Centre for Social Innovation

What Centre for Social Innovation does

Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI — Zentrum für Soziale Innovation GmbH) is an Austrian non-profit social science research institute founded in 1990 and headquartered in Vienna. The institute delivers evidence-based research, evaluation, consultancy, and platform coordination services to European institutions, Austrian federal ministries, and international organisations. Its thematic focus spans social innovation, science diplomacy, citizen science, research and innovation policy, bioeconomy, circular economy, energy transition, and social inclusion. ZSI applies mixed-methods approaches including bibliometric analysis, co-creation, citizen science, foresight, network analysis, surveys, and systematic reviews to study societal transitions.

The institute operates a portfolio of research services rather than commercial products. Core service lines include evaluation and impact assessment of R&I programmes, consultancy and exploitation support, platform coordination and network development, public engagement and science communication, and training programmes. A notable proprietary asset is KNOWMAK, a web-based interactive visualisation tool providing indicators on knowledge co-creation in the European Research Area. Bibliometric analysis services produce data-driven visualisations of publication patterns across global and national research fields.

ZSI's business model is project-based and grant-funded, with the majority of revenue generated through competitive bidding on EU Framework Programme tenders (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020), Framework Contracts with the European Commission, and assignments from Austrian federal ministries (BMBWF, BMK) and the Austrian Development Cooperation. The institute also delivers international consulting assignments for organisations including UNIDO, the World Bank, EU Delegations, and national science foundations in enlargement and neighbourhood countries. ZSI maintains an 86% export share, indicating predominantly international revenue composition. The institute operates with approximately 50 staff, runs roughly 60 concurrent projects, and has implemented over 785 projects and produced over 995 publications since 1990.

Name

Centre for Social Innovation

Legal name

ZSI – Zentrum für Soziale Innovation GmbH

Website

https://zsi.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) is an Austrian non-profit social science research institute delivering evidence-based research, evaluation, and consulting services for the European Commission, Austrian federal ministries, and international organisations, with focus on social innovation, science diplomacy, citizen science, and R&I policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Science Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

Keywords

• Social science research
• Research evaluation services
• Citizen science methodologies
• Science diplomacy advisory
• Innovation policy consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Research Framework Programme Funding: ZSI generates the majority of its revenue through competitive EU research funding, including Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects, Framework Contracts with the European Commission, and other European funding instruments such as COST Actions. Project types include coordination and support actions, research and innovation actions, and service contracts.
2. National Public Sector Contracts: Assignments from Austrian federal ministries (BMBWF, BMK), Austrian development cooperation (ADC), and Austrian research funding agencies (FFG, FWF) form a significant revenue stream. The institute reports 86% export share, indicating heavy reliance on international project funding.
3. International Consulting Assignments: Project-based consulting work for international organisations including UNIDO, World Bank, EU Delegations, and national governments in enlargement and neighbourhood countries, as well as evaluations for foreign science foundations and ministries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ZSI is a social science research institute that implements research and application projects on social innovation, research and innovation policy, and societal transitions. It delivers evaluation, impact assessment, consultancy, platform coordination, public engagement, science communication, and training services, primarily through EU Framework Programmes (Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, Framework Contracts), Austrian federal ministry contracts, and international consulting assignments for organisations such as UNIDO and the World Bank. It also produces targeted research tools such as the KNOWMAK visualization platform.

Product overview

Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) is a social science research institute that provides research project services rather than a commercial product company. Its portfolio consists of European research projects (implemented under frameworks like Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, and Framework Contracts), consultancy and evaluation services, research methodologies (including bibliometric analysis, co-creation, citizen science), and platform coordination services. Key project outputs include the KNOWMAK visualization tool for knowledge co-creation analysis. Services are organized around evaluation and impact assessment, consultancy, network development, public engagement, and training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KNOWMAK Web-based interactive tool providing visualizations and state-of-the-art indicators on knowledge co-creation in the European Research Area (ERA), combining traditional research output data with social innovation project information and social media attention metrics. Built using a co-creation approach with target user groups.
• Evaluation, Reviews & Impact Assessments Comprehensive evaluation services for research programs, policies, and innovation projects with established impact assessment methodologies, delivered to public sector clients and international organisations.
• Consultancy & Exploitation Expert consultancy services supporting knowledge valorisation and research exploitation, advising public sector clients and research organisations on translating research outputs into societal and economic impact.
• Platform Coordination & Network Development Coordination services for research platforms and development of international cooperation networks, supporting transnational R&I consortia, EU alliance coordination, and stakeholder network building.
• Public Engagement & Science Communication Services facilitating public participation in scientific research and science communication activities, including citizen science project design and stakeholder engagement methodologies.
• Trainings Training programs including public and citizen engagement workshops and capacity building activities, supporting research organisations, ministries, and international partners on co-creation, citizen science, and R&I policy practice.
• Bibliometric Analysis Services Bibliometric analysis services analysing publication patterns to identify key strengths and opportunities within global or national research fields, providing data-driven decision-making support using advanced visualizations, co-publication studies, and interactive tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 785+ projects implemented and 995+ publications produced since 1990
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• DLR ProjektträgercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025DLR Projektträger serves as the coordinator for the European Framework for Science Diplomacy project (GSF-22, April 2025 – March 2027), funded by the European Commission. ZSI provides specific technical support to the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance as part of this project.
• AIT Austrian Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024AIT serves as coordinator of the Mission Service Facility consortium (March 2024 – December 2027), a Framework Contract for the Austrian Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research. The consortium includes AIT (coordinator), Joanneum Research, and ZSI, supported by Fraunhofer ISI. ZSI contributes to monitoring framework, data recording, yearly monitoring reports, training on public engagement, and impact pathway development.
• Joanneum ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Mission Service Facility consortium alongside AIT (coordinator) and ZSI, working on EU Mission implementation in Austria.
• Fraunhofer ISIsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner in the Mission Service Facility consortium, providing methodological and quality assurance support alongside AIT, Joanneum Research, and ZSI.
• UNIDOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNIDO serves as the overall supervisor for the Technology Foresight for Circular Economy project in Armenia and Moldova (May 2026 – May 2027), implemented by ZSI in cooperation with national service providers CIVITTA AM (Armenia) and e-circular & DNT (Moldova) under the EU4Green Recovery East programme.
• Umweltbundesamt (Austria)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides stakeholder mapping for the Technology Foresight for Circular Economy project in Armenia and Moldova, supporting ZSI's implementation under the EU4Green Recovery East programme.
• European Science Diplomacy AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSI senior researcher Elke Dall is the founding chair of the European Union Science Diplomacy Alliance, a community of science diplomacy scholars and practitioners. ZSI provides technical support to the Alliance under the European Framework for Science Diplomacy project.
• European Citizen Science Association (ECSA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerZSI senior scientist Barbara Kieslinger serves on ECSA's board of directors. ECSA is a pan-European association advancing citizen science across the continent, and ZSI contributes to its activities through research and project work.
• OECDsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOECD participates in ZSI-coordinated events such as the International Seminar on Monitoring of R&I Supported Missions, providing comparative theory-based overviews of mission monitoring across member countries.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): TNO is the Netherlands' largest applied research organisation, conducting innovation, transition, and policy research for the Dutch government and European Commission. It overlaps with ZSI in R&I transition studies and EU framework work, but at substantially greater scale and a wider mandate.
• Danish Technological Institute (DTI): DTI is a Danish applied research institute delivering innovation services, technology development, and policy support. It is comparable to ZSI as a European mid-sized applied research institute competing for framework contracts, though with broader technical rather than social science focus.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is Finland's national applied research organisation, conducting innovation and technology policy research alongside its broader applied science portfolio. It overlaps with ZSI on EU-funded R&I policy and foresight assignments, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple technology domains.

Direct peers

• IDEA Consult: IDEA Consult is a Brussels-based consultancy that specialises in R&I policy evaluation, smart specialisation, and framework contract services for the European Commission. It is a frequent co-bidder and competitor on the same Horizon Europe evaluation and framework tenders that ZSI targets.
• AIT Austrian Institute of Technology: AIT is Austria's largest non-university applied research organisation and coordinates the Mission Service Facility consortium alongside ZSI. Both organisations compete for and deliver Austrian and EU R&I policy contracts, with overlapping expertise in innovation systems analysis and applied technology foresight.
• Technopolis Group: Technopolis Group is a European research and consulting firm specialising in R&I policy evaluation, impact assessment, and framework contract delivery for the European Commission. It competes with ZSI on the same Horizon Europe and Framework Contract tenders, serving an overlapping public sector client base.
• Fraunhofer ISI: Fraunhofer ISI is Germany's leading institute for innovation and systems research and a core partner with ZSI in the Mission Service Facility consortium. Both organisations conduct R&I policy evaluation, foresight, and impact assessment for the European Commission and national governments, operating comparable mixed-methods research models.
• Ecorys: Ecorys is a pan-European research and consulting company that delivers EU policy evaluation, impact assessment, and international development assignments. It is a direct competitor for Horizon Europe framework contracts and international technical assistance projects where ZSI is also active.
• Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO): WIFO is Austria's leading economic research institute, providing policy analysis and research for Austrian federal ministries and the European Commission. It is a domestic Austrian peer operating in the same R&I policy and innovation systems research space as ZSI.
• Joanneum Research: Joanneum Research is a non-university Austrian research organisation that partners with ZSI on the Mission Service Facility framework contract. Both institutes deliver applied research, policy support, and evaluation services to Austrian federal ministries and the European Commission in closely overlapping thematic domains.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-social-innovation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Social Innovation