IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology

What IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology does

IBO is an independent, non-profit scientific association founded in 1980 in Vienna, Austria, with its commercial service subsidiary IBO GmbH established in 1997. The organization specializes in the intersection of building construction, ecology, and indoor environmental health, operating as both a research institute and a professional services provider for the Austrian and broader DACH sustainable building market.

The organization's core offerings span four interlinked domains: (1) building assessment and certification, including the proprietary IBO ÖKOPASS residential quality passport (operational since 2001, with 400+ certified complexes), klimaaktiv Gold certification partnerships, and accreditations for LEED, EU GreenBuilding, Passivhaus, and TQB/ÖGNB systems; (2) materials ecology services, including the OI3 ecological index, EI/EI10 disposal indicator, eco2soft lifecycle assessment platform, baubook product database, and the IBO mark of conformity for construction products (5-year validity); (3) building physics and consulting, covering moisture/mold damage, internal insulation, comfort monitoring, acoustics, and on-site measurements; and (4) knowledge dissemination through the BauZ! annual congress (since 2004, now at TU Wien), Werkstattgespräche workshop series, IBOmagazin online, Kitting yearbook, and Austria's largest specialized library on ecological building (~7,000 titles).

Revenue is generated through professional services fees (telephone consulting at €42 per 15-minute block, institute/online at €145/hour, on-site visits at €350), project-based building certification engagements, product certification fees from construction material manufacturers, annual membership fees (€75/year ordinary, €38/year student/pensioner), and ancillary book/publication sales through the IBO bookstore. Customer segments include Austrian housing developers and non-profit housing associations, architects and planners, public institutions (schools, hospitals), construction product manufacturers, and private homeowners. The organization is funded in part by government research grants from the Klima- und Energiefonds, with membership in the ACR cooperative research network and operational partnerships with klimaaktiv, natureplus, and ÖGNB.

Name

IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology

Legal name

IBO - Österreichisches Institut für Bauen und Ökologie GmbH

Website

https://ibo.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBO is an independent Austrian non-profit scientific institute (founded 1980) and service GmbH (1997) providing building ecology consulting, lifecycle assessment tools (OI3, eco2soft, baubook), and certifications (ÖKOPASS, klimaaktiv, LEED, Passivhaus) for Austrian and DACH housing developers, architects, product manufacturers, and public institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Building Certification and Ecological Building Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

EIA/ESIA Documentation & Technical Studies (Air/Water/Noise/Traffic) (EUAHAAAC)

Keywords

• Sustainable building certification
• Building ecology consulting
• Ecological product testing
• Building lifecycle assessment
• Building physics consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting Services: Technical consulting for building construction questions delivered via telephone (€42 per 15-minute block), at the institute or online (€145/hour, €110 for members), and on-site visits (€350, €285 for members). Also includes indoor space consulting for homebuyers and renovation projects.
2. Product Testing and Certification: IBO conducts building biology and building ecology testing of construction products. Products passing evaluation receive the IBO mark of conformity, valid for five years. Revenue generated through certification fees for manufacturers of construction products.
3. Building Certification Services: Audit accompaniment and certification execution for national (IBO ÖKOPASS, klimaaktiv) and international (LEED, EU GreenBuilding, Passivhaus) building rating systems. Includes product management and LCA calculations (OI3) as part of certification packages.
4. Membership Fees: Ordinary membership (€75/year) and extraordinary membership (€75/year, €38 for students/pensioners) providing free telephone consultation, reduced consulting rates, library access, and bookstore discounts. Private individuals, professionals, and companies support the association through membership.
5. Publishing and Book Sales: IBO publishes scientific works including the annual Kitting yearbook, BauZ! congress proceedings, and the IBO Magazine. These are distributed through the IBO specialized bookstore. Revenue from book sales supplements the organization's activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IBO provides independent research, consulting, testing, and certification services for sustainable and healthy building. Its core offerings include the IBO ÖKOPASS residential building quality passport, klimaaktiv/LEED/EU GreenBuilding/Passivhaus audit accompaniment, building product testing with the IBO Prüfzeichen conformity mark, lifecycle assessments (OI3, eco2soft), building physics consulting (moisture/mold, acoustics, internal insulation), and on-site measurement services for sound, pollutants, and air tightness. The organization also operates Austria's largest specialized library on ecological building and the annual BauZ! congress.

Product overview

IBO is an independent, non-profit scientific association (founded 1980) and its subsidiary IBO GmbH (founded 1997) providing research, consulting, and certification services for ecological and healthy building. The organization operates as a service-based institute rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include the IBO ÖKOPASS building quality certification system, various software tools for ecological building assessment (IBO Richtwerte-Tabelle/baubook, eco2soft for lifecycle assessment, OI3 calculation guide, AWR calculator, disposal indicator EI, and Passive House component catalog), building assessment certifications (klimaaktiv, EU Taxonomy, EU GreenBuilding, LEED, Passive House), and measurement services. The organization also disseminates knowledge through the annual BauZ! Congress, IBO Magazine online, the Kitting yearbook, workshops, and maintains Austria's largest library on ecological building with approximately 7,000 specialized titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IBO ÖKOPASS Building Quality Certification
• IBO Prüfzeichen Product Certification
• Building Assessment Services
• Building Material Ecology Services
• Building Physics Consulting Services
• Measurement and Monitoring Services
• Technical Consulting (Telephone, Online, On-Site)
• eco2soft Building Lifecycle Assessment Tool
• baubook Online Ecological Product Database
• AWR Ecological Profitability and Amortisation Calculator
• IBO Association Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ residential building complexes certified under IBO ÖKOPASS since 2001
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACR – Austrian Cooperative ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBO is a member of ACR, an Austrian network of applied research institutes. ACR enables collaboration across member institutes on shared research challenges and provides cross-institutional knowledge sharing and project cooperation.
• ÖGNB – Österreichische Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges BauencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBO is a founding member of ÖGNB, the Austrian Society for Sustainable Building. ÖGNB develops the TQB (Total Quality Building) certification system, and IBO contributes expertise in building assessment methodologies.
• natureplus – Internationaler Verein für zukunftsfähiges Bauen und WohnencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBO serves as a testing and certification body for the natureplus environmental label for construction products. natureplus is an international association promoting sustainable building and living, operating across Europe.
• klimaaktiv Kooperationspartner NetzwerkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIBO is a certified partner for klimaaktiv building certification, conducting assessments and issuing certifications under Austria's national sustainable building label operated by the Austrian Federal Ministry. IBO is listed as a klimaaktiv cooperation partner.
• AEE – Institut für Nachhaltige TechnologienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEE INTEC is an institute for sustainable technologies based in Austria. Collaboration with IBO on topics of building physics, energy efficiency, and sustainable construction research.
• Bau.Energie.Umwelt Cluster NiederösterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLower Austrian cluster for construction, energy, and environment facilitating networking between research institutions and industry in the region. IBO participates in cluster activities related to sustainable construction.
• IBO Innenraumanalytik OGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBO Innenraumanalytik is a chemical laboratory and technical office for indoor environment analysis. Operates as a related entity offering specialized indoor air quality testing and consulting services using IBO methodologies.
• GRÜNSTATTGRAU – Forschungs- und Innovations GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÜNSTATTGRAU is an Austrian research and innovation company focused on green building and urban greening. Collaboration with IBO on building greening research projects including MARGRET (building greening effects).
• Netzwerk Lehm e. V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBO is a member of the Austrian Network for Rammed Earth, an association promoting clay construction and connecting clay building professionals in Austria.
• Fachverband Innendämmung e.V. (FVID)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman professional association for internal insulation. IBO contributes expertise in internal insulation research and collaborates on standards development for internal thermal insulation solutions.
• Österreichische EnergieagenturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Energy Agency promotes sustainable energy use. IBO collaborates on energy efficiency in buildings and sustainable construction research initiatives.
• Umweltdachverband ÖsterreichminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Umbrella Association for Environmental Organizations. IBO is a member, contributing to the environmental NGO sector's expertise in sustainable construction and healthy building.
• RENOWAVE.ATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria's central platform for climate-neutral renovation, driving the renovation rate in Austrian housing stock. IBO contributes technical expertise on renovation concepts and building assessment.
• Spektrum – Bauphysik & Bauökologie GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian consultancy specializing in building physics and building ecology. Board member Karl Torghele represents Spektrum at IBO's association board, indicating close collaborative ties.
• Universität für Weiterbildung Krems – Department für Bauen und UmweltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanube University Krems offers continuing education in construction and environment. IBO contributes expertise to academic programs and collaborates on research in sustainable building.
• Energieinstitut VorarlbergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional energy institute in Vorarlberg, Austria. Collaboration with IBO on building physics research and sustainable construction topics specific to the Alpine region.
• bauXund Forschung und Beratung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian research and consulting firm focused on sustainable construction. Collaborative partner within the ACR network on building ecology and health-related building research.
• ÖkoKauf WienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienna City's program for ecological procurement. IBO contributes expertise on ecologically optimized tendering criteria and product selection for sustainable public procurement.
• naBe – Österreichischer Aktionsplan zur nachhaltigen öffentlichen BeschaffungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Action Plan for Sustainable Public Procurement. IBO provides technical input on construction product sustainability criteria for public procurement guidelines.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Passivhaus Institut: Passivhaus Institut is the German-origin developer of the Passive House standard and certifier of buildings and components. IBO delivers Passivhaus certification as a partner — same product (Passivhaus component catalog and certification), overlapping methodology, and overlapping architect/developer customer base.
• natureplus e.V. natureplus is an international association for sustainable building that issues environmental labels for construction products. IBO acts as a natureplus testing and certification body, making them operationally a peer in the same product-certification value chain serving the same construction-product manufacturers.
• Österreichische Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (ÖGNB): ÖGNB develops the TQB (Total Quality Building) certification system in Austria. IBO is a founding member and provides building assessment expertise under the same national sustainable-building framework — directly comparable as a national building-certification body with overlapping methodology and client base.
• BauXund Forschung und Beratung GmbH: BauXund is an Austrian research and consulting firm focused on sustainable construction, building ecology, and health-related building topics. Closely comparable as a small domestic consulting/research firm competing for the same Austrian architects, developers, and product manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen): DGNB is Germany's national sustainable-building certification system with a much broader portfolio and significantly larger scale than IBO. Comparable as a multi-criteria building rating body serving the DACH developer/architect market, but operating across the full lifecycle scope at a national rather than institute scale.
• BRE Group (BREEAM): BRE operates the BREEAM family of building certification schemes globally. Comparable to IBO's building rating/assessment work (LEED/EU GreenBuilding/Passivhaus delivery), but at a much larger international scale with broader portfolio of standards and tools.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): USGBC owns and operates the LEED green-building rating system, for which IBO acts as a delivery partner. Comparable as a global building-certification body with overlapping international label portfolio and developer/architect customer base, but at vastly greater scale.

Others

• ib-data GmbH (baubook): ib-data operates the baubook ecological-product database and digital tools closely integrated with IBO's baubook-based services (eco2soft, AWR). It functions as a technology partner in the same ACR network — comparable as an enabling software/data vendor in the Austrian ecological-construction ecosystem.

Emerging players

• GRÜNSTATTGRAU – Forschungs- und Innovations GmbH: GRÜNSTATTGRAU is an Austrian research and innovation company focused on building greening and urban green infrastructure, collaborating with IBO on the MARGRET research project. Comparable as a niche Austrian research firm operating in the sustainable-building ecosystem with overlapping public/institutional clients.

Regional players

• Energieinstitut Vorarlberg: Energieinstitut Vorarlberg is a regional Austrian energy and building-physics institute collaborating with IBO on Alpine-region sustainable-construction research. Comparable as a small applied-research institute offering building physics and energy consulting to planners and developers, primarily within Austria.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibo-institut-bauen-oekologie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IBO - Austrian Institute for Building and Ecology