convening industry, academia, and government around logistics innovation. Highly comparable to LIHH in mission (PPP-style cluster for logistics innovation) and structure, though serving the Netherlands rather than Hamburg.
• Hamburg Aviation: Hamburg-based cluster organization for the aviation industry and a direct partner of LIHH (LogIsInTheAir drone project). Closely comparable as a regional PPP cluster organization in Hamburg serving a different transport vertical.
• Logistics Valley: Dutch logistics innovation cluster bringing together companies, knowledge institutions, and government. Closely comparable to LIHH in PPP structure, innovation project focus, and ecosystem orchestration model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/The_LIHH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/logistik-initiative-hamburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_lihh

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 Logistics Initiative Hamburg