ZBA | Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung

What ZBA | Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung does

ZBA (Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung) is a specialized vocational assessment and rehabilitation center headquartered in Luzern, Switzerland, serving adults aged 18-65 who have sustained brain injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke) or live with neurological diseases. Founded in January 1996 under the trusteeship of the non-profit Stiftung Rast, ZBA positions itself as the bridge between medical rehabilitation and vocational reintegration, applying an interdisciplinary, resource-oriented methodology that combines neuropsychology, neurology, ergonomics, and occupational practice. Its service portfolio comprises five integrated modules: beruflich-medizinische Abklärung (work-capacity assessment), Integrationsmassnahmen (Aufbautraining and Arbeitstraining), vertiefte Abklärung möglicher Berufsrichtungen (in-depth occupational direction assessment), Coaching am externen Arbeitsplatz (first-labor-market job coaching), and the newer cantonally funded Tagesstruktur ohne Lohn. Capacity consists of 24 internal workstations (12 for integration measures and 12 for assessment) plus 8 day-structure places, delivered by a small specialized team led by Geschäftsleiterin Yvonne Bachmann.

The operating model is institutionally intermediated rather than commercial. ZBA's primary revenue stream is IV-funded vocational measures delivered under a formal Leistungsvereinbarung with IV-Stelle Luzern, which acts on behalf of all Swiss disability insurance offices; referrals originate from IV-Stellen across German-speaking Switzerland, supplemented by direct inquiries from affected individuals and families. A second revenue stream is the KOSEG-approved Tagesstruktur pilot (June 2024), funded by Canton of Lucerne for residents aged 18-65 with young-onset dementia, brain injury, or neurological disease. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is governed by public-sector tariff agreements. Distribution is anchored in a referral network spanning LUKS neurology, Memory Clinic Zentralschweiz, Fragile Suisse, aphasie suisse, Pro Infirmis, and INSOS, with employer placement sites such as Silvedes AG and Alters- und Pflegeheim Höchweid enabling external job coaching. ZBA is not a technology company; its core differentiator is clinical-vocational specialization, regulatory standing, and three decades of accumulated domain expertise.

Name

ZBA | Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung

Legal name

Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung ZBA

Website

https://zba.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ZBA is a Luzern-based, non-profit vocational assessment and rehabilitation center serving Swiss adults with brain injuries or neurological diseases, funded by disability insurance and Canton of Lucerne under a standing service agreement with IV-Stelle Luzern covering all Swiss IV offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Functioning & Self-Regulation Coaching (OT) (EDAKAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning & Development (L&D) & Training Management (EDABAIAC)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation
• Brain injury assessment
• Neurological disability services
• Job coaching integration
• Work capacity evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Luzern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IV-Funded Vocational Measures: ZBA conducts vocational integration measures on behalf of disability insurance offices (IV-Stellen) across German-speaking Switzerland, under a formal service agreement (Leistungsvereinbarung) with IV-Stelle Luzern acting on behalf of all Swiss IV offices. This is the primary revenue stream covering professional assessment and integration services.
2. Cantonal-Funded Day Structure (Tagesstruktur): ZBA offers a cantonally financed day structure program (Tagesstruktur ohne Lohn) for adults aged 18-65 with residency in Canton of Lucerne, covering dementia in young age, brain injury, or neurological disease. This is funded by the Canton of Lucerne under a separate pilot project approval from KOSEG.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZBA is a specialized vocational assessment and rehabilitation center in Lucerne, Switzerland, providing interdisciplinary evaluation of work capacity, structured integration measures (Aufbautraining and Arbeitstraining), in-depth occupational direction assessment, on-site job coaching at first-labor-market employers, and a cantonally funded day-structure program for adults with brain injuries, neurological diseases, or young-onset dementia.

Product overview

ZBA (Zentrum für berufliche Abklärung) is a specialized vocational assessment and rehabilitation center in Lucerne, Switzerland, serving individuals with brain injuries or neurological diseases. The organization offers a unified portfolio of five integrated service modules: (1) Beruflich-medizinische Abklärung for assessing work capacity, (2) Integrationsmassnahmen (Aufbautraining/Arbeitstraining) for building work readiness, (3) Vertiefte Abklärung möglicher Berufsrichtungen for occupational direction assessment, (4) Job Coaching at external workplaces, and (5) Tagesstruktur ohne Lohn as a state-funded day structure program. ZBA operates a day center with 24 internal workstations across various work areas (12 for integration measures, 12 for assessment) plus 8 day structure places, operating Monday to Friday.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Beruflich-medizinische Abklärung (Klärung Eingliederungsfähigkeit) A 3-month (extendable) interdisciplinary assessment program that evaluates the work and performance capacity of adults with brain injury or neurological disease through practical tasks. Includes neurological assessment by a specialist physician, neuropsychological input, and ergonomic workplace evaluation.
• Integrationsmassnahmen (Aufbautraining und Arbeitstraining) Structured integration measures including Aufbautraining (build-up training re-accustoming individuals to work processes and building work capacity to 50%) and Arbeitstraining (work training for further capacity building with minimum 20 hours/week), delivered at ZBA's 12 internal integration workstations.
• Vertiefte Abklärung möglicher Berufsrichtungen In-depth occupational direction assessment using practice-based assignments (typically 3 months) to evaluate the practical applicability of residual capacity, including a 4-week Kurzabklärung abbreviated assessment for limited questions.
• Coaching am externen Arbeitsplatz Job coaching delivered at the external workplace, supporting brain-injured or neurologically impaired individuals and their employers with integration into a first-labor-market company; available as standalone return-to-work support after medical rehabilitation or as follow-up after internal ZBA measures.
• Tagesstruktur ohne Lohn A cantonally funded day-structure program without wages offering stability through structured daily routine, social contact in a work-like environment, and ability maintenance without performance pressure for adults aged 18-65 in Canton Lucerne with young-onset dementia, brain injury, or neurological disease. Up to 8 places, part-time or full-time (max 5 days/week).

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stiftung RastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Parent organization and trustee of ZBA since 1994, when it assumed sponsorship of the vocational assessment center on behalf of the Canton of Lucerne's health department. Stiftung Rast (formerly Stiftung für Gebrechliche) has a history dating back before 1960 of supporting people with disabilities through workshops and housing. It is also behind Stiftung Brändi, the largest employer for people with disabilities in Canton of Lucern.
• Klinik für Neurologie und Neurorehabilitation, Luzerner Kantonsspital (LUKS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary clinical partner for neurological expertise. ZBA cooperates closely with Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Nyffeler and Dr. med. Noortje Maaijwee. LUKS provides ergonomic workplace assessments, continuation of physiotherapy, speech therapy, and other prescribed therapies. Clinical neurological assessments support ZBA's vocational evaluation process.
• Memory Clinic Zentralschweiz, Luzerner Psychiatrie AG (lups)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized partner for dementia-related cases, particularly young-onset dementia, which is one of the target populations for ZBA's day structure and vocational programs. Supports assessment and care coordination for cognitively deteriorating patients.
• lic. phil. Rahel Oertli (Fachpsychologin für Neuropsychologie FSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent neuropsychologist providing specialized psychological assessment and certified expert opinions (SIM). Supports ZBA's interdisciplinary evaluation process with neuropsychological expertise.
• Silvedes AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGarden design and landscaping company in Brütten serving as an external employer placement (Arbeitstraining) for ZBA rehabilitants. Demonstrates model of successful long-term integration in the first labor market.
• Alters- und Pflegeheim Zentrum Höchweid, EbikonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElderly care and nursing home in Ebikon providing administrative work trial placement for ZBA rehabilitants. Example of successful employer partnership in the healthcare/social services sector.
• IV-Stelle LuzerncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDisability insurance office for Canton of Lucerne acting as primary referral source and commissioning body. Holds the formal Leistungsvereinbarung with ZBA on behalf of all Swiss IV-Stellen, establishing tariff agreements and service standards for vocational measures.
• Fragile SuisseminorOthersNational organization for people with brain injuries and their relatives. ZBA recommends its self-help groups and resources to clients and collaborates on awareness and support for the brain-injured population.
• INSOSminorOthersNational branch association of institutions for people with disabilities. ZBA participates in this professional network for disability employment and rehabilitation services in Switzerland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• INSOS Schweiz: National industry association of Swiss disability institutions, of which ZBA is a member. Acts as policy advocate, tariff negotiator, and benchmarking body for the sector in which ZBA operates.
• Fragile Suisse: National patient organization for people with brain injuries and their families. ZBA refers clients to Fragile Suisse's self-help groups; both organizations serve the same brain-injury population but from advocacy rather than service-delivery side.

Direct peers

• Stiftung Behindertenbetriebe Uri: Uri-based foundation operating sheltered workshops and supported employment programs for people with disabilities. Comparable cantonal model combining sheltered workplaces with vocational integration measures.
• Stiftung Brändi: Largest employer for people with disabilities in Canton of Lucerne, spun out of the same Stiftung Rast ecosystem that operates ZBA. Provides sheltered workplaces, vocational training, and residential services for disabled adults, making it a sibling organization and most direct structural comparator.
• Stiftung Wagerenhof: Uster-based foundation offering living, working, and occupational therapy services for people with disabilities in Canton Zurich. Comparable integrated service portfolio including sheltered workplaces, day structure, and supported employment.
• Stiftung Rütimattli: Schwyz-based foundation operating work, residence, and day-structure services for people with disabilities, including brain-injury cases. Comparable model combining sheltered employment, vocational assessment, and external job coaching under cantonal/IV funding.
• Werkstätten und Wohnheime Rossfeld: Bern-based foundation providing vocational training, sheltered work, and residential services for people with physical, cognitive, and psychological disabilities. Comparable scale and IV/Suva-funded vocational integration model.
• Klinik Bethesda Tschugg: Swiss clinic specializing in neurological rehabilitation, including vocational reintegration for brain-injured patients. Comparable focus on brain-injury recovery and the transition from medical rehab to work.
• REHAB Basel: Specialized clinic for neurological and brain-injury rehabilitation in Basel, including return-to-work programs. Closest clinical peer in the brain-injury neurorehabilitation category, with overlapping neuropsychological and vocational reintegration expertise.
• Stiftung Bödeli: Interlaken-area foundation offering housing and vocational/work-integration services for people with disabilities. Similar reliance on cantonal and IV funding with comparable service architecture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zba-zentrum-f%C3%BCr-berufliche-abkl%C3%A4rung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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