Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

What Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen does

The Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (MKW NRW) is a state-level government ministry of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, headquartered at Völklinger Straße 49, 40221 Düsseldorf, and constituted as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (Public Law Corporation). It is led by Ministerin Ina Brandes MdL (in office since 29 June 2022) and Staatssekretärin Gonca Türkeli-Dehnert (since 30 June 2022). Its statutory remit covers cultural policy, science and research policy, higher education policy, and continuing education policy across NRW, which the ministry describes as Germany's highest-density state for theaters, concert halls, museums, and libraries, and which is served by multiple universities, universities of applied sciences, art and music academies, and non-university research institutions.

The ministry's operational product surface comprises several themed programs: kultur-klima 360°, a sustainability platform developed with Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) and Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR) supporting cultural institutions in transitioning to climate neutrality by 2045 with CO2 balancing standards and a CO2 calculator; NRWege ins Studium, a refugee-academic integration program operated with the DAAD National Academic Contact Point Ukraine; HOLO-VOICES, a cultural dialogue initiative; and zdi-Roboterwettbewerb, a robotics competition engaging 310 student teams. The ministry's digital infrastructure is built on Drupal 10 (nrwGOV distribution), hosted by IT.NRW (Landesbetrieb Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen), with web analytics via Matomo at analytics.nrw.de and accessibility-first variants in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) and German Sign Language (Gebärdensprache).

The business model is non-commercial: operations are funded via NRW state budget allocations and the ministry's role is policy design, funding allocation, program execution, and ecosystem coordination. It operates no pricing or revenue model, has no external shareholders, and is owned and directed by the Land Nordrhein-Westfalen. The ministry sits at the center of an institutional ecosystem spanning LWL/LVR, DAAD, the European Commission (ERA4Ukraine), the European Research Council, and a network of heritage and memory foundations (Stiftung Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus, Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum, Westpreußisches Landesmuseum, Kulturstiftung der deutschen Vertriebenen, Stiftung Flucht Vertreibung Versöhnung, Stiftung Berliner Mauer, Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur). It also maintains a Commissioner for expellee, refugee, and Spätaussiedler affairs (Heiko Hendriks, reappointed for a second five-year term), community organizations such as the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland and Verband der Siebenbürger Sachsen (under NRW patronage since 1957), and outreach channels across mkw.nrw, YouTube (@MKWNRW / @WissenschaftNRW), Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Pinterest, and Flickr.

Name

Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

Legal name

Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen

Website

https://mkw.nrw

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (MKW NRW) is a German state government ministry headquartered in Düsseldorf that designs policy, allocates state funding, and coordinates programs for culture, science, higher education, and continuing education across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Cultural and Science Administration

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA), Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)

Keywords

• Cultural policy governance
• State higher education funding
• Scientific research promotion
• Continuing education programs
• Arts and culture funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Ministry for Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia is a state government ministry that sets policy direction and allocates state funding for cultural institutions, universities, research establishments, and continuing education providers in NRW. It operates programs including the kultur-klima sustainability platform for cultural institutions transitioning to climate neutrality, the NRWege ins Studium refugee support program, and integration support services for expellees, late resettlers, and Ukrainian refugees.

Product overview

The Ministry for Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia operates a government information portal providing access to cultural policy, science/research, and continuing education content. The primary offerings include the kultur-klima sustainability platform for cultural institutions, the NRWege ins Studium refugee support program, the HOLO-VOICES cultural dialogue initiative, and the zdi robotics competition. The ministry's website serves as the central hub for information on its thematic areas and programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• kultur-klima 360°
• NRWege ins Studium
• HOLO-VOICES
• zdi-Roboterwettbewerb (zdi-Space Adventure)

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) - National Academic Contact Point UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022DAAD established the National Academic Contact Point Ukraine to centralize support measures for Ukrainian refugees in higher education. The program 'NRWege ins Studium' supports NRW universities in optimally accompanying refugees.
• Kulturrat NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Umbrella organization for cultural associations in NRW. The ministry supports and accompanies cultural-specific initiatives to help Ukrainian artists and cultural workers, with initial funding of 100,000 euros.
• European Commission - ERA4UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One-stop facility established by the European Commission to support Ukrainian researchers. Helps find housing and employment opportunities, consolidating information on support services across EU member states.
• European Research Council (ERC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Offers temporary employment to refugee researchers and support staff (technicians, laboratory managers) from Ukraine fleeing the war.
• Landesbeirat für Vertriebenen-, Flüchtlings- und Spätaussiedlerfragen NRW (State Advisory Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018One of two institutions appointed by the NRW state government dealing with expellee, refugee, and late resettler affairs. Advises the state government on related policies.
• Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides professional expertise for the kultur-klima sustainability platform for cultural institutions in NRW. LWL contributes specialist knowledge for climate and sustainability transformation in the cultural sector.
• Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides professional expertise for the kultur-klima sustainability platform for cultural institutions in NRW. LVR contributes specialist knowledge for climate and sustainability transformation in the cultural sector.
• Stiftung Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus - Deutsch-osteuropäisches ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA state-sponsored foundation that preserves, presents, and develops the culture of historical German Eastern territories and German settlement areas in Eastern and Southeast Europe in NRW and in the origin areas of expelled East Germans.
• Generalkonsulat der Ukraine (Consulate-General of Ukraine) in DüsseldorfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides current information and support for Ukrainian refugees in NRW. Located at Moltkestraße 63A, 40227 Düsseldorf.
• Landesbetrieb Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen (IT.NRW)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides server hosting and technical implementation for the ministry's website (mkw.nrw). Also responsible for accessibility monitoring of state government websites.
• Kulturstiftung der deutschen VertriebenencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide foundation for expellees. Celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024. The ministry has financially supported the digitization of homeland collections.
• Bundesbeauftragter für Aussiedlerfragen und nationale MinderheitencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal commissioner for expellee affairs. Currently Dr. Bernd Fabritius. Cooperates on cross-state coordination of expellee and late resettler support.
• Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum (OSLM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Ratingen, serves as a key cultural institution for Upper Silesian heritage. The ministry supports its activities and events promoting German-Polish understanding.
• Westpreußisches LandesmuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral institution for researching and communicating the history and culture of historical West Prussia. Located in Warendorf since December 2014 in a former Franciscan monastery.
• Stiftung Flucht, Vertreibung, VersöhnungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation located in Berlin's Deutschlandhaus. Engages in documentation and commemoration of flight and expulsion. Ministry collaborates on remembrance and historical education.
• Stiftung Berliner MauercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the enhancement of the Berlin Wall segment monument near the NRW state parliament in Düsseldorf with informative panels in April 2022.
• Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-DiktaturcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal foundation for coming to terms with the SED dictatorship. Directed by Dr. Anna Kaminsky. Cooperates on SED victim support and historical education programs.
• Ruhr-Universität Bochum - Institut für DeutschlandforschungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducts the NRW contemporary witness program (NRW-Zeitzeugenprogramm), bringing SED dictatorship victims to schools to share their experiences with students.
• Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland (LmDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization representing Germans from Russia. The ministry supports their activities including youth summer camps and cultural events. NRW state group is led by Eleonora Faust.
• Verband der Siebenbürger SachsencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRW has held the patronage over this organization since 1957. Supports cultural preservation and integration activities of Transylvanian Saxons.
• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical foundation that cooperates on events such as readings and educational programs related to expellee history and culture.
• Stiftung VerbundenheitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation working for Germans abroad. Met with ministry representatives to present their work and discuss current challenges.
• elco GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExternal service provider for dispatching information materials ordered through the ministry. Located at An der Hammer Brücke 9, 41460 Neuss.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt Berlin: Berlin's senate administration for culture and social cohesion. Direct peer responsible for cultural policy and arts funding in a German federal state, with comparable cultural-institution portfolio.
• Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg: Baden-Württemberg's state ministry for science, research, and art. Direct peer because its mandate (culture, science, higher education) closely mirrors MKW NRW's portfolio within another major German state.
• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst: The Bavarian state ministry covering science, research, and the arts. Direct peer because it operates at the same state-government level, with comparable responsibilities for universities, cultural institutions, and research funding, but in Bavaria.
• Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur: Lower Saxony's state ministry covering science and culture. Direct peer with the same Landesministerium structure and an analogous blend of higher-education, research, and cultural-policy mandates.
• Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst: The Hessian state ministry for science and art. Direct peer with overlapping responsibility for universities, cultural policy, and research funding within a comparable German state.

Emerging players

• Wissenschaftsrat: Germany's central advisory body on science policy. Adjacent rather than directly competing: provides recommendations that shape state-level ministry decisions on universities and research institutions, including in NRW.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF): Germany's federal ministry for education and research. Comparable in mandate for science and higher-education policy but operates at the federal level, setting national frameworks within which state ministries like MKW NRW operate.
• Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM): Germany's federal government commissioner for culture and media. Comparable in function but broader in scope and one level above state ministries; MKW NRW's cultural-funding activities complement and sometimes overlap with BKM programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MKW_NRW
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MKWNRW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mkwnrw
• Instagraminstagram.com/mkw.nrw
• Pinterestpinterest.com/de/mkw-nrw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen