DHBW Mannheim

What DHBW Mannheim does

DHBW Mannheim (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Mannheim) is a public dual university located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and is one of 12 campuses in the state-wide DHBW system. Founded in 1974 as Germany's first dual university, it operates three faculties — Business, Technology, and Health — offering 50 Bachelor's and Master's study programs that alternate between campus-based theoretical instruction and practical training phases at partner companies over three years (210 ECTS, six semesters). The institution serves approximately 5,676 students and coordinates a network of 1,867 dual partner companies that co-fund education through student stipends during practical phases.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: state government funding under the Ministry for Science, Research and Art Baden-Württemberg, recurring semester fees paid by students, and partner company contributions. It also earns competitively awarded research grants from federal (BMVI, BMBF), state (Baden-Württemberg ministries), and EU (European Commission) sources, totaling more than EUR 22 million across recent projects. Distribution runs through the StudyUp self-service digital platform for student-partner matching, supplemented by Spotlight Sessions, CampusTag, education fairs, and direct enterprise partner engagement.

Research and technology capabilities center on the ELCH (Elektrochemie) research cluster, which has developed a proprietary electrochemical hydrogen compressor (EHC) achieving 200 bar (up to 800 bar optional) without moving parts, and supports membrane-based hydrogen purification with reported 95% recovery rates. Active projects include PROKOREI H2 (prototype development), H2Rivers (EUR 20M BMVI hydrogen infrastructure), MEMPHYS (EUR 2M EU-funded purification), and DHBW-ACC (BMBF-funded tandem professorships). The institution was recognized as a Top 5 German university with more than 15,000 students in the StudyCheck Award 2026 and produces more Bachelor's graduates annually than any other German university per Destatis data.

Name

DHBW Mannheim

Legal name

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Mannheim

Website

https://mannheim.dhbw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

DHBW Mannheim is a German public dual university offering 50 bachelor's and master's programs across Business, Technology, and Health faculties, serving approximately 5,676 students through partnerships with 1,867 companies in an integrated theory-practice study model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Dual study programs
• Higher education
• Applied research
• Vocational training
• Bachelor programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. State Public Funding: As a public university in Baden-Württemberg, DHBW Mannheim receives government funding for its educational operations. Supervised by the Ministry for Science, Research and Kunst Baden-Württemberg.
2. Tuition and Fees: Semester fees charged to students. Second-degree programs (Zweitstudium) carry additional tuition fees.
3. Dual Partner Contributions: Dual partner companies compensate students during their practical phases, effectively co-funding the study arrangement through student stipends/salaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DHBW Mannheim is a public dual university offering 50 Bachelor and Master study programs across three faculties (Technology, Business, and Health Sciences) that integrate academic classroom instruction with structured practical training phases at 1,867 dual partner companies. Enrolled students alternate between on-campus theory blocks and company-based practice blocks across a three-year, 210 ECTS curriculum, earning a recognized university degree while gaining paid professional experience. The institution also conducts applied research through dedicated centers (e.g., ELCH electrochemistry cluster, INDIS, DTC, DILARS) and supports technology transfer with industry partners.

Product overview

DHBW Mannheim operates as a dual university offering integrated academic and practical education through 50 Bachelor and Master programs across three faculties (Business, Technology, and Health Sciences). The institution provides a technology ecosystem including the StudyUp application platform, Moodle e-learning system, Dualis grade management, and IT support services. Research activities concentrate on electrochemistry and hydrogen technologies through the ELCH cluster, while interdisciplinary initiatives like INDIS promote sustainability-focused student projects. The institution serves approximately 5,676 students through partnerships with 1,867 dual partner companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StudyUp: Online service platform connecting prospective students with dual partner companies for study placement
• Dualis
• Moodle

Products and services

• Dual Study Programs (Bachelor)
• Dual Master Programs
• StudyUp Recruitment Platform
• PROKOREI H2 - Electrochemical Hydrogen Compressor

Quantifiable outcome

• DHBW ranks among the Top 5 universities in Germany with more than 15,000 students (StudyCheck Award 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• H2Rivers Consortium (BMVI-funded)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202020-million-EUR federally funded project (BMVI 'HyLand' competition) in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. 18 partners including Daimler, RNV, Audi AG, and others. DHBW Mannheim is an associated partner contributing hydrogen and fuel cell expertise, with Prof. Dr. Sven Schmitz and Prof. Dr. Volker Schulz representing DHBW.
• MEMPHYS Consortium (EU-funded)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 December 2019EU-funded project (2 million EUR, 3 years) coordinated by DHBW Mannheim involving 6 partners from 5 European countries. Developed membrane-based hydrogen purification and compression technology using electrochemical methods. DHBW Mannheim held consortium leadership.
• Forschungscluster ELCH (Elektrochemie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017The ELCH (Elektrochemie) research cluster was founded by Prof. Dr. Sven Schmitz in 2017 to advance electrochemistry research including hydrogen fuel cells, electrochemical compressors, and membrane purification. It coordinates hydrogen-related research projects involving faculty, researchers, and industry partners.
• Dr. Thilo Schenk (Transferpate)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransferpate (transfer patron) in the PROKOREI H2 project, contributing practical industry impulses and identifying companies for scaling and series production of the electrochemical hydrogen compressor.
• Stiftung Museum AutoVision (Horst Schultz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransfer patron in PROKOREI H2 project. Horst Schultz founded the museum in Altlussheim, which has maintained a major hydrogen exhibition for over 20 years, providing industry expertise to the project.
• Steinbeis Transferzentrum / Steinbeis Transfer GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSteinbeis Transfer GmbH supported Wilhelm Wiebe's doctoral research position during uncertain funding periods. Steinbeis also provides training services for industry professionals on hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
• TU Chemnitz (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas von Unwerth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKooperationsuniversität (cooperating university) for doctoral research. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas von Unwerth from TU Chemnitz served as doctoral supervisor for Wilhelm Wiebe's PhD on hydrogen recirculation compressors.
• Daimler Buses GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey dual partner in the Mechatronik / Elektromobilität und Fahrzeugsystemtechnik study program. Also a partner in the H2Rivers consortium, representing the automotive industry's transition to hydrogen mobility.
• ABB AGmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor dual partner offering study positions in Elektromobilität and related fields. ABB has multiple locations (Frankfurt, Friedberg, Heidelberg, Mannheim) offering positions to DHBW students.
• BorgWarner Turbo Systems GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDual partner in Kirchheimbolanden providing study positions in vehicle system technology and electromobility.
• Audi AGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey dual partner of the Fakultät Technik and member of the H2Rivers consortium. Important partner in hydrogen research collaboration representing the premium automotive segment.
• Universitätsklinikum FreiburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the DHBW-ACC tandem professorship program. Prof. Nicole Wimmesberger is employed 50% at Universitätsklinikum Freiburg and 40% at DHBW Mannheim, supporting the Applied Health and Nursing Sciences program.
• Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar (MRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan region consortium that won the national BMVI 'HyLand' competition, securing 20 million EUR for hydrogen infrastructure. DHBW Mannheim is an associated partner contributing research expertise.
• RNV (Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic transport operator and consortium partner in H2Rivers project, contributing to hydrogen mobility infrastructure development in the Rhine-Neckar region.
• Hannover MesseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual industrial trade fair where DHBW Mannheim researchers (Dr. Wilhelm Wiebe) present hydrogen compressor technology to science and industry audiences.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCrGc6qxKVnZcRqgBM5V4Q1w
• Facebookfacebook.com/DHBWMannheim
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/dhbwmannheim
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhbw_mannheim

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries9 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 DHBW Mannheim