Name

interface (formerly SNV)

Legal name

interface – Tech analysis and policy ideas for Europe e.V.

Website

https://interface-eu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

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. Foundation and Institutional Grants: The organization is funded by foundations including Carl Zeiss Stiftung, Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung, Luminate, Stiftung Mercator, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Korea Foundation, and Heinrich Böll Stiftung. This constitutes the primary funding model for the independent think tank.
2. Public Sector Support: Funding from public sector entities including Auswärtiges Amt - Koordinierungsstab - Cyberabwehr for specific projects and initiatives.
3. Corporate Support: Support from companies including HiSolution and Siemens AG, providing additional funding alongside foundation grants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

interface is a European think tank that produces independent policy research, expert analysis, and recommendations on technology and public policy. Its core offerings are organized around six programmes (Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity Policy and Resilience, Data Science, Digital Rights/Surveillance/Democracy, Global Chip Dynamics, and Platform Regulation) and are delivered through publications, policy briefs, studies, data briefs, expert events, workshops, and the European Intelligence Oversight Network (EION). The organization also operates digital research tools including the Cybersicherheitsarchitektur.de platform and the AI-assisted Policy Chatbot.

Product overview

interface (formerly Stiftung Neue Verantwortung) is a European think tank specializing in information technology and public policy. Rather than a unified software product, they operate research programmes focused on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Digital Rights/Surveillance/Democracy, Global Chip Dynamics, and Platform Regulation. Their digital offerings include the Cybersicherheitsarchitektur.de database platform and an associated AI-powered Policy Chatbot for querying German cybersecurity policy documents. Their core products are publications, expert analysis, workshops, and policy recommendations for European decision-makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cybersicherheitsarchitektur.de Platform A publicly accessible database and visualization platform covering more than 300 actors involved in governmental cybersecurity policy at federal, national, and international levels, with detailed information on their responsibilities, mandates, and connections. The platform also includes an AI-assisted Policy Chatbot that allows users to submit research questions to access the entire document collection of key official documents related to German cybersecurity policy, including regulations, strategies, and legislative texts.
• AgeGate Tracker An online tool tracking national laws restricting minors' access to social media platforms across EU member states. Targets policymakers, civil society, and researchers tracking age-gating regulation in Europe.
• Semiconductor Emission Explorer An online tool developed under the Global Chip Dynamics programme to track emissions across the global semiconductor industry. Targets policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders analysing chip industry sustainability.
• European Intelligence Oversight Network (EION) A structured exchange network created in 2018 that brings together national intelligence oversight officials from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US with civil society experts to address complex challenges of transnational data sharing and emerging surveillance technologies.
• Technology Policy Research Programmes Independent policy research and analysis organised across six programmes: Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity Policy and Resilience; Data Science; Digital Rights, Surveillance and Democracy; Global Chip Dynamics; and Strengthening the Digital Public Sphere and Platform Regulation. Delivered through publications, policy briefs, studies, data briefs, expert events, workshops, and parliamentary briefings for European policymakers, oversight bodies, foundations, and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4th EION workshop in cooperation with the Council of Europe producing report on European intelligence services' use of commercially sourced data
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council of EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Fourth EION workshop co-organised with the Council of Europe in Brussels, with financial and administrative support provided. Three senior officials from the Council of Europe's Data Protection Unit joined the workshop.
• AboutIntel.eucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Co-founded European discussion forum on surveillance, technology and democracy with Dr. Thorsten Wetzling serving as co-founder and editor.
• Cyber & Data Security Lab at Vrije Universiteit BrusselminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Dr. Thorsten Wetzling serves as member of the Scientific Advisory Board since 2019.
• Heinrich Böll Foundation (Advisory Council Europe/Transatlantic)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Dr. Thorsten Wetzling served as member of Advisory Council Europe/Transatlantic until 2019.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carnegie Europe: Brussels-based arm of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with significant work on technology policy, AI governance, and digital geopolitics. Comparable in producing independent analysis that informs European policy-making and competes for similar institutional funders.
• Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP): Germany's leading foreign and security policy think tank, also based in Berlin. Directly comparable in mission (independent policy advice to government) and in covering overlapping topics such as cybersecurity, technology geopolitics, and digital sovereignty, although SWP is materially larger and operates under a different funding model.
• Bruegel: European economic think tank based in Brussels with significant work on digital economy, AI, industrial policy, and semiconductors. Comparable in profile (independent, European-focused, policy-relevant) and competes for similar institutional funders and Brussels policy audiences.
• AlgorithmWatch: German civil society organisation focused on algorithmic decision-making, AI accountability, and platform regulation. Closely comparable in topic coverage (AI governance, platform regulation) and target audience (European policymakers and engaged public), and competes for similar civil society funding.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): Pan-European foreign policy think tank with a Berlin office and pan-EU network of national offices. Overlaps with interface on technology geopolitics, surveillance policy, and digital sovereignty, and competes for similar European foundation funding.
• Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): Brussels-based leading European policy think tank producing research across digital policy, AI, cybersecurity, and platform regulation. Comparable as a Brussels-facing independent policy producer whose work feeds directly into EU legislative processes, and a high-profile competitor for donor mindshare.
• Hertie School: Berlin-based public policy school with research centres covering digital governance, data policy, and AI. Comparable in geographic base (Berlin), Eurocentric focus, and production of policy-relevant research, although it combines research with degree-granting education.
• Ada Lovelace Institute: UK-based independent research institute focused on AI and data ethics, governance, and rights. Comparable in mission (independent, mission-driven AI/data policy research) and overlaps with interface's AI workforce, digital rights, and platform regulation programmes.

Regional players

• AI Now Institute: US-based AI policy research institute producing influential research on AI governance, accountability, and labour effects. Comparable in mission focus (independent AI policy research for public interest) and method (publications, briefings, expert testimony), though operating primarily in the US rather than European policy arena.

Broad incumbents

• Bertelsmann Stiftung: One of Germany's largest operating foundations, with substantial work on digital policy, platform regulation, and AI. Comparable in producing independent European policy research and as a funding peer, though much larger in scope and budget than interface.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/interface-eu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 interface (formerly SNV)