Hermann-Rietschel-Institut

What Hermann-Rietschel-Institut does

Hermann-Rietschel-Institut (HRI), founded in 1885 by Hermann Rietschel as the Test Centre for Heating and Ventilation Equipment, is the world's oldest university institute in HVAC engineering and operates today as the Department of Energy, Comfort & Health in Buildings within TU Berlin's Institute of Energy Engineering. The institute conducts research, teaching, and testing services focused on energy efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems across three scales — districts, buildings, and indoor spaces — combining experimental methods (laboratory testing, field studies), computational approaches (building and system simulation, CFD), and specialized facilities including Germany's only modular clean-room research laboratory, a modular research operating room, an IEQ-Lab (opened July 2026), a Virtual Reality laboratory for indoor environmental quality, and Hardware-in-the-Loop test benches. HRI research outputs directly influence German heating and ventilation standards development.

The institute serves a multi-stakeholder audience comprising graduate students and doctoral researchers, academic and applied research institutions (e.g., Max Delbrück Center, Charité Berlin), municipalities and boroughs engaged in climate-neutral heating transitions (e.g., Tempelhof-Schöneberg, State of Berlin), healthcare facilities, and university campuses. Industry partners include TROX GmbH, Vattenfall, Dr. Langhein GmbH, BerlinerLuft. Technik, AAF International, Lindab, and others across multiple consortium projects.

Revenue is generated entirely through public research funding (federal ministries BMWK and BMBF, EU research programs), institutional support from TU Berlin, and recurring membership dues from the supporting association 'Freunde und Förderer des Hermann-Rietschel-Instituts e.V.' The institute acquires work through competitive grant proposals and direct project-based collaborations; it operates no commercial pricing model. The go-to-market is event- and partnership-driven, centered on funded research consortia (EnOB, EnEff, N5GEH, Helmholtz networks) and academic dissemination channels.

Name

Hermann-Rietschel-Institut

Legal name

Freunde und Förderer des Hermann-Rietschel-Instituts e.V.

Website

https://hermann-rietschel-institut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hermann-Rietschel-Institut (HRI) is the world's oldest university HVAC research institute, founded in 1885 and embedded at TU Berlin, conducting funded research, teaching, and testing in energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning across district, building, and indoor scales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy & HVAC Research

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC & Industrial Ventilation (Chillers, AHUs, Exhaust, Filtration) (EUAEAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hard Services (MEP/HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) (BPABAAAA)

Keywords

• HVAC research
• Building energy systems
• Indoor environmental quality
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Heating ventilation engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Funding: Government-funded research projects from federal ministries (BMWK, BMBF), state governments, and EU research programs. Projects include EnOB, EnEff, and other energy efficiency research initiatives with designated funding codes.
2. Association Membership Fees: Freunde und Förderer des Hermann-Rietschel-Instituts e.V. operates as a supporting association with registered membership, providing additional institutional support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hermann-Rietschel-Institut (HRI) is a university research institute at TU Berlin that conducts experimental and theoretical research on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems across district, building, and indoor scales. It provides laboratory testing, building and system simulations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and field studies, and offers graduate-level teaching programs. Through its Test Centre for Heating and Ventilation Equipment (STZ EKG), it delivers testing and consulting services to industry and public-sector partners.

Product overview

Hermann-Rietschel-Institut (HRI) is a university research institute at TU Berlin offering research services, educational programs, and testing/consulting services focused on HVAC systems and energy efficiency. Founded in 1885, it is the world's oldest university institute in heating and ventilation engineering. The institute provides laboratory testing, building simulations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, and field studies. Teaching services include master's and bachelor's theses and doctoral dissertations through the Building Energy Systems program. Testing and consulting services are offered through its Test Centre for Heating and Ventilation Equipment (STZ EKG).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research and Development Services in HVAC Research services in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, including laboratory testing, building and system simulations, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and field studies. Targeted at research institutions, municipalities, healthcare facilities, and industry partners seeking HVAC research collaboration.
• Teaching and Education Programs Academic programs including master's and bachelor's theses, doctoral dissertations, and study courses in building energy systems and HVAC engineering. Targeted at graduate students and doctoral candidates.
• HVAC Testing and Consulting Services (STZ EKG) Testing services and consulting through the Test Centre for Heating and Ventilation Equipment (STZ EKG) for heating and ventilation equipment. Targeted at industry partners, manufacturers, and public-sector clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Heating demand reduction of up to 30% through infrared-reflective unheated surfaces
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• Tempelhof-Schöneberg Borough OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaborating on WärmSchöN project for municipal heating planning in northern Schöneberg, Berlin. The borough office serves as a key stakeholder in developing climate-neutral grid-connected heat supply solutions for inner-city neighbourhoods.
• State of BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in WärmSchöN project providing state-level support for heating transition initiatives and administrative process development for climate-neutral neighbourhood solutions.
• Max Delbrück Center (MDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Host institution for EnOB: Renewable Ready RLT project. MDH laboratory building serves as demonstration site for climate-neutral ventilation and air conditioning systems with 850m² test area.
• Helmholtz Kompetenznetzwerk Klimagerechtes BauencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Research network providing backing for Renewable-Ready air handling systems project, supporting transferability of solutions to other laboratory and research facilities.
• Charité Berlin - Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Collaboration on EnOB: EnHance project for energy-efficient hospital environments and Database of Architecture and Health Environment project, combining medical hygiene with building engineering expertise.
• Institute of Constructive Design (IKE) - TU BraunschweigcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Lead partner in interdisciplinary research on infection prevention in built environments. Collaborative work on EnOB: EnHance and Database projects spanning architecture and building engineering.
• TROX GmbHmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023Industry partner in EnOB: RLT-Auto project for HVAC commissioning and operation optimization. Ensures rapid and competent implementation of control strategy innovations.
• N5GEH NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Thematic research network for digitalized energy systems in buildings. HRI participates in N5GEH-E³ and TWE-Flex projects as satellite projects within the network structure.
• Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Economic research partner in EnEff:Stadt: SubWW2 project, providing economic analysis complementary to HRI's technical research on suburban district heating solutions.
• Environmental Centre Stuhr-Weyh e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Handles participative issues and represents the link between local actors and science in SubWW2 project, bridging research with community engagement.
• RWTH AachencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pulsed Jet ventilation research, representing one of four German universities in HVAC research network.
• Bionik und Evolutionstechnik - TU Berlin (Prof. Rechenberg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on BioNet project for bionic approaches to heat and cooling networks.
• TU Berlin, UdK BerlincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner universities in EnEff: HCBC 1 project for Berlin-Charlottenburg University Campus energy refurbishment (approximately 47 buildings).
• VattenfallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partner in EnEff: HCBC 1 campus refurbishment project.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP: Germany's leading applied research institute for building physics, including HVAC, indoor climate, and energy efficiency. Directly comparable to HRI as both conduct experimental and theoretical research in heating, ventilation, and IEQ, collaborate with industry partners, and influence German building standards.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE: Major German applied research institute covering building energy systems, heating technology, and HVAC integration with renewables. Comparable to HRI in research scope, federal/state funding model, industry partnerships, and standards influence in energy-efficient building technology.
• TU Dresden - Institute of Building Technology and Architecture: Direct peer university institute collaborating with HRI in the Hermann Rietschel Colloquium and sharing HVAC research focus. Both operate within the German EnOB/EnEff research framework and contribute to district heating and ventilation research.
• RWTH Aachen University - Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate (EBC): Direct peer university institute at RWTH Aachen that HRI explicitly collaborates with in the Hermann Rietschel Colloquium and pulsed jet ventilation research. Both conduct HVAC research, influence German standards, and partner with TU Berlin in joint ventures.
• University of Stuttgart - Institute for Building Energetics, Thermotechnology and Energy Storage (IGTE): Direct peer university institute participating in the Hermann Rietschel Colloquium network. Comparable through focus on building energy systems, heating technology, and applied HVAC research with overlapping industry partnerships.

Emerging players

• Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology (IEE): Fraunhofer institute focused on energy system transformation with overlap to HRI's district heating and building energy integration work. Provides a federal alternative for similar project funding, especially in EnEff: Stadt and integrated energy systems.
• University of California Berkeley - Center for the Built Environment (CBE): Internationally recognized academic research center for indoor environmental quality, HVAC, and building energy efficiency. Comparable to HRI in research methodology, industry-sponsored testing, and graduate education.

Regional players

• Danish Technological Institute (DTI) - Energy and Climate: European applied research institute with strong HVAC and indoor environment testing capabilities. Comparable to HRI through laboratory-based testing and consultancy services, project-based funding, and industry partnerships.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Northern European applied research institute with comparable HVAC, indoor environment, and energy efficiency research portfolio. Comparable to HRI through publicly funded research, university partnerships, and standards influence, but operates in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland Energy GmbH: Large German testing, inspection, and certification services firm with HVAC equipment testing capabilities. Comparable to HRI's STZ EKG testing services through commercial equipment testing and certification offerings, though TÜV operates at much broader scale across multiple industries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hermann-rietschel-institut5471
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hermann-rietschel-institut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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