ZOOLOGISCHES FORSCHUNGSMUSEUM ALEXANDER KOENIG

What ZOOLOGISCHES FORSCHUNGSMUSEUM ALEXANDER KOENIG does

Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, operating publicly as Museum Koenig Bonn (MKB), is a German natural history research museum and foundation (Stiftung) under the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). Founded in 1948, it is headquartered on the Museumsmeile in Bonn at Adenauerallee 160 and operates a second museum site (Museum der Natur Hamburg). The institution combines scientific biodiversity research with public museum operations, holding extensive zoological collections, a biodiversity biobank networked through the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN), and a Center for Molecular Biodiversity Research.

Its core offerings are the permanent exhibition (Dauerausstellung) of naturalistic habitat displays and a rotating calendar of special exhibitions (Sonderausstellungen), complemented by age-segmented educational programs for children, schools, youth, adults, families, and inclusive audiences. Digital extensions include the NEO (Natur Entdecken Online) learning platform, the 'PROJECT POLLINATION: A BUZZING RESCUE' educational escape game, virtual tours, smartphone-based collection digitization tools, and the LIBelle YouTube series. Research projects such as LEPMON apply AI-powered camera traps to moth population monitoring, and the COGS platform enables citizen science biodiversity data collection.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid of public funding and ticket-based admissions. The museum is primarily funded as a Leibniz research institution by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia (MKW NRW), and the Hamburg Authority for Science, Research and Equality. Supplementary revenue comes from admission fees (€6 regular, €3 reduced, €15 family, €10 mini-family), the Alexander-Koenig-Gesellschaft membership society, animal sponsorship programs, donations, and event programming. Many educational events are offered free of charge.

Name

ZOOLOGISCHES FORSCHUNGSMUSEUM ALEXANDER KOENIG

Legal name

Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversitätswandels

Website

https://museumkoenig.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Museum Koenig Bonn is a German natural history research museum and Leibniz Institute that combines public biodiversity exhibitions and educational programming with scientific collections, biobanking, and biodiversity research for visitors, schools, researchers, and citizen scientists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museum

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

Keywords

• Natural history museum
• Biodiversity research
• Scientific collections
• Museum education
• Citizen science

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum Entrance Fees: Visitors pay admission fees to access permanent and special exhibitions. Standard tickets, reduced tickets, family tickets, and mini-family tickets are available.
2. Membership and Donations: The Alexander Koenig Gesellschaft (Alexander Koenig Society) offers membership opportunities and accepts donations and sponsoring. Animal sponsorship programs also generate support.
3. Government Funding: As a Leibniz Institute and research museum, funded by German federal government (BMBF) and state governments (NRW, Hamburg) for research and museum operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (Museum Koenig Bonn) is a natural history research museum that maintains extensive zoological and scientific collections, conducts biodiversity research, and offers permanent and special exhibitions, educational programs, and digital learning resources to the general public and the scientific community. As part of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), it integrates research, conservation science, and public engagement on animal biodiversity.

Product overview

Museum Koenig Bonn operates as a natural history museum and research institution (Forschungsmuseum) within the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB). The museum offers a unified visitor experience combining permanent and rotating exhibitions showcasing animal world diversity and ecosystem fragility. Core products include the Dauerausstellung (permanent exhibition) and Sonderausstellungen (special exhibitions). Educational offerings are provided through Bildungsangebote for various age groups and the NEO digital learning platform. The museum also provides digital access via the Digitales Museum with online escape games and virtual tours. The Alexander-Koenig-Gesellschaft supports the institution through memberships, animal sponsorships, and funding programs. Research activities include species monitoring projects like LEPMON using AI-powered camera traps. The YouTube series LIBelle extends science communication to younger audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEO – Natur Entdecken Online: Digital learning platform for nature discovery and education
• Alexander-Koenig-Gesellschaft
• LIBelle

Products and services

• Permanent and Special Exhibitions On-site museum exhibitions featuring zoological specimens and biodiversity displays for general public visitors, families, and school groups.
• Educational and Public Programs Structured museum education offerings including guided tours, workshops, and learning programs targeted at school groups, families, and adult learners.
• Digital Museum (NEO - Natur Entdecken Online) Online digital learning platform offering virtual exhibits and educational content for distance learners, students, and remote audiences.
• Scientific Collections and Biobank Access Access to preserved zoological specimens and biobank material for academic researchers, conservation scientists, and partner institutions conducting biodiversity studies.
• Animal Sponsorship (Tierpatenschaften) Donor sponsorship program allowing individuals to symbolically support the care and housing of specific animals in the museum's living collections.
• Alexander Koenig Society Membership Paid membership society offering supporters benefits such as free admission, exclusive event invitations, and museum updates.
• Research and Scientific Publications Biodiversity research outputs including molecular analyses, taxonomy, and conservation studies conducted within the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,500 visitors at single event (Museumsmeilenfest 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN)coreTechnology or Integration · 29 June 2026The LIB operates biobanks for biodiversity that secure unique genetic samples for current and future generations of researchers. The Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) networks these biobanks globally, enabling international collaboration in biodiversity research and conservation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Natural History Museum, London: One of the world's flagship natural history museums with globally recognized research and exhibitions programs. Operates at significantly larger scale and brand recognition; broadly comparable mission in zoological collections, biodiversity research, and public science engagement.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: U.S. national natural history museum with massive zoological collections and free public exhibitions. Comparable in combining biodiversity research with public education, though operating under a different (federal) funding model and at substantially larger scale.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL): International scientific and conservation charity operating London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo with parallel research (Institute of Zoology) and public engagement programs. Comparable as a zoological/conservation institution combining living and specimen collections, citizen science, and education – though with a stronger zoo-operations component.
• Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris): France's national natural history museum and research institution. Broad incumbent with extensive zoological collections, botanical gardens (Jardin des Plantes), and a parallel structure of research plus public education highly comparable to LIB/Museum Koenig.

Direct peers

• Museum für Naturkunde Berlin: Berlin's natural history research museum, also Leibniz-affiliated, with comparable zoological collections, exhibition program, and public education mandate. Operates at a larger scale but shares the same mission of integrating scientific collections with visitor-facing natural history exhibits.
• Senckenberg Nature Research Society / Senckenberg Natural History Museum: Germany's largest natural history research network with museums in Frankfurt, Dresden, and other cities. Directly comparable as a Leibniz-affiliated research museum combining biodiversity/zoological collections, public exhibitions, and citizen-science programs. Shares funding model, visitor base, and academic positioning with Museum Koenig.

Regional players

• Naturhistorisches Museum Wien: Austria's premier natural history museum with extensive zoological collections and exhibition programming. Comparable in mission and content (animal diversity, biodiversity research) but serves a primarily Austrian/regional Central European audience rather than competing directly in Germany.
• Naturmuseum Basel: Swiss regional natural history museum with public exhibitions and research collections. Smaller scale but directly comparable as a zoologically focused research museum combining collections, education, and visitor programs.
• Naturhistoriska riksmuseet (Stockholm): Sweden's natural history museum with research, collections, and public exhibits on Nordic and global biodiversity. Comparable collections, research focus, and exhibition programming; serves a primarily Nordic/European audience.

Others

• Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN): International network of biodiversity biobanks in which LIB participates. Not a competitor but a strategic infrastructure peer and ecosystem enabler for the museum's biobank and genetic-sample operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@leibnizinstitut
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zoologisches-forschungsmuseum-alexander-koenig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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