KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V.

What KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V. does

KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V. is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2005 as a spin-off of the TH Köln research focus 'Interkulturelle Kompetenz,' operating under a formal cooperation agreement with the university. The organization delivers scientifically grounded training and consulting on intercultural communication, diversity management, anti-discrimination, and intercultural organizational development to organizations in the public sector, social services, healthcare, and private business. It operates two divisions: a general training and consulting arm (KIIK) and KIIK Care (launched 2020), which specializes in integrating foreign nurses into German healthcare facilities.

KIIK's core offering is methodology and content rather than technology. Products include training programs, train-the-trainer multiplier workshops, consulting on intercultural opening strategies, training films, online learning modules, and sector-specific publications (notably the book 'Interkulturelle Kompetenz bei der Feuerwehr'). Delivery is predominantly on-site and tailored per client, with pricing structured as quote-based professional-services engagements rather than standardized SaaS or product sales. Distribution is direct to organizations, supplemented by academic networks, publications, and referrals.

The organization has worked with over 250 clients since 2005 and operates with a small team of approximately six staff, augmented by a network of trainers and academic partners. Strategic positioning is reinforced by institutional affiliations including a Board of Trustees seat at RTL Stiftung and participation in the federal advisory board 'Kulturelle Vielfalt und Chancengleichheit in der Bundesverwaltung.' KIIK operates primarily within Germany and the DACH region with no disclosed external funding, M&A, or parent company.

Name

KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V.

Legal name

KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V.

Website

https://kiik.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KIIK is a German non-profit association, founded in 2005 as a TH Köln spin-off, that delivers scientifically grounded intercultural competence training, consulting, and train-the-trainer programs to public sector, social services, healthcare, and private organizations, with a dedicated KIIK Care division for integrating foreign nurses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

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. Training and Workshop Services: KIIK generates revenue through fees for intercultural training programs, workshops, and train-the-trainer programs delivered to organizations in the public sector, social services, and business.
2. Consulting Services: KIIK offers consulting on intercultural organizational development, diversity management, and intercultural opening strategies to organizations.
3. KIIK Care Healthcare Integration Services: Since 2020, KIIK Care provides specialized support for the integration of foreign nurses into German healthcare facilities, including preparatory training and ongoing support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KIIK is a non-profit association offering scientifically grounded training programs and organizational consulting in intercultural communication, cultural diversity, migration, and anti-discrimination for professionals in the public sector, social services, and business. The organization also runs KIIK Care, a dedicated program supporting the integration of foreign nursing staff into German healthcare facilities through preparatory training and ongoing consulting.

Product overview

KIIK is a non-profit training and consulting organization offering a portfolio of intercultural competence services. The core offerings include training programs in intercultural communication, cultural diversity, migration, and anti-discrimination, along with organizational development consulting services including intercultural opening strategies and diversity management. The organization also provides specialized services through KIIK Care for integrating international nursing staff into German healthcare, and train-the-trainer workshops for multiplier development. Training materials include intercultural training films and online learning modules. The organization publishes specialized books such as 'Interkulturelle Kompetenz bei der Feuerwehr' targeting specific sectors like emergency services. All offerings are characterized by academic grounding combined with practical relevance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KIIK Care Specialized integration support services for nursing staff from abroad entering German healthcare facilities, including preparation for both incoming nurses and German care institutions to ensure successful long-term integration.
• Trainingsangebote (Intercultural Training Programs) Intercultural communication, migration, cultural diversity, and anti-discrimination training programs for professionals and specialists in leadership positions across the public sector, social services, and business organizations.
• Beratung (Organizational Development Consulting) Organizational development consulting on intercultural opening strategies and diversity management, tailored to the conditions of public sector, social, and private sector organizations.
• Train-the-Trainer Workshops Multiplier training and train-the-trainer workshops tailored to client-specific conditions, designed to develop internal organizational capacity to deliver intercultural competence training independently and extend KIIK's reach through trained multipliers.

Quantifiable outcome

• KIIK has worked with over 250 clients since its founding in 2005

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Hessische Landesfeuerwehrschule (Hessian State Fire Service Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Since 2016, KIIK has been providing intercultural consultant training at the Hessian State Fire Service Academy. KIIK board member Alexander Scheitza has conducted intercultural training for fire service personnel since 2010, culminating in a published book on intercultural competence in fire services.
• TH Köln (Technische Hochschule Köln)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005KIIK was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the research focus 'Migration und interkulturelle Kompetenz' of TH Köln (formerly Fachhochschule Köln). The organizations operate under a formal cooperation agreement (Kooperationsvertrag), with KIIK maintaining close ties to the university's academic expertise.
• RTL Stiftung — Wir helfen Kindern e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIK holds a seat on the Board of Trustees (Kuratorium) of the RTL Foundation. Board members include prominent figures from German business and media. This represents KIIK's visibility among major German institutional stakeholders.
• Bundesregierung — Beauftragte für Migration, Flüchtlinge und IntegrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKIIK participates in the federal advisory board 'Kulturelle Vielfalt und Chancengleichheit in der Bundesverwaltung' (Cultural Diversity and Equal Opportunity in the Federal Administration), working alongside government ministers and academic experts on intercultural policy matters.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF): Federal German authority overseeing integration programs and funding integration-related training; functions more as a policy/funding counterpart than a direct competitor, but shapes the demand environment for KIIK's public-sector services.
• Technische Hochschule Köln – Forschungsschwerpunkt Migration: The academic parent institution from which KIIK was spun off in 2005; an enabler and content partner rather than a competitor, but its continuing-education programs in intercultural competence partially overlap with KIIK's training portfolio.

Direct peers

• IQ Consult GmbH: German consultancy specialized in migration, integration, and intercultural competence for the labor market and public administration; directly comparable to KIIK in target segments (public sector, social services) and service mix (training plus organizational consulting).
• Berlitz Corporation: Global language and intercultural communication training provider serving corporate and public-sector clients; comparable to KIIK in offering structured intercultural competence programs for organizations, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• INBAS Institut für berufliche Bildung, Arbeitsmarkt- und Sozialpolitik: German social-research and consulting institute active in migration, labor market integration, and intercultural qualification; directly comparable in delivering professional intercultural and integration training to public-sector and social-sector clients.
• migra e.V. Berlin-based nonprofit offering intercultural competence training, migration counseling, and diversity consulting; comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and public-sector training focus to KIIK's core division.
• interculture e.V. Frankfurt-based consulting and training organization focused on intercultural competence and international team development; comparable niche provider offering similar training and consulting services to German corporate and public-sector clients.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Germany (Deutscher Caritasverband): Major German welfare organization with substantial intercultural competence and migration-services operations; a broader institutional player that operates in adjacent subject matter and overlapping social-sector clients served by KIIK.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Large federally-owned German development agency that runs extensive intercultural and migration-related capacity-building programs; broader scope and government ownership but overlapping client base and training methodology with KIIK's public-sector engagements.

Regional players

• Interkulturelles Zentrum (Wien): Austrian counterpart organization offering intercultural training, consulting, and diversity programs across the DACH region; comparable offerings and methodology but serving primarily Austrian clients rather than the German market where KIIK is anchored.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiik

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 →

Frequently asked questions about KIIK Kölner Institut für interkulturelle Kompetenz e.V.