Institut für kommunale Planung und Entwicklung

What Institut für kommunale Planung und Entwicklung does

Institut f\u00fcr kommunale Planung und Entwicklung (IKPE) is a registered non-profit association (e.V.) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Erfurt, Thuringia, with approximately 9 staff. The institute provides applied social-science research, data-based needs assessments, process moderation, and strategic planning services to German municipalities \u2014 principally the 17 Thuringian Gebietsk\u00f6rperschaften, with selected mandates in Sachsen-Anhalt and Rheinland-Pfalz. Its core product portfolio comprises the Th\u00fcringer Pr\u00e4ventionsketten programme (cross-sectoral prevention chains for child poverty), the Servicestelle kommunale Pflegestrukturplanung Th\u00fcringen (serkoP, running through 2028), and ESF Plus-funded Prozessbegleitung for municipal social-strategy development, supported by proprietary methodologies such as Integrierte strategische Sozialplanung, Foresight/Zukunftswerkstatt, and Wirkungskreislauf.

IKPE's underlying technology stack is methodological rather than software-based: participatory and foresight research design, scientific network analysis, online survey infrastructure (e.g., Limesurvey), and effect/impact-cycle analysis. The institute co-organised a Fachtag on AI in social planning in March 2025, but does not develop proprietary AI/ML models. Its business model is project-funded, not commercial: revenue derives from state-mandated commissions (notably from the Th\u00fcringer Ministerium f\u00fcr Soziales, Gesundheit, Arbeit und Familie), ESF/ESF Plus programme allocations (Armutspr\u00e4ventionsrichtlinie 2015\u20132022; ESF Plus Sozialstrategierichtlinie since 2022), foundation grants (Auridis Stiftung), and ancillary publication royalties. Demand generation is built on owned Fachtage and Jahrestagungen, conference participation (DJHT, Deutscher F\u00fcrsorgetag, ESSC Malta), publications (Springer Gabler, BeltzJuventa), and direct relationship management with municipal decision-makers.

The institute is anchored academically through its director Prof. Dr. J\u00f6rg Fischer (FH Erfurt) and deputy Prof. Dr. Theresa Hilse-Carstensen (IU Internationale Hochschule), who provide policy access including membership of the Sachverst\u00e4ndigenkommission for the 17. Kinder- und Jugendbericht and the BMFSFJ NAP-Ausschuss. Strategic partnerships \u2014 with Auridis Stiftung, KOSS plus, AGJ, the European Social Network, the Qualit\u00e4tsverbund Kommunale Pr\u00e4ventionsketten, and Fachhochschule Erfurt \u2014 form the operating substrate for programme delivery and client cultivation across the German municipal social-planning market.

Name

Institut für kommunale Planung und Entwicklung

Legal name

Institut für kommunale Planung und Entwicklung e.V.

Website

https://ikpe-erfurt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IKPE is a non-profit research and consulting institute in Erfurt that supports German municipalities \u2014 principally the 17 Thuringian Gebietsk\u00f6rperschaften \u2014 with integrated social planning, prevention chains, and care structure planning, funded by state mandates, ESF programmes, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Social Planning Consulting

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), DEI, Equity & Inclusion Advisory (BPACAJAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal social planning
• Integrated social strategy
• Prevention chain coordination
• Care structure planning
• Citizen participation research

Headquarters

HQ city

Erfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government research mandates and project commissions: IKPE's primary revenue derives from commissioned research and process moderation projects funded by German federal and state ministries. Examples include: commissioned by Thüringer Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Arbeit und Familie for Servicestelle Pflegestrukturplanung Thüringen; commissioned by Ministerium für Arbeit, Soziales, Gesundheit und Gleichstellung Sachsen-Anhalt for the 8. Kinder- und Jugendbericht; commissioned by Landessportbund Rheinland-Pfalz for sports network analysis. Funding is tied to project-specific contracts with defined deliverables, timelines, and budgets.
2. ESF/ESF Plus funded programme support: IKPE receives project funding through European Social Fund (ESF) and ESF Plus programmes. These include the Armutspräventionsrichtlinie (2015-2022) and the ESF Plus Sozialstrategierichtlinie (since 2022), under which IKPE provides process accompaniment for Thuringian municipalities developing local social strategies.
3. Stiftung-funded programmes (Auridis Stiftung): The Auridis Stiftung provides financial support for IKPE's leadership development and training programmes for municipal executives, such as the 'Leitung gestaltet Veränderung' series for Jugendamtsleitungen. This is programme support rather than commercial revenue.
4. Publication revenues: IKPE staff publish books (e.g., Dr. Gernot Herzer's 'Bürgerbeteiligung in Kommunen', Springer Gabler, May 2026) through commercial academic publishers, generating royalty income.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IKPE provides municipalities and state governments with research-based advisory, process moderation, and scientific reporting services in the field of strategic social planning. Its core offerings include the Servicestelle kommunale Pflegestrukturplanung Thüringen (serkoP), the Thüringer Präventionsketten programme, ESF Plus-funded Prozessbegleitung for local social strategies, and scientific reports such as the 8. Kinder- und Jugendbericht Sachsen-Anhalt.

Product overview

The Institut für kommunale Planung und Entwicklung (IKPE) is a research and advisory institute that supports municipalities in Thuringia and beyond with integrated strategic social planning. Its offering is a platform of advisory service programs rather than a single software product: the core programs include the Servicestelle kommunale Pflegestrukturplanung Thüringen (serkoP), which guides municipalities in developing data-based care infrastructure planning; the Thüringer Präventionsketten program, which supports the establishment of cross-sectoral municipal prevention chains against child poverty; and the Prozessbegleitung lokaler Sozialstrategien, which provides ESF Plus-funded process support for municipalities developing and implementing local social strategies. These are complemented by scientific studies and expert reports (e.g., the 8th Saxony-Anhalt Children and Youth Report), representative municipal surveys, a publications line (brochures and a book on citizen participation published by Springer Gabler), a themed journal issue on prevention chains published by BeltzJuventa, and expert conferences and training series such as the 'Leitung gestaltet Veränderung' series for youth welfare office directors and the 'Zukunftswerkstatt' workshops on rural development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Servicestelle kommunale Pflegestrukturplanung Thüringen (serkoP) A service office that supports Thuringian municipalities (3 model municipalities — Stadt Jena, Landkreise Greiz, Nordhausen — and 3 network partner municipalities — Weimarer Land, Ilm-Kreis, Hildburghausen) in developing systematic, data-based care structure planning to identify care gaps and secure needs-based services, running until 31.12.2028 and co-funded equally by the state of Thuringia and the BKK Landesverband Mitte under § 123 SGB XI.
• Thüringer Präventionsketten A statewide programme that supports Thuringian counties and independent cities in establishing municipal prevention chains to prevent child poverty and ensure good childhood and youth development through coordinated cross-sectoral networks, integrating actors from youth welfare, health, education, social affairs, and housing.
• Prozessbegleitung bei der Entwicklung und Umsetzung lokaler Sozialstrategien (ESF Plus Sozialstrategierichtlinie) Process support for Thuringian municipalities in developing and implementing local social strategies under the ESF Plus funding programme, focusing on poverty prevention, social participation, and educational equity.
• Wissenschaftliche Begleitung und Gutachten (Scientific Advisory and Expert Reports) Scientific advisory services including the drafting of official reports (e.g., 8. Kinder- und Jugendbericht Sachsen-Anhalt, presented 05.05.2026 in Magdeburg and adopted by the state cabinet), network analyses (e.g., for the Landessportbund Rheinland-Pfalz informing the state's new Leistungssportstrategie), and expertise for national bodies such as the National Action Plan (NAP-Ausschuss) and the Sachverständigenkommission for the 17. Kinder- und Jugendbericht.
• Familienbefragungen und Sozialbefragungen (Municipal Surveys) Representative surveys conducted for municipalities to assess living conditions, service usage, and needs of families and residents as a basis for strategic social planning. Examples include the Ilm-Kreis Familienbefragung (5,000 selected households, expected H2 2026 publication of Integrierter Fachplan für Familien des Ilm-Kreises) and the Altenburger Land Sozialbefragung 2023 (6,000 citizens surveyed; 1,620 responses; ~27% response rate).
• Publikationen und Broschüren (Publications and Brochures) Published outputs including the 'Kommunen im Dialog' brochure series on citizen participation in municipal planning processes and the specialist publication 'Bürgerbeteiligung in Kommunen' by Dr. Gernot Herzer, published by Springer Gabler in May 2026, based on a 2024 nationwide survey of 468 municipalities.
• Fachtage und Fortbildungsreihen (Expert Conferences and Training Series) Expert conferences, workshops, and training series for municipal leaders and specialists, including the annual IKPE-Jahrestagung (e.g., 'Zeitenwende – Wie Kommunen handlungsfähig bleiben', 01.07.2026, Erfurt), the 'Leitung gestaltet Veränderung' / 'Leitung navigiert Veränderung' series for Thuringian Jugendamtsleitungen, and the 'Gestaltung sozialer Transformation durch kommunale Führungspersonen' series for Sozialdezernent*innen, and Zukunftswerkstatt workshops on rural development.
• Sozialmagazin 'Präventionsketten' (BeltzJuventa thematic journal issue) A thematic journal issue edited by IKPE researchers on prevention chains in social policy, published in the Sozialmagazin journal by BeltzJuventa, providing scientific and practical contributions to the prevention chain discourse.

Quantifiable outcome

• IKPE-supported municipalities in Thuringia have developed and implemented integrated social strategies and Präventionsketten over a multi-year period (since 2015 for some municipalities), contributing to systematic, evidence-based social planning.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Social Network (ESN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026IKPE participated in the European Social Services Conference 2026 (ESSC, 17-20 May 2026, Valletta, Malta) in cooperation with KOSS plus. ESN is the central European forum for public social policy and social service practice, organising conferences that bring together public administrations, social services, science, politics, and practice from over 35 countries. IKPE co-presented a workshop session 'Strengthening Support Systems through Social Planning' at ESSC 2026, bringing Thuringian integrated social planning approaches into the European expert discourse.
• Landessportbund Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026IKPE was commissioned by the Landessportbund Rheinland-Pfalz to conduct a scientific network analysis of the Leistungssport (elite sports) network in Rheinland-Pfalz. The study (completed 2026) informed the state's new Leistungssportstrategie. Partners in the project included the Ministry of the Interior and for Sport Rheinland-Pfalz and Stiftung Sporthilfe Rheinland-Pfalz, under a Memorandum of Understanding for an optimised Leistungssport strategy.
• Fachhochschule Erfurt (University of Applied Sciences Erfurt)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026Prof. Dr. Jörg Fischer holds a professorship at the Fachhochschule Erfurt and simultaneously leads IKPE as Institutsleiter. Prof. Dr. Theresa Hilse-Carstensen also has academic affiliations (IU Internationale Hochschule Erfurt). IKPE and the FH Erfurt co-organise events (e.g., the 13. Erfurter Fachgespräch 'Schule und Kommune', the 12. Erfurter International Social Work Days 2026), host student projects, and facilitate academic-practical exchange. The FH Erfurt is a key institutional anchor for IKPE's research credibility.
• Kommune 360° (Auridis Stiftung / Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung GmbH / PHINEO gAG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Kommune 360° is a collaborative initiative co-supported by the Auridis Stiftung, Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung GmbH, and PHINEO gAG. It provides the methodological framework and co-facilitators for IKPE's 'Leitung gestaltet Veränderung' training series. IKPE provides the institutional base, municipal network, and programme leadership; Kommune 360° provides trained facilitators (Sarah Wagner and Sven Braune). The programme has run three modules (April, June, October 2025) for 17 of 22 Thuringian Jugendamtsleitungen.
• Landeszentrale für politische Bildung ThüringenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Co-organiser of the Fachtag 'Armut und demokratische Teilhabe' (13.11.2024) alongside IKPE, ThInKPäd, and Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Thüringen. Contributed to the programme focused on democratic participation of people affected by poverty.
• Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Landesverband ThüringenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Co-organiser of the Fachtag 'Armut und demokratische Teilhabe' (13.11.2024). The partnership connects IKPE's municipal planning expertise with the child protection advocacy of the DKSB.
• Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025The Deutscher Verein organises the triennial Deutscher Fürsorgetag, at which IKPE was a programme contributor in 2025. IKPE co-hosted two Fachforen at the 83. Deutscher Fürsorgetag (Erfurt, September 2025) under the motto 'TRANSFORMATIONEN – SOZIAL – MACHEN'.
• LIGA der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege in Thüringen e.V. / Kompetenzzentrum Strategische Sozialplanung (KOSS plus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025IKPE and KOSS plus (the strategic social planning competence centre of the LIGA der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege in Thüringen) co-organise events, workshops, and the Zukunftswerkstatt series. They jointly presented at the 83. Deutscher Fürsorgetag (September 2025, Erfurt) and co-developed the 'Zukunftswerkstatt: Für ein zukunftssicheres Thüringen' (June 2025, Landgut Holzdorf, Weimar) with ~70 participants. The partnership bridges IKPE's research capabilities with KOSS plus's welfare association network.
• Deutsches Institut für Interdisziplinäre Sozialpolitikforschung (DIFIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025IKPE participates in the DIFIS-led Issue Network 'Sozialer Zusammenhalt in Ostdeutschland' and is supported by DIFIS in its social cohesion research targeting East German municipalities. The research on 'Social Cohesion from the Perspective of Sozialdezernent*innen' is jointly supported by DIFIS, Deutscher Landkreistag, and Deutscher Städtetag. DIFIS provides the platform and partial funding; IKPE provides research design and implementation.
• Qualitätsverbund Kommunale PräventionskettencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025IKPE is a member of the Qualitätsverbund Kommunale Präventionsketten (Quality Association for Municipal Prevention Chains), a cross-state network of process accompaniment organisations. IKPE co-developed a position paper ('Zwischenruf zur Bundestagswahl 2025') with other members of the Quality Association. The network facilitates exchange of best practices across German states and contributes to the national policy discourse on child poverty prevention.
• Gestaltung, Innovation und Beratung in der Arbeits- und Sozialpolitik GmbH (G.I.B.)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2025IKPE co-organised an online Fachtag on 'Einsatz von Künstlicher Intelligenz in der Sozialplanung' (31.03.2025) with G.I.B. from Nordrhein-Westfalen. Dr. Frank Nitzsche (G.I.B.) contributed to the programme. The collaboration enables IKPE to bring NRW expertise on AI in public administration to its Thuringian municipal network.
• Thüringer Ministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Arbeit und Familie (TMSGAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2025TMSGAF is IKPE's primary state government partner in Thuringia. It commissions IKPE for multiple programmes: the Servicestelle kommunale Pflegestrukturplanung Thüringen (serkoP), the Thüringer Präventionsketten programme, and co-organises Fachtage such as the 'Zuversicht braucht Vertrauen' (17. KJB Fachtag). Ministerin Katharina Schenk holds the Schirmherrschaft (patronage) over the Thüringer Präventionsketten programme. TMSGAF also funds the ESF Plus Sozialstrategierichtlinie programme within which IKPE provides process accompaniment to Thuringian municipalities.
• Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2025IKPE engaged with BMAS parliamentary state secretary Ekin Deligöz in a strategic exchange on child poverty prevention on 21.01.2025 in Erfurt. This meeting, also involving Thuringian Ministerin Katharina Schenk and Oberbürgermeister Dr. Thomas Nitzsche (Jena), was hosted by IKPE and focused on networking across government levels (municipal, state, federal) to strengthen preventive approaches to child poverty.
• Thüringer Institut für Kindheitspädagogik (ThInKPäd) der Fachhochschule ErfurtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024IKPE co-organised the Fachtag 'Armut und demokratische Teilhabe' (13.11.2024, Erfurt) with ThInKPäd, together with the Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Thüringen and Deutscher Kinderschutzbund Landesverband Thüringen. The event brought ~100 participants to discuss child and family poverty and its impact on democratic participation.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (AGJ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2024IKPE became a member of the AGJ (Working Group for Child and Youth Welfare) following a membership vote on 15.05.2024 at the AGJ General Assembly in Leipzig. AGJ is a network and forum for over 100 overregional and nationwide institutions active in child and youth welfare. Membership enables IKPE to participate in the DJHT (Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendhilfetag), contribute to policy debates, and access a broad national network of child welfare actors.
• Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DJI) e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2024IKPE co-organised panels at the 18. Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendhilfetag (DJHT) in Leipzig (May 2025) with the DJI, including panels on early childhood support (Frühe Hilfen) and child poverty prevention. The DJHT is organised by the AGJ and is Europe's largest child and youth welfare congress.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: Major German foundation publishing widely used municipal studies (Wegweiser Kommune, Familienmonitor, Kinderchancen-Index). Comparable to IKPE in serving German municipalities with data-driven planning resources, but operates as a foundation with significantly larger reach and resources.
• Deutscher Verein für öffentliche und private Fürsorge e.V. Germany-wide association of public and private welfare providers organising the triennial Deutscher Fürsorgetag (where IKPE co-hosted Fachforen in 2025). Comparable policy-research and convening role at federal scale; broader mandate than IKPE's Thuringian operational focus.
• Deutsches Jugendinstitut e.V. (DJI): Germany's largest non-university child and youth welfare research institute, co-organising panels with IKPE at the DJHT Leipzig 2025. Operates in adjacent domains (child/youth policy, family research, child poverty) but at materially larger scale and with a national research mandate beyond IKPE's Thuringian focus.

Direct peers

• Deutsches Institut für Interdisziplinäre Sozialpolitikforschung (DIFIS): Independent social policy research institute jointly operated by German municipal associations (Deutscher Städtetag, Deutscher Landkreistag) and universities. Co-leads the Issue Network 'Sozialer Zusammenhalt in Ostdeutschland' with IKPE and serves overlapping municipal and ministry clients.
• Kommunale Gemeinschaftsstelle für Verwaltungsmanagement (KGSt): Germany-wide municipal management consultancy developing methodologies, benchmarks, and process support for German cities and counties. Overlaps with IKPE on strategic social planning and Steuerungsfragen for municipal administrations, though with broader scope and a much larger footprint.
• Gestaltung, Innovation und Beratung in der Arbeits- und Sozialpolitik GmbH (G.I.B.): NRW-based consultancy delivering social policy advisory and ESF process accompaniment to municipalities and the NRW Land government. IKPE co-organised an online Fachtag on AI in social planning with G.I.B.; G.I.B. is the closest functional analogue to IKPE outside Thuringia.
• Kompetenzzentrum Strategische Sozialplanung (KOSS plus) der LIGA der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege in Thüringen e.V. Thuringian welfare-association competence centre co-organising IKPE's Zukunftswerkstatt series and joint presentations at the Deutscher Fürsorgetag and ESSC 2026. Operates in the same integrated social planning niche for Thuringian municipalities, often as a partner and occasionally as a substitute provider for the same client base.
• Institut für Sozialarbeit und Sozialpädagogik e.V. (ISS Frankfurt): Non-profit social work research and consultancy institute advising federal and state ministries, municipalities, and welfare organisations on social planning, child welfare, and integration. Closely comparable to IKPE in mission, methodology mix (research + process accompaniment), and non-profit governance structure.
• Transferagentur Kommunales Bildungsmanagement NRW: NRW state-funded process accompaniment provider for municipalities on data-based education and social planning. Closest direct analogue to IKPE outside Thuringia, with similar mandate (state ministry commissions, ESF-style funding, all municipalities in a state).

Others

• European Social Network (ESN): European network of public social services organising the European Social Services Conference (ESSC) where IKPE and KOSS plus co-presented Thuringian social planning approaches in 2026. Not a direct competitor, but a relevant ecosystem peer for international dissemination and policy exchange.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ikpeErfurt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ikpe-erfurt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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