Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

What Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin does

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW Berlin) is a publicly funded German University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften) and the largest institution of its kind in Berlin, with approximately 16,000 students and around 80 accredited degree programs (40+ Bachelor, 30+ Master, plus MBA) spanning Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Design & Culture, Construction & Real Estate, Energy & Environment, Health, and Law. Founded in 1994, the university operates from two Berlin campuses — Wilhelminenhof (Oberschöneweide, since 2006) and Treskowallee (Karlshorst, since 1991) — with more than 100 laboratories and studios supporting applied, practice-oriented teaching.

The core educational product is delivered via an integrated digital ecosystem: an online application portal (bewerbung.htw-berlin.de), the Moodle learning management system, LSF campus management (course registration, exam enrollment, grades), the HTW Campus App (schedules, grades, campus services), an Online-Forschungskatalog (research catalog of publications, projects, patents), the Mediathek (educational media library), and the multi-function HTW StudentCard. Specialized applied research projects include the Future Realities Lab's Hyper-Irrealismus VR series and the KRIKO-BE crisis communication project (in partnership with Fraunhofer FOKUS and Berliner Feuerwehr), supported by Berlin Senate funding and the IFAF Berlin consortium.

Revenue is generated primarily through State of Berlin institutional funding (performance-based), supplemented by modest semester fees (covering student services and the Deutschlandsemesterticket), third-party research grants (DFG, BMBF, EU, IFAF), continuing education programs, facility rental, donations via the Förderverein, and Deutschlandstipendium corporate sponsorships. Tuition is free for all students regardless of nationality. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer through online applications and on-campus instruction (max 40 students per group), supplemented by international exchange via 160 partner universities, enterprise recruitment via the Career Service Stellenticket portal, and industry research partnerships. Marketing relies on a multi-channel approach — website, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts, newsletters, and recurring events (Studieninfotage, Match deinen Master, Werkschau).

Name

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

Legal name

Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

Website

https://htw-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

HTW Berlin is Berlin's largest public University of Applied Sciences, delivering tuition-free applied degree programs to ~16,000 students across two campuses, funded by the State of Berlin and supplemented by research grants, semester fees, and continuing education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Public Funding: As a public university of applied sciences (Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften), HTW Berlin receives primary funding from the German state of Berlin (Land Berlin) based on performance agreements and institutional funding formulas.
2. Third-Party Research Funding: Research projects funded by external sponsors including IFAF Berlin, EU research programs, national funding agencies (DFG, BMBF), and industry partners. Project funding supports specific research activities and collaborations.
3. Continuing Education Programs: Fee-based continuing education courses and programs for professionals, including executive education, professional development seminars, and part-time/study-while-working programs through the Center for Continuing Education.
4. Semester Fees: Semester fees paid by students cover administrative costs, student services, and the Germany-wide semester ticket for public transportation. These fees are paid before each semester begins.
5. Facility Rental and Event Services: Revenue from renting event spaces, lecture halls, and facilities to external organizations. The university also generates income from room rentals at both campuses.
6. Donations and Sponsorship: Donations from alumni and supporters through the Förderverein (Friends and Supporters association), Germany Stipendium corporate sponsorships, and various scholarship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

HTW Berlin is a public University of Applied Sciences that delivers tuition-free degree programs (approximately 80 Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs) across business, engineering, computer science, design, culture, construction, energy, health, and law. The university supplements teaching with applied research projects, continuing professional education, career services, and a digital learning infrastructure serving around 16,000 students across two Berlin campuses.

Product overview

HTW Berlin operates as a University of Applied Sciences offering a comprehensive digital ecosystem for educational services. The core offering consists of approximately 80 accredited degree programmes (40+ Bachelor, 30+ Master) spanning Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Culture, Construction, Energy, and Health disciplines. This portfolio is supported by an integrated digital infrastructure including the main website portal, HTW Campus App (mobile access to schedules, grades, and campus services), Moodle LMS (learning management), LSF Campus Management (registration and academic records), the Online Research Catalog (publications and research projects), Mediathek (educational media), and the HTW StudentCard (multi-functional ID). Research activities include specialized projects such as the Hyper-Irrealismus VR initiative at the Future Realities Lab and the KRIKO-BE crisis communication project. The institution maintains two campuses (Wilhelminenhof and Treskowallee) with over 100 laboratories and studios, serving approximately 16,000 students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Degree Programs (40+ Bachelor, 30+ Master) Accredited study programs at Bachelor, Master, and MBA levels spanning Business & Management, Engineering, Computer Science, Design & Culture, Construction & Real Estate, Energy & Environment, Health, and Law for prospective students and working professionals.
• Continuing Education Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% student recommendation rate (StudyCheck Award 2026)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFAF Berlin (Institut für angewandte Forschung Berlin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTW Berlin is part of IFAF Berlin, a consortium of four Berlin universities (HTW, ASH, BHT, HWR) conducting applied research. IFAF funds research projects addressing Berlin-specific challenges, including the KRIKO-BE project on crisis communication following Berlin power outages in 2025/26.
• European University Association (EUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTW Berlin is a member of EUA, a European university network that brings together over 800 universities and national rectors' conferences to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy development in European higher education.
• HAWtech (Hochschulallianz)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of German Universities of Applied Sciences for joint research initiatives, student exchange, and shared resources. HAWtech promotes the profile and visibility of applied sciences in Germany.
• FHnetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of German Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen) for collaboration and knowledge sharing in research and teaching.
• European University Alliance (EUonAIR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTW Berlin participates in EUonAIR, a European university alliance providing mobility programs, joint degrees, and collaborative teaching initiatives for students and staff across partner institutions.
• 160 Partner Universities WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of 160 partner universities in Europe and overseas enabling student exchange, staff mobility, double/joint degree programs, and collaborative research projects.
• Clubcommission Berlin e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin club association partnering with HTW's Future Realities Lab for the Rising Spaces immersive art exhibition project combining VR installations with club culture.
• Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und BetriebecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs provides public cultural funding for projects like Rising Spaces, supporting the collaboration between HTW and cultural institutions.
• Fraunhofer-Institut FOKUScoreTechnology or IntegrationResearch partner in the KRIKO-BE crisis communication project. Fraunhofer FOKUS contributes expertise in digital communication systems and crisis management technologies.
• Berliner FeuerwehrcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin Fire Department is a project partner in KRIKO-BE, providing operational insights on crisis communication needs and helping develop practical solutions for emergency situations.
• Berlin PartnercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlin Partner is a network organization connecting businesses, science institutions, and the Berlin government to promote innovation and economic development in the city.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hochschule Darmstadt (h_da): Mid-sized German UAS with strong engineering, design, and business programs. Comparable in mission and structure; appears alongside HTW in many German UAS rankings and consortia.
• Technische Hochschule Köln (TH Köln): One of Germany's largest public UAS institutions with comparable disciplinary breadth (engineering, business, design, applied social sciences). Competes for the same national rankings and for corporate applied-research funding.
• Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT, formerly Beuth University): Berlin's other major technical UAS, offering engineering, business, and design programs under the same applied-sciences mandate. Competes directly with HTW for technical students and is also part of the IFAF Berlin research consortium.
• Hochschule München (Munich University of Applied Sciences): Germany's largest UAS by student count, with a similar broad portfolio of applied business, engineering, design, and social science programs. Direct national competitor in WirtschaftsWoche FH-Rankings and in attracting international students.
• Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig (HTWK Leipzig): A UAS sharing HTW's exact disciplinary breadth (Technik, Wirtschaft, Kultur) with a similar size profile and teaching-focused applied-research mandate. Competes with HTW for national recognition and student mobility.
• Hochschule Bremen: Major German UAS in northern Germany with similar practice-oriented teaching model and comparable scale. Competes with HTW in national UAS rankings and for international student recruitment.
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt UAS): Large Frankfurt-based UAS with comparable disciplinary breadth and applied-science orientation. Direct peer in national FH-Rankings and HAWtech network membership.
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin): Another large Berlin-based University of Applied Sciences with a similar applied-science, practice-oriented mandate. Direct competitor for Berlin students, state funding allocations, and corporate partnerships; both are members of IFAF Berlin.

Regional players

• Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin: Berlin-based UAS specializing in social work, health, and education. Co-member of IFAF Berlin research consortium; competes regionally for students and state funding rather than for disciplinary overlap.

Others

• HAWtech (Hochschulallianz für angewandte Wissenschaften): Alliance of leading German UAS including HTW Berlin; relevant as a peer ecosystem for joint research, mobility, and policy coordination among Germany's top applied-science institutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HTWBerlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/htwberlin
• Instagraminstagram.com/htwberlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin