ifuplan - Institut für Umweltplanung und Raumentwicklung GmbH & Co. KG

What ifuplan - Institut für Umweltplanung und Raumentwicklung GmbH & Co. KG does

ifuplan - Institut für Umweltplanung und Raumentwicklung GmbH & Co. KG is a Munich-based environmental planning and spatial development consultancy founded in 1992, organized as a privately held German GmbH & Co. KG and led by Geschäftsführer Stefan Marzelli. The firm delivers professional planning, assessment, and permitting services for both public administrations (municipalities, Bavarian state agencies, federal ministries such as BMWSB and BMUV, the German Environment Agency) and private infrastructure operators (TenneT TSO, DB Netz AG, Obermeyer Planen + Beraten, energy and rail developers). Its service portfolio spans integrated environmental assessment, species protection studies, FFH/Natura 2000 compatibility studies, strategic and project-level environmental impact assessments (UVP/SUP), landscape management plans, renaturation planning, environmental construction supervision, monitoring, ecosystem services assessment, and citizen participation moderation.

Technically, ifuplan relies on GIS-based spatial analysis combined with two proprietary methodologies developed in-house: SNK+ Struktur- und Nutzungskartierung, a structure-and-use mapping key used for area-wide baseline assessments and inference of European-protected species; and the Ecosystem Services Indexing Method, a generally available geodata-based framework for quantifying ecosystem service supply in municipal landscapes. Research-led capability development is sustained through participation in EU Interreg Alpine Space projects (PlanToConnect, Forest EcoValue, Central-BIC, NbS in den Alpen) and academic partnerships with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and TU Munich. The firm has completed over 550 projects across its 30+ year history and has acted as environmental planning lead or co-lead on Germany's most strategically important transmission corridor, the SuedOstLink HVDC project.

ifuplan's business model is straightforward professional services. Revenue is generated through project-by-project direct contracting with public sector clients (primarily through competitive public tendering) and private infrastructure operators. The firm leads and participates in consortia (notably ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD for SuedOstLink) and partners with peer consultancies (TNL Umweltplanung, PGL Hannover, Arcadis Germany, IBL Umweltplanung, planungsgruppe grün, Obermeyer Planen + Beraten, BERNARD Gruppe) and academic institutions. All work is delivered through a 23-person team based at the Munich headquarters, with no indirect sales channels, no software product, and no external equity capital. Geographic focus is Bavaria and the broader German market, with Alpine-region research engagement spanning Austria, France, Italy, and Slovenia.

Name

ifuplan - Institut für Umweltplanung und Raumentwicklung GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

ifuplan GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://ifuplan.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ifuplan is a Munich-based environmental planning and spatial development consultancy founded in 1992 that delivers environmental impact assessments, species protection studies, FFH compatibility analyses, and permitting support for major infrastructure. The firm serves Bavarian municipalities, German federal ministries, and private infrastructure operators including TenneT TSO and DB Netz AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Planning Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cumulative Effects, Alternatives Analysis & Mitigation Planning (EUAHAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Risk & Scenario Analysis (TCFD/IFRS S2) (EUAHAJAD), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation & Natural Resource Management Technical Assistance (BPADAEAJ)

Keywords

• Environmental planning services
• Spatial development consulting
• Environmental impact assessment
• Landscape management planning
• Biodiversity and nature conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Environmental Planning Services: ifuplan generates revenue through the provision of specialized professional services in environmental planning and spatial development. Services include environmental impact assessments, species protection studies, landscape management plans, Natura 2000 compatibility studies, strategic environmental assessments, and permitting procedures for infrastructure projects. Clients include both public administrations (municipalities, regional governments, federal ministries) and private-sector infrastructure operators (TenneT, DB Netz AG, energy companies). Projects are billed on a per-engagement basis, typically through direct contracting for specific planning and consulting mandates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ifuplan is a Munich-based environmental planning and spatial development consultancy delivering environmental impact assessments, species protection studies (saP), FFH/Natura 2000 compatibility studies, landscape management plans, strategic environmental assessments, and permitting support for major infrastructure projects. The firm combines ecological assessment, landscape planning, and GIS-based spatial analysis with proprietary methodologies (SNK+ mapping, Ecosystem Services Indexing) to serve both public administrations and private infrastructure operators across Germany and the Alpine region.

Product overview

ifuplan is a consulting firm offering environmental planning and spatial development services. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio organized into five main service categories: Umweltplanung (Environmental Planning) covering assessments, protection studies, and environmental impact assessments; Raumentwicklung (Spatial Development) focusing on area management and sustainable mobility; Forschung & Entwicklung (Research & Development) for ecosystem services and green economics; Information & Beratung (Information & Consulting) for procedural support and citizen participation; and Integrationsthemen & Innovationen (Integration Topics & Innovations) addressing renewable energies and climate adaptation. Services are delivered through specialized departments (Fachressorts) including energy, nature conservation, water management, transport, rural development, and pipeline construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environmental Planning Services (Umweltplanung) Comprehensive environmental planning services for public administrations and private infrastructure operators, covering integrated environmental assessment, species protection assessment (saP), compensation regulation and eco-accounts, FFH compatibility studies, landscape management plans, strategic environmental assessments (SUP), environmental impact assessments (UVP), renaturation planning, implementation planning, environmental construction supervision, monitoring, and biotope mapping.
• Spatial Development Services (Raumentwicklung) Spatial development services for municipalities and regional governments covering area/land management, sustainable mobility concepts, natural hazard management, municipal landscape planning, and green spatial planning (Grünordnungsplanung).
• Research and Development Services (Forschung & Entwicklung) Research and development services on ecosystem services and green economics, including the proprietary Ecosystem Services Indexing methodology developed with Bavarian partners, applied in Interreg Alpine Space projects such as PlanToConnect, Forest EcoValue, Central-BIC, and NbS in den Alpen.
• Information and Consulting Services (Information & Beratung)
• Integration Topics and Innovations Services (Integrationsthemen & Innovationen) Integrated services on cross-cutting environmental and spatial topics including renewable energies, biodiversity and nature conservation, climate change adaptation, and urban development, delivered as consulting, planning, and innovation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 550 projects successfully completed across environmental planning, spatial development, and research
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD (Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018ifuplan leads sections D3a and D3b as part of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium, working with Arcadis Germany GmbH, IBL Umweltplanung GmbH, planungsgruppe grün GmbH, and TNL Energie GmbH. The consortium was formed for environmental documentation in the SuedOstLink (SOL) project, a major high-voltage direct current transmission line between Wolmirstedt and Isar.
• TNL Umweltplanung (Hungen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan worked with TNL Umweltplanung in the Ostbayernring project for structure and use mapping (SNK+) in the Raumordnungsverfahren for the 380-kV replacement line Redwitz-Schwandorf.
• TNL Umweltplanung (Hungen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan collaborated with TNL Umweltplanung in the Ostbayernring Raumordnungsverfahren project.
• PlanungsGruppe Landespflege (PGL, Hannover)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan collaborates with PGL on multiple transmission line projects including Oberbachern-Ottenhofen (Raumordnungsverfahren) and Pirach-Pleinting (Raumordnungsverfahren).
• Obermeyer Planen + BeratencoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan works with Obermeyer Planen + Beraten on infrastructure projects including Stuttgart 21 PfA 1.3a (with GÖG) and Tunnel Offenburg (Karlsruhe-Basel rail expansion).
• TenneT TSO GmbH (Bayreuth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTenneT TSO GmbH is a recurring client and partner on multiple high-voltage transmission line projects including Ostbayernring, SuedOstLink (sections D3a and D3b), Pirach-Pleinting, and Oberbachern-Ottenhofen. ifuplan provides environmental documentation and permitting support for these critical energy infrastructure projects.
• 50Hertz (Transmission System Operator)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner50Hertz and TenneT jointly plan the SuedOstLink project, with ifuplan providing environmental planning services for the German section. ifuplan's work on sections D3a and D3b supports the joint TenneT/50Hertz transmission project.
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan jointly with FAU's Geographical Institute advises the Federal Ministry for Housing, Building and Urban Development (BMWSB) on implementing the Spatial Planning Protocol of the Alpine Convention, supporting the Working Group on Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development.
• Technische Universität München (TUM) - Chair for Hydrology and River Basin ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan cooperates with TUM in the Auerbergland project, where a student project at the Chair for Hydrology develops suitable measures for pilot areas in cooperation with the municipalities.
• CIPRA InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan (as lead) and CIPRA International jointly prepare a report on nature-based solutions (NbS) and their governance structures in the Alpine region, commissioned by the German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).
• DIE STADTENTWICKLER KaufbeurenminorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan collaborated with DIE STADTENTWICKLER on the integrated urban development concept (ISEK) for Markt Kühbach.
• Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz (BMUV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMUV co-finances ifuplan's participation in Interreg Alpine Space projects PlanToConnect and Forest EcoValue, providing national co-financing alongside EU ERDF support.
• Arcadis Germany GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium working on SuedOstLink environmental documentation.
• IBL Umweltplanung GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium working on SuedOstLink environmental documentation.
• planungsgruppe grün GmbH (Bremen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium working on SuedOstLink environmental documentation.
• TNL Energie GmbH (Hungen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium working on SuedOstLink environmental documentation.
• BERNARD Gruppe Holding ZT GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan collaborated with BERNARD Gruppe in preparing documents for the Raumverträglichkeitsprüfung (spatial compatibility assessment) for the Energiewende-Leitung ChemDelta project (380-kV line Burghausen-Simbach II).
• Interreg Alpine Space Programme - Forest EcoValue ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForest EcoValue is a transnational project involving 10 organizations from 5 Alpine countries (Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia). Consortium includes Finpiemonte SpA (coordinator), FLA Lombardy Foundation for Environment, Holzcluster Steiermark, University of Graz, Slovenian Forestry Administration, INRAE France, CNPF Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and ONF France. ifuplan is the German partner.
• Interreg Alpine Space Programme - PlanToConnect ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanToConnect is a transnational project with 11 institutions from 5 Alpine countries. Partners include UIRS Slovenia (coordinator), SIR Salzburg, E.C.O. Institut für Ökologie, University of Würzburg, Region Veneto, Eurac Research, Municipality of Sondrio, Polytechnic University of Milan Foundation, ALPARC, and Asters. ifuplan is the German partner.
• Interreg Alpine Space Programme - Central-BIC ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan participates as a partner in the Central-BIC (Central Europe Biodiversity Innovative Communities) project under the Interreg Central Europe programme, focused on biodiversity conservation and innovative community approaches in the Alpine region.
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK) / Bundesministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Stadtentwicklung (BMWSB)majorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan advises BMWSB on implementing the Spatial Planning Protocol of the Alpine Convention and participates in projects co-financed by BMWK through the Living Lab initiative.
• Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (LfU) / Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege (ANL)majorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan partners with LfU and ANL in the 'Landschaftsplanung in Bayern – kommunal und innovativ' project, developing ecosystem services indexing methods for municipal landscape planning in Bavaria.
• Landschaftspflegeverband OstallgäuminorStrategic or Co-development Partnerifuplan cooperates with the Ostallgäu Landscape Conservation Association in meadow projects, working together on seed collection from local donor areas for the Heublumensaat method.
• MyWebsiteServiceminorOthersMyWebsiteService provides web design and technical implementation for ifuplan's website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• planungsgruppe grün GmbH: Bremen-based landscape and environmental planning consultancy covering UVP, FFH, and landscape management plans. Member of the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium, directly competing and cooperating with ifuplan on federal infrastructure mandates.
• Bosch & Partner GmbH: German environmental consulting firm offering environmental impact assessments, landscape planning, and GIS-based analyses. Closely comparable in services, geographic footprint, and client mix to ifuplan.
• ÖKOPLAN: Bavarian environmental and landscape planning consultancy serving municipalities and infrastructure operators. Overlaps with ifuplan in municipal landscape plans, FFH studies, and environmental impact assessments in southern Germany.
• Froelich & Sporbeck GmbH: Established German environmental and landscape planning consultancy with comparable UVP, FFH, and species-protection capabilities. Competes with ifuplan for infrastructure permitting and municipal landscape planning contracts across Germany.
• TNL Umweltplanung: German environmental planning consultancy headquartered in Hungen, specializing in biotope mapping, species protection, and FFH assessments. Repeated co-bidder and consortium partner with ifuplan on TenneT transmission line projects (Ostbayernring, SuedOstLink).
• IBL Umweltplanung GmbH: Bavarian environmental planning firm offering UVP, FFH, and species-protection services. Sits alongside ifuplan in the ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD consortium for SuedOstLink D3a/D3b, indicating near-identical service lines and shared clients.

Broad incumbents

• BERNARD Gruppe: Austria-based engineering group with German operations covering environmental planning, spatial compatibility assessments, and infrastructure design. Collaborated with ifuplan on the Energiewende-Leitung ChemDelta project, demonstrating overlapping service lines.
• Arcadis Germany GmbH: Global design and consultancy firm with a large German environmental planning practice. Partner in ARGE SOL UMWELT SÜD and a broader incumbent that competes with ifuplan for large framework contracts while also subcontracting smaller firms.

Regional players

• Tragswerk Ingenieure + Planer: Southern German engineering consultancy providing environmental planning, GIS, and infrastructure services. Comparable in client mix (public sector + infrastructure operators) though less focused on Alpine/biodiversity niches.

Others

• CIPRA International: Alpine Commission for the protection of the Alps; partner of ifuplan on the Umweltbundesamt nature-based solutions study. Adjacent rather than competing — operates as a knowledge and policy network that ifuplan serves and contributes to.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifuplan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 →

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