What ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz does

ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz (ICT-BZ), founded in 1994 as VFI and renamed in 2015, is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) headquartered in Kriens, Lucerne. It operates as the mandated Organisation der Arbeitswelt (OdA) for ICT vocational training across six central Swiss cantons (LU, NW, OW, ZG, UR, SZ), with a workforce of approximately 55 employees (including apprentices and named staff). The association coordinates the training of ICT apprentices between training companies, vocational schools, and cantonal authorities — a Drehscheibenfunktion (hub function) explicitly granted via cantonal Leistungsauftrag (performance mandates).

ICT-BZ delivers a portfolio of educational services rather than proprietary technology products. Core offerings include inter-company courses (üK) for four ICT professions (Informatiker/in EFZ, Mediamatiker/in EFZ, ICT-Fachfrau/-mann EFZ, and the 2023-introduced Entwickler/in digitales Business EFZ), qualification procedures and final examinations (LAP/QV), base year programs (Basislehrjahr) in Informatics and Mediamatics, a Mediamatik training-company network (Lehrbetriebsverbund, since 2020), trial days (ICT-Schnuppertage), the 24-hour Zentral Hackathon co-hosted with Hochschule Luzern, and Berufsmarketing for ICT careers. Supporting tools include OdAOrg (course management, introduced 2025 by ivaris), PkOrg, and SEPHIR for examination administration. The organization maintains a network of 200+ member companies and reached approximately 14,000 students and 11,000 adults at the 2026 Zebi education fair.

Revenue mechanics combine three streams: (1) recurring membership subscriptions (CHF 300/year collective corporate, CHF 50/year individual) that confer voting rights and reduced üK rates, (2) pay-as-you-go fees for Schnuppertage (CHF 80 for 2 days, CHF 100 for 3 days) and non-member üK daily rates (CHF 300), and (3) the cantonal Leistungsauftrag, which is the primary funding mechanism underwriting the association's coordination role. The go-to-market is event-driven (Zebi, Zentral Hack, Schnuppertage) and community-led, targeting two primary segments: training companies seeking to host ICT apprentices, and secondary-school students (7th–8th grade) considering ICT careers.

Name

ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz

Legal name

Verein ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz

Website

https://ict-bz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz (ICT-BZ) is a Swiss non-profit association acting as the mandated Organisation der Arbeitswelt coordinating ICT vocational training — inter-company courses, examinations, base-year programs, and career marketing — across six central Swiss cantons for training companies and secondary-school students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education and Training Coordination

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Telecom, Unified Communications & VoIP (EDAOAIAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Networking & Systems Administration Training (BPAEANAJ), Telecommunications & Networking (EDAAAPAF)

Keywords

• Vocational ICT training
• Apprenticeship coordination
• Inter-company courses
• Qualification procedures
• Career exploration events

Headquarters

HQ city

Kriens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Companies pay annual membership fees to belong to the association: CHF 300 per year for collective membership, CHF 50 per year for individual membership. Members receive a reduced inter-company course (üK) daily rate of CHF 230 instead of CHF 300.
2. Course and event fees: ICT-BZ charges fees for Schnuppertage (try-out courses): CHF 80 for 2 days, CHF 100 for 3 days. These fees cover materials, infrastructure, and organization.
3. Cantonal Leistungsauftrag (performance mandate): As an OdA with a cantonal mandate, ICT-BZ receives public funding to coordinate ICT vocational training across the cantons of LU, NW, OW, ZG, UR, and SZ in central Switzerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz (ICT-BZ) is the mandated Organisation der Arbeitswelt (OdA) that coordinates ICT vocational training across the six cantons of Central Switzerland. It organizes and delivers inter-company courses (üK), base-year programs (Basislehrjahr), a training-company network (Lehrbetriebsverbund), ICT-Schnuppertage trial days, the Zentral Hack hackathon, and the administration of qualification procedures for four ICT professions.

Product overview

ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz is an Organization of the Working World (OdA) that operates as a coordinating hub for ICT vocational education in Central Switzerland. The organization does not offer a single software product but rather provides a portfolio of educational services including: inter-company courses (üK) for four ICT professions (Informatiker/in EFZ, Mediamatiker/in EFZ, ICT-Fachfrau/-mann EFZ, Entwickler/in digitales Business EFZ), qualification procedures and examination management, base year programs (Basislehrjahr), a training company network, trial days (ICT-Schnuppertage), the Zentral Hackathon event, and the Zebi educational fair. These services are supported by Berufsmarketing activities connecting with industry partners, schools, and cantonal authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Überbetriebliche Kurse (üK) - Inter-Company Courses Standardized inter-company courses covering practical training components for ICT apprenticeships, delivered by ICT-BZ as the mandated OdA. Covers four ICT professions: Informatiker/in EFZ (Applikationsentwicklung/Plattformentwicklung), Mediamatiker/in EFZ, ICT-Fachfrau/-mann EFZ, and Entwickler/in digitales Business EFZ. Priced at CHF 230/day for members and CHF 300/day for non-members. Targeted at training companies and apprentices in Central Switzerland.
• Qualifikationsverfahren (QV) - Qualification Procedures Administration and delivery of qualification procedures including LAP (Lehrabschlussprüfung), IPA (Individualprüfung/Praktische Arbeit), and VPA assessments. Chief examiners and deputy chief examiners are assigned per professional domain (Informatik and Mediamatik). Targeted at apprentices completing ICT vocational training and their training companies.
• ICT-Schnuppertage (Trial Days) Structured 2-3 day programs for secondary school students (up to 18 years old) to explore the six ICT professions through practical projects. Small groups of maximum 10 participants. Priced at CHF 80 for 2 days and CHF 100 for 3 days. Multiple courses per year (Kurs 1-4). Targeted at secondary school students (Sekundarschüler:innen, 7th-8th grade) considering ICT apprenticeships.
• Zentral Hack (Hackathon) 24-hour innovation-format hackathon providing young talents a stage to develop ideas, solve challenges, and demonstrate skills. Held at Hochschule Luzern - Informatik, Campus Zug-Rotkreuz. Targeted at young ICT talents in Central Switzerland for talent development and networking.
• Basislehrjahr Informatik und Mediamatik (Base Year Programs) Foundational base year programs providing training before the start of an apprenticeship for Informatik (Application Development and Platform Development) and Mediamatik streams. Informatics base year started with 19 learners in 2020, second class started in 2024. Targeted at prospective ICT apprentices seeking foundational training before entering formal apprenticeships.
• Lehrbetriebsverbund ICT-BZ (Training Company Network) Training company network (Lehrbetriebsverbund) for Mediamatik apprentices, enabling shared apprenticeship delivery across multiple companies. Successfully conducted since 2020. Targeted at small and medium companies that cannot offer a full Mediamatik apprenticeship alone, allowing them to pool resources.
• Zebi - Zentralschweizer Bildungsmesse Participation Central Swiss education fair platform where ICT-BZ exhibits to reach approximately 14,000 students and 11,000 adults over 4 days, presenting 150 professions and 600+ continuing education offerings alongside 200 exhibitors. Targeted at secondary school students in career choice and adults interested in continuing education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zebi reaches 14,000 students, 11,000 adults, and 200 exhibitors over 4 days across 150 professions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UMB AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021UMB AG and ICT-BZ jointly organized the Young Talents Hackathon in 2021 and 2022. This partnership specifically targets young talent development and is a key Berufsmarketing initiative.
• ICT-Berufsbildung SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation of ICT vocational training organizations. ICT-BZ maintains contact with this umbrella association as part of its Berufsmarketing mandate and OdA coordination role. The partnership provides alignment with national ICT training standards.
• GRID Lucerne (Gemeinsame regionale Initiative für digitale Wirtschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRID Lucerne is a regional initiative for the digital economy. ICT-BZ partners with GRID Lucerne to strengthen Berufsmarketing for ICT professions and promote digital skills development in central Switzerland.
• Focusmem AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partnership and cooperation partner on ICT-BZ website. Focusmem AG appears to be a memory/learning solutions provider in Switzerland.
• Berufsmaturität ZentralschweizminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Berufsmaturitaet central Switzerland organization to support the vocational baccalaureate pathway for ICT apprentices.
• Hochschule Luzern – InformatikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSLU-Informatik hosts the Zentral Hackathon event jointly organized with ICT-BZ. The partnership connects ICT-BZ's apprenticeship mission with higher education pathways. HSLU's Campus Zug-Rotkreuz is the venue for Zentral Hack.
• IG HBB (Innovative Gewerbe Schweiz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a cooperation partner. IGHBB represents innovative trades and businesses in Switzerland, aligning with ICT-BZ's mission to promote ICT professions.
• Various cantonal bodies (Kantone LU, NW, OW, ZG, UR, SZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICT-BZ operates under Leistungsauftrag (performance mandates) from the cantons of central Switzerland. These cantonal governments fund and oversee the organization's coordination of ICT vocational training across the region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ict-bz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 ICT-Berufsbildung Zentralschweiz