Zukunft Raum Schwarzwald

What Zukunft Raum Schwarzwald does

Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald (Z.R.S) is a publicly funded regional innovation network, not a commercial technology company. Established in 2022 and organized as a German civil-law partnership (GbR) under the EU/State RegioWIN program, Z.R.S is co-owned by three equal institutional partners — IHK Südlicher Oberrhein, Wirtschaftsförderung Region Freiburg e.V., and Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH — and operates from a small headquarters office in Lörrach, Baden-Württemberg with eight employees. The project runs on a fixed six-year funding window from 2022 to 2028, receiving co-financing from the EU (EFRE) and the State of Baden-Württemberg.

The company's core offering is subsidized SME consulting: it brokers access to innovation, digitalization, sustainability, AI, and corporate mobility management advisory services at a 54.5% public subsidy, with SMEs paying only ~45.5% of net format prices. Z.R.S owns no proprietary technology platform — its value is in the curated network. It connects regional SMEs to six implementation partners (BadenCampus, machn, Klimapartner Südbaden, Energieagentur Südwest, ITG, CoWorkLand) for delivery, to two universities (Hochschule Offenburg and DHBW Lörrach) for knowledge transfer, and to a broader ecosystem of chambers, economic development agencies, Fraunhofer institutes, and the University of Freiburg. It also operates the Zukunft.Räume program — 9 existing regional coworking/innovation hubs with 8 more in development toward a planned footprint of 17.

Commercially, Z.R.S is grant-administered rather than revenue-driven: the consulting fees it routes to SMEs are largely public subsidies, and Z.R.S handles the bureaucratic burden of grant applications on companies' behalf. Its revenue model is best understood as project funding plus professional-services pass-through rather than a traditional software or SaaS business. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on county-level Community and Competence Managers who provide free introductory meetings and shepherd SMEs through the subsidized program, amplified by events (Käpsele Innovation Festival, Zukunft.Dialog webseminars, Zukunft.Lab.Schwarzwald) and partner referrals.

Name

Zukunft Raum Schwarzwald

Legal name

Z.R.S GbR

Website

https://zukunft-raum-schwarzwald.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald is a publicly funded regional innovation network in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, co-owned by IHK Südlicher Oberrhein and two economic development bodies. It brokers 54.5%-subsidized consulting on innovation, AI, sustainability, and mobility to local SMEs, and operates a growing network of regional coworking hubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional SME Innovation Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation, Product & R&D Consulting (BPAHACAM)

Keywords

• SME innovation consulting
• Subsidized business advisory
• Digital transformation services
• Regional coworking networks
• University knowledge transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Lörrach

HQ country

Germany

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, Others

Revenue model

1. EU and State Subsidized Consulting Services: Z.R.S operates as a publicly funded project (RegioWIN EFRE project) providing subsidized consulting services to SMEs. The organization receives funding from the EU and the State of Baden-Württemberg, which subsidizes 54.5% of consulting service costs for eligible small and medium enterprises. Companies pay the remaining 45.5% of service costs. The organization handles grant administration on behalf of companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Z.R.S is a publicly funded regional innovation network project (RegioWIN/EFRE, 2022–2028) that delivers subsidized consulting services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Südlicher Oberrhein/Hochrhein region of Baden-Württemberg on innovation, digitalization, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and corporate mobility management. Companies receive a 54.5% subsidy on consulting fees, with Z.R.S handling grant administration and matching clients to a network of implementation partners. In parallel, Z.R.S develops a network of regional coworking and innovation spaces (Zukunft.Räume, 17 planned/9 operational) and structured knowledge-transfer programs with regional universities.

Product overview

Zukunft.Raum.Schwarzwald is a regional innovation network project (not a unified software product) that offers a portfolio of subsidized consulting services for SMEs. The core offerings include Geförderte Beratungsangebote (subsidized consulting at 54.5% funding) delivered through specialized realization partners: Innovation & Transformation via machn, Innovation & Technologien via BadenCampus, and Nachhaltigkeit via a consortium of Klimapartner Südbaden, Energieagentur Südwest, and ITG. Since 2025, the portfolio expanded to include Fokusthema Künstliche Intelligenz (AI consulting) and Fokusthema Betriebliches Mobilitätsmanagement (corporate mobility management). The project also operates Zukunft.Räume - 17 planned innovation hubs/coworking spaces across the region (9 existing, 8 in development). Hochschulkooperationen & Wissenstransfer provides access to university partnerships with Hochschule Offenburg and DHBW Lörrach. The project is funded by EU and Land Baden-Württemberg from 2022 to 2028.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zukunft.Räume: Regional innovation hubs for coworking, networking and new work concepts in the Schwarzwald region
• Zukunft.Dialog
• Zukunft.Lab.Schwarzwald
• Käpsele Innovation Festival

Products and services

• Geförderte Beratungsangebote (Subsidized Consulting Services) Core Z.R.S offering of subsidized advisory services for SMEs covering innovation, digitalization, sustainability, AI, and corporate mobility management, delivered through implementation partners with 54.5% of costs covered by EU and Land Baden-Württemberg funding.
• Innovation & Transformation (machn) Consulting services delivered by implementation partner machn focusing on transformation, digitalization, and sustainability through workshops and coaching for SMEs.
• Innovation & Technologien (BadenCampus) Consulting services delivered by implementation partner BadenCampus using new technologies to develop ideas and solutions, connecting startups, SMEs, municipalities, talents, and scientific institutions.
• Nachhaltigkeit (Sustainability Consulting) Sustainability consulting delivered through a consortium of Klimapartner Südbaden, Energieagentur Südwest, and ITG, covering climate protection, CO2 accounting, energy solutions, resource efficiency, and transformation strategies for SMEs.
• Fokusthema Künstliche Intelligenz (AI Consulting) AI-focused consulting services offered since early 2025 through realization partners machn and BadenCampus, covering general AI advisory through to implementation support for SMEs in the region.
• Fokusthema Betriebliches Mobilitätsmanagement (Corporate Mobility Management Consulting) Corporate mobility management consulting offered since spring 2025 through realization partner Energieagentur Südwest GmbH, including mobility checks and implementation support for SMEs.
• Zukunft.Räume (Innovation Hubs / Coworking Spaces) Regional innovation hubs supporting exchange, coworking, networking, and new work forms in rural areas, with 9 existing locations and 8 more in development across 17 planned sites.
• Hochschulkooperationen & Wissenstransfer (University Knowledge Transfer) Direct access for SMEs to university knowledge, research competence, and qualified young talent through cooperation with Hochschule Offenburg and DHBW Lörrach, including the Zukunft.Lab.Schwarzwald event series.

Quantifiable outcome

• 54.5% of consulting costs subsidized

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Landkreis Breisgau-HochschwarzwaldmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government providing regional development support and connections to local businesses in Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald.
• IHK Südlicher OberrheincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry representing the Südlicher Oberrhein region. One of three equal partners in Z.R.S GbR. Michael Löffler serves as representative.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Freiburg e. V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization for Freiburg. One of three equal partners in Z.R.S GbR. Dr. Ralf Binder serves as representative.
• Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development company for the Südwest region. One of three equal partners in Z.R.S GbR. Alexander Maas serves as representative.
• Hochschule OffenburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Applied Sciences in Offenburg. Provides knowledge and technology transfer between research and industry. Collaborates on formats like Zukunft.Lab.Schwarzwald.
• DHBW LörrachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual University of Applied Sciences in Lörrach. Provides access to students, research competence, and dual education partnerships for regional companies.
• Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreiburg's economic development, tourism, and trade fair organization. Co-organizer of the Käpsele Innovation Festival.
• Projektpartner Oberrhein – Gesellschaft für Projektentwicklung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border project development company for the Upper Rhine region.
• WFG - Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft des Landkreises Emmendingen mbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development company for Landkreis Emmendingen supporting local business development.
• BadenCampus GmbH & Co. KGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInnovation platform providing workshops and analyses on new technologies. Connects startups, SMEs, municipalities, talents, and scientific institutions. Also supports Zukunft.Räume development.
• machn Innovation & TransformationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner specializing in transformation, digitalization, and sustainability consulting through workshops and coaching.
• Klimapartner Südbaden e.V.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional climate partnership consortium partner providing sustainability and energy efficiency consulting for SMEs.
• Energieagentur Südwest GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnergy agency providing consulting on corporate mobility management and sustainability as part of the consortium.
• ITG mbH & Co. KGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInnovation and Technology Company supporting sustainability consulting as part of the consortium.
• CoWorkLand e.G.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCooperative supporting the development and establishment of Zukunft.Räume coworking spaces throughout the region.
• Steinbeis BeratungszentrenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the nationwide Steinbeis network providing practice-oriented knowledge and technology transfer from science to business.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (ISE, IPM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading applied research institutes in Freiburg focusing on renewable energies, energy efficiency, measurement technology, and intelligent sensor systems.
• Albert-Ludwigs-Universität FreiburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Germany's most research-intensive universities with expertise in innovation, sustainability, and digitalization topics.
• Handwerkskammer FreiburgminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChamber of Trades for the Südlicher Oberrhein region, serving as multiplier for reaching craft businesses.
• Handwerkskammer KonstanzminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChamber of Trades for the Hochrhein-Bodensee region, serving as multiplier for reaching craft businesses.
• TriRhena TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinational university network for the Upper Rhine connecting 21 institutions from Germany, France, and Switzerland with over 55,000 students and 6,500 employees.
• ADIRAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinational network for employment and skilled worker mobility promotion in the Upper Rhine region, supporting cross-border labor market cooperation.
• Basel Area BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation promotion organization for the Basel region supporting companies with international networking and innovation.
• KMØ MulhouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border innovation hub focused on digital transformation and new business models, located in a former industrial area in Mulhouse.
• Black Forest InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional platform promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Black Forest, operating the Flow1986 Zukunft.Raum.
• Startinsland FreiburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional startup and innovation network connecting the startup scene with established businesses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Freiburg e.V. Regional economic development organization for Freiburg and a co-owner of Z.R.S. Operates a broadly similar mandate of supporting regional SMEs with innovation, location promotion, and networking services, making it the closest institutional analogue.
• Wirtschaftsregion Südwest GmbH: Economic development company for the Südwest region and co-owner of Z.R.S. Runs parallel programs on SME innovation, location marketing, and cluster development in overlapping geographies.
• IHK Südlicher Oberrhein: Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Südlischer Oberrhein region and Z.R.S co-owner. Provides overlapping SME advisory, innovation, and qualification services to the same regional target group.
• CoWorkLand e.G. Cooperative supporting the development of rural coworking spaces and a Z.R.S implementation partner. Directly comparable in building the same Zukunft.Räume physical infrastructure that anchors Z.R.S's regional presence.

Regional players

• IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee: Adjacent regional chamber offering SME consulting, innovation support, and qualification services in the Hochrhein-Bodensee area, a neighboring but distinct geography from Z.R.S's core footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Steinbeis-Stiftung: Nationwide Steinbeis network for practice-oriented knowledge and technology transfer between science and business. Already a Z.R.S partner; comparable in mission of connecting SMEs with applied research and consulting.
• bwcon GmbH: Baden-Württemberg-wide technology and innovation network supporting SMEs and startups. Operates at a larger geographic scale than Z.R.S but with a similar technology-transfer and SME-innovation mandate.
• CyberForum e.V. Largest European Hightech.Unternehmer.Netzwerk based in Karlsruhe, providing innovation, networking, and consulting services to tech SMEs. Comparable model as a regional SME innovation intermediary, though operating in a different sub-region.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's leading applied research organization, already a Z.R.S partner via Fraunhofer ISE and IPM in Freiburg. Provides industry-facing R&D and technology transfer services that overlap with Z.R.S's knowledge-transfer role.
• Startup BW: Baden-Württemberg state initiative supporting startups and innovation. Comparable in promoting regional innovation ecosystems, though focused more on startups than the established SMEs Z.R.S serves.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zukunftraumschwarzwald
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zukunftraumschwarzwald

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Zukunft Raum Schwarzwald