UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam

What UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam does

UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam is a 76% subsidiary of the University of Potsdam, founded in 1998, that operates as the university's commercial arm for knowledge and technology transfer and executive continuing education. The company delivers a portfolio of part-time postgraduate programs anchored by five specialized MBA tracks — BioMedTech, InfoTech, InnoTech, Innovative Health Care Management, and Negotiation Management — alongside flagship offerings such as the English-language General Management MBA, the German-French MEGA, the Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM) program, the Spezielle Schmerzpsychotherapie (SSPT) certificate, the Psychologisch-Psychotherapeutisches Institut (PPI), and the Negotiation Academy Potsdam (NAP). Technology delivery rests on a Moodle-based e-learning platform for distance learning, combined with periodic on-campus seminar blocks at University of Potsdam facilities (Campus Griebnitzsee and Am Neuen Palais). Programs operate under ACQUIN system accreditation and, for the SSPT track, OPK professional recognition.

The business model is multi-stream. Full MBA tuition is priced at €19,000 inclusive of study materials, with individual modules available at €400 per ECTS credit, enabling self-service entry and degree creditation over time. The SSPT certificate is priced at €2,980 for 80 teaching units. Distribution is exclusively direct — prospective students apply via the UP Transfer admissions process and enroll individually or via employer sponsorship — with no resellers or franchise model. Marketing leverages the university's website, social media (Facebook, X, Xing), career fairs, the annual Matching Day, the Partnerkreis employer network, and the FöWiTec technology transfer funding program (up to €12,000 per project). Customers are working professionals and executives, primarily in the Berlin-Brandenburg region, with a modest international student pipeline via partnerships with Chinese universities for Business Deutsch certificate delivery.

Revenue is not publicly disclosed; based on 27 employees, modest program scale, and the subsidiary structure, the business likely operates in the low single-digit to low double-digit million EUR range. There is no external venture or private equity capital; the company is governed through institutional university ownership and derives revenue from tuition, certificate fees, contract education, event management, and applied R&D services. The competitive position rests on degree-granting authority, ACQUIN/OPK accreditation, and access to University of Potsdam faculty — advantages that private competitors cannot easily replicate.

Name

UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam

Legal name

UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam

Website

https://up-transfer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UP Transfer GmbH is the 76% University of Potsdam subsidiary, founded 1998, that delivers part-time specialized MBAs, certificate programs, and applied R&D services to working professionals in the Berlin-Brandenburg region using a Moodle-based blended learning model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Full MBA Program Tuition: Full-time equivalent MBA program tuition at €19,000 inclusive of study materials, payable in installments. An additional university matriculation fee of approximately €140 per semester applies. Programs can be completed in approximately two years through blended learning.
2. Individual MBA Module Enrollment: Individual modules from the MBA curriculum are available for separate booking at €400 per ECTS credit hour. Modules can be taken independently and later credited toward a full degree.
3. Specialized Pain Psychotherapy (SSPT) Certificate: Full theoretical curriculum of 80 hours priced at €2,980 incl. VAT. Individual module booking at €45 per teaching unit (UE). Examination fee of €250. Total theoretical block can be completed separately before the practical training section.
4. Contract Education / Customized Programs: Tailored executive education programs delivered to organizations on a contract basis. Services include customized program design, delivery, and project management for partner organizations.
5. Event Management Services: Event management and venue services for conferences, digital and hybrid events, and corporate events held at University of Potsdam facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UP Transfer GmbH provides part-time, blended-learning executive education programs (MBA degrees with five specializations, certificate programs, and tailored corporate programs), knowledge and technology transfer services, applied research and development in physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, and media/ICT, and event management services at University of Potsdam campuses. Programs are delivered through a Moodle-based distance-learning platform combined with periodic on-campus seminar blocks at Campus Griebnitzsee, leveraging ACQUIN system accreditation to award official University of Potsdam degrees.

Product overview

UP Transfer GmbH is a knowledge and technology transfer company founded in 1998 as a 76% subsidiary of the University of Potsdam. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of executive education programs, primarily centered around multiple MBA specializations (German and English), including BioMedTech, InfoTech, InnoTech, Health Care Management, and Negotiation Management. The product ecosystem includes certificate programs (SSPT pain psychotherapy, mediation, business German, Grow UP skills), specialized institutes (PPI for psychotherapy, ZPS for sports psychology), the Negotiation Academy Potsdam, and research/development services. Programs combine distance learning with on-campus modules using Moodle-based E-Learning. The modular architecture allows students to book individual modules or complete full degree programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MBA Programs: Various MBA specializations including General Management, Biotechnology and Medical Technology, Information Technology, Innovative Health Care Management, and Negotiation Management
• Negotiation Academy Potsdam (NAP)
• MEGA
• ICM
• DSGM
• PPI
• ZPS
• boXperiment
• UNIshop

Products and services

• MBA Programs (German-language with five specializations) Part-time, German-language MBA program with five specializations: BioMedTech, InfoTech, InnoTech, Innovative Health Care Management, and Negotiation Management. Combines distance learning via Moodle with periodic on-campus blocks at the University of Potsdam's Campus Griebnitzsee. Designed for working professionals with technical, scientific, healthcare, or business backgrounds seeking management credentials awarded under ACQUIN system accreditation. Full tuition €19,000, payable in installments, with an additional matriculation fee of approximately €140 per semester.
• General Management MBA (English-language) English-language part-time MBA program focused on general management competencies, targeted at international professionals seeking a University of Potsdam-accredited degree. Delivered in the same blended learning model (Moodle distance learning plus on-campus seminar blocks).
• Master of European Governance and Administration (MEGA) German-French qualification program preparing future managers for public administration and the private sector. Cross-border program targeting executives and administrators working in or with European governance structures.
• Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM) Program focused on intercultural competence and management skills for international business contexts, designed for professionals working in cross-cultural environments.
• Spezielle Schmerzpsychotherapie (SSPT) Certificate Program First certificate program in Germany for specialized pain psychotherapy, offering 80 teaching units of theoretical curriculum plus a practical training section. Successful completion confers the OPK-recognized title "Spezielle Schmerzpsychotherapie OPK." Full theoretical curriculum priced at €2,980 incl. VAT, with individual modules at €45 per teaching unit and a €250 examination fee. Targets licensed psychotherapists in Germany.
• Demografieorientiertes Sport- und Gesundheitsmanagement (DSGM) Continuing education program addressing demographic change in sports and health organizations. Targets managers and decision-makers in sports clubs, fitness providers, and health-sector organizations facing demographic shifts in their member and customer base.
• Mediation Certificate Program Mediation training and certification program equipping professionals with structured conflict resolution skills for organizational and commercial contexts.
• Grow UP – Skill UP (Wirtschaftliche Kompetenzen für den Arbeitsmarkt) Certificate program teaching economic and business administration competencies for the job market, targeting individuals seeking to build foundational business skills for career entry or transition.
• Business Deutsch Certificate German as a foreign language certificate course with economics and management content, delivered in cooperation with DCBA GmbH. Prepares Chinese students from partner universities (Xianda College of Economics & Humanities at Shanghai International Studies University, Chengdu Institute at Sichuan International Studies University) for exchange semesters at the University of Potsdam.
• Customized Programs (Maßgeschneiderte Programme) Bespoke executive education and training programs designed and delivered to organizations on a contract basis. Includes customized program design, delivery, and project management for partner organizations across industries.
• Event Management Services Professional event management services including digital and hybrid events, venue provisioning at University of Potsdam campuses, and security concepts. Serves conferences, corporate events, and university functions.
• Research & Development Services Applied research and development services in Applied Physics, Applied Chemistry, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Media & ICT, delivered to industry partners via university researchers. Coordinated and managed through the central project services unit as industry-funded collaborations.
• Zentrale Projektservices (Central Project Services) Central project services unit managing industry-funded research and development collaborations between University of Potsdam researchers and external partners. Provides project administration, contract management, and coordination services for funded projects such as the FöWiTec knowledge and technology transfer program (which awards up to €12,000 per project).
• boXperiment (Experimental Learning Service) Experimental learning service providing hands-on experiment kits and workshop services for science communication and innovation activities. Offered as part of the central project services portfolio.
• Negotiation Academy Potsdam (NAP) Specialized interdisciplinary academy for negotiation training and research, jointly operated with the University of Potsdam and led by Prof. Dr. Uta Herbst and Prof. Dr. Markus Voeth. Offers specialized negotiation training programs and serves as the home institute for the MBA Negotiation Management degree.
• Psychologisch-Psychotherapeutisches Institut (PPI) Institute for psychological psychotherapeutic training and certification, offering structured curricula for psychotherapists in training. Delivered in cooperation with the Institut für Verhaltenstherapie Berlin.
• Zentrum für praktische Sportpsychologie (ZPS) Center for Practical Sports Psychology offering services and training for athletes, coaches, and sports organizations, addressing performance, motivation, and team dynamics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 years of successful MBA program delivery with over 200+ graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Stellenticket GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Cooperation starting July 2026 where Stellenticket GmbH provides a specialized university job portal (Stellenticket Universität Potsdam) consolidating all job postings for students and graduates. UP Transfer's Partnerkreis team manages job postings for the platform.
• Universität Potsdam (University of Potsdam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998UP Transfer GmbH is a 76% subsidiary of the University of Potsdam, established to promote modern and competitive knowledge and technology transfer. The university provides academic credentials, faculty, and institutional accreditation (ACQUIN) while UP Transfer handles program operations and commercial management.
• DCBA GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCBA GmbH partners with UP Transfer to conduct a Business Deutsch certificate course (German as a foreign language with economics and management) for Chinese students from partner universities. UP Transfer holds academic responsibility while DCBA provides language instruction.
• Institut für Verhaltenstherapie Berlin (Institute for Behavioral Therapy Berlin)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUP Transfer offers the Special Pain Psychotherapy (SSPT) certificate program in cooperation with the Institut für Verhaltenstherapie Berlin. The institute provides clinical training oversight, supervisors, and accreditation alignment with OPK (East German Chamber of Psychotherapists) requirements.
• Ostdeutsche Psychotherapeutenkammer (OPK) — East German Chamber of PsychotherapistsflagshipOthersThe SSPT certificate curriculum is aligned with OPK guidelines, and OPK members can earn the qualifying title 'Spezielle Schmerzpsychotherapie OPK' upon completing the full training including practical components. OPK accreditation ensures professional recognition for graduates.
• Negotiation Academy Potsdam (NAP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint institute with the University of Potsdam led by Prof. Dr. Uta Herbach and Prof. Dr. Markus Voeth, offering the MBA Negotiation Management program and specialized negotiation training. NAP serves as a center of excellence for negotiation research and executive education.
• Potsdam Science ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the annual Matching Day event connecting regional employers with students and graduates. Potsdam Science Park is part of the network of organizations (alongside Career Service, Partnerkreis, Potsdam Graduate School, and Potsdam Transfer) that collectively run the Matching Day.
• Career Service (Universität Potsdam)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the organizing partners of the Matching Day event for Potsdam universities. UP Transfer's Partnerkreis team participates in organizing employer-student matching events.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg (Economic Development Agency Brandenburg)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner of the annual Matching Day, promoting regional employer visibility and connecting businesses with young talent from Potsdam universities.
• Brandenburgisches Institut für Existenzgründung und Mittelstandsförderung e.V. (B.B.E.I.M.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the MBA Energietechnik model project, contributing to the development of management qualification modules for energy technology professionals in Brandenburg.
• Institut für betriebliche Bildungsforschung e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the MBA Energietechnik initiative, providing the 'Weiterbildungssystem Energietechnik' (Energy Technology Training System) platform into which the developed modules were integrated after successful evaluation.
• boXperimentminorOthersService offered through UP Transfer, providing experimental learning and workshop services as part of the central project services portfolio.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation: German university-affiliated provider of practice-oriented MBA and executive programs with focus on technology transfer and industry partnerships — directly comparable to UP Transfer's positioning as a knowledge-transfer subsidiary.
• WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management: Top-ranked German business school offering part-time MBA and executive programs. Comparable to UP Transfer's part-time MBA portfolio but with stronger brand scale and global recognition.
• HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management: Private German business school offering part-time MBA and executive education programs in close partnership with regional industry. Compares to UP Transfer as a competing provider of German-accredited executive MBAs targeting working professionals.
• ESMT Berlin: Berlin-based, internationally focused business school offering MBAs and executive education. Directly comparable in the same Berlin-Brandenburg corridor for executive MBAs aimed at experienced professionals.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: German university-affiliated provider of executive MBAs, certificate programs, and professional development training. Closely comparable to UP Transfer's blended executive model with multiple specializations and strong banking/finance/management faculty.
• Mannheim Business School: Affiliate of the University of Mannheim offering part-time and full-time MBA programs and executive certificates. Directly comparable to UP Transfer as a German university-affiliated executive education subsidiary serving working professionals.
• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Private German university with extensive part-time MBA and certificate offerings. Comparable to UP Transfer in serving working professionals in Germany with multiple specialized tracks.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university for working professionals with evening/Saturday programs and an MBA portfolio. Competes with UP Transfer for the same executive learner segment in Germany.

Broad incumbents

• RWTH Aachen Executive MBA: Executive education offerings of RWTH Aachen targeting technology professionals — closely comparable to UP Transfer's technology/specialization-themed MBAs (BioMedTech, InfoTech, InnoTech).
• TU München Executive Education: Executive education arm of a major German technical university offering technology-focused MBAs and management programs. Comparable as a technical-university-affiliated provider of specialized executive programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MBAPotsdam
• Facebookfacebook.com/100568330026065
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/up-transfer-gmbh-an-der-universit%C3%A4t-potsdam

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UP Transfer GmbH an der Universität Potsdam