concentris research management GmbH

What concentris research management GmbH does

concentris research management GmbH is a specialized German SME (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) founded over 17 years ago by Dr. Ameli Schwalber, providing end-to-end management services for EU-funded research consortia. The company serves as a full consortium partner in projects funded under Horizon Europe (€95.5 billion, 2021-2027), the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI/IMI, €2.4 billion, 2021-2027), and German national programmes including DFG, BMBF, Volkswagen Foundation, and Fritz Thyssen Foundation. Concentris targets researchers, universities, research institutions, and companies participating in European research projects, handling all non-scientific tasks from proposal writing through project completion. Documented experience spans 35 EU projects led and approximately 100 proposals managed with above-average success rates (100% in best years).

The company's core technology is KEYWAYS, a proprietary web-based intranet platform tailored for EU research project management. KEYWAYS delivers project progress tracking with milestones and deliverables, percentage-based progress tracking, automated email notifications, centralized document management with folder structures, partner address books, and online meeting participant registration with Excel export functionality. KEYWAYS is also offered externally as a subscription product at €49/month (up to 25 users), €69/month (up to 50 users), and €79/month (50+ users). Supporting service modules span grant writing and proposal submission, comprehensive project management, financial administration, conference management, and science communication services including website development, video and webinar production, graphic design, scientific writing/editing, and CME accreditation support.

Concentris operates a distinctive revenue model in which its services are funded as a line item within EU project grants: as a consortium partner, the company receives compensation from the grant allocation designated for management activities, meaning coordinators and partners incur no direct costs for concentris services. The 13-person team comprises project managers, organizational experts, communications professionals, and service providers, with most members holding PhDs from institutions including the EU Parliament, Max Planck Institute, and University of Colorado Boulder. KEYWAYS subscriptions represent an incremental revenue stream for projects outside concentris-led consortia. The company operates from Ludwigstr. 4 in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, and is structured as an independent, founder-owned family business with no external investors, parent company, or acquisition activity documented.

Name

concentris research management GmbH

Legal name

concentris research management gmbh

Website

https://concentris.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

concentris research management GmbH is a German SME providing end-to-end management services for EU-funded research consortia under Horizon Europe, IHI/IMI, and German national funding programmes, serving universities, research institutions, and companies through its proprietary KEYWAYS platform and full-lifecycle support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

EU Research Project Management Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Research Collaboration & Joint Labs (International Partnerships) (EDAIABAC)

Keywords

• EU project management
• Research project services
• Grant proposal writing
• Horizon Europe consulting
• Science communication services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fürstenfeldbruck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Project Management Services: Services are funded through consortium membership in EU-funded research projects. As a full consortium member, concentris finances its services through portions of the grant allocated for management activities. Neither the coordinator nor project partners incur direct costs for concentris's services - the costs are built into the project's budget calculation as part of the grant funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

concentris research management GmbH is a specialized SME that provides end-to-end non-scientific project management services for EU-funded research projects, acting as a full consortium partner within research consortia. The company supports universities, businesses, and research institutes across the full project lifecycle from proposal writing and submission through project management, financial management, conference organization, and science communication/dissemination. Its proprietary web-based platform KEYWAYS serves as the centralized project intranet for managing milestones, deliverables, documents, and partner coordination in these projects.

Product overview

concentris research management GmbH operates as a specialized EU research project management services provider rather than a software product company. The core offering consists of KEYWAYS, a proprietary web-based project intranet platform for managing EU-funded research projects. Supporting this core are service modules covering the full project lifecycle: grant writing and proposal submission services, project management services, financial management services, conference management services, and science communication and project marketing services. Science communication services include sub-services for website development, video and webinar production, graphic design, scientific writing and editing, and CME accreditation support. The company functions as a full-service partner for universities, businesses, and research institutes, managing non-scientific tasks of EU-funded research projects from initial idea through successful completion. Funding programs supported include Horizon Europe, IHI/IMI, and national German funding (DFG, BMBF, Volkswagen Foundation, Fritz Thyssen Foundation).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KEYWAYS: A web-based intranet program specifically tailored for EU research project management, providing project progress tracking, milestone management, document management, address book, and meeting participant registration features.

Products and services

• KEYWAYS KEYWAYS is a proprietary web-based project intranet platform designed specifically for managing EU-funded research projects. It enables consortium coordinators and partners to track project progress, manage milestones and deliverables with assigned responsibilities, automate reminders, share documents centrally, store partner contact details, and register meeting participants online with Excel export functionality. It is offered free to project partners in concentris-led projects and via tiered monthly subscriptions to other projects.
• Grant Writing and Proposal Submission Services End-to-end support for preparing and submitting grant applications to EU programs such as Horizon Europe and IHI, and to German national funders. Services include consortium coordination, budget calculation, and completion of EU application forms, helping research teams compete in proposals with historically above-average success rates.
• Project Management Services Comprehensive project management for EU-funded research consortia covering contract management, partner communication coordination, project controlling, progress reporting, financial management, conference management, dissemination and project marketing, training organization, and website/intranet management. The service allows research teams to delegate non-scientific administration.
• Financial Management Services Financial administration for EU research projects including budget calculation, payment flow calculation, budget reallocations, ongoing financial controlling, project billing, and final financial reporting including payment distribution tables to partners. Ensures compliance with EU funding rules and reduces financial administration burden on researchers.
• Conference Management Services Full-service organization of conferences and meetings for EU-funded research projects, covering participant management, venue and catering arrangements, event marketing, content planning for abstracts and sessions, and ensuring compliance with EU protocols and financial guidelines.
• Science Communication and Project Marketing Services Comprehensive science communication and project marketing services that combine website development, video and webinar production, graphic design, scientific writing and editing, CME accreditation support, and event organization to help research projects meet EU dissemination and outreach obligations.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Commission (Horizon Europe Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcentris operates as a consortium partner in projects funded by Horizon Europe, the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation with a €95.5 billion budget (2021-2027). The company supports researchers in securing funding and managing projects under this framework.
• Innovative Health Initiative (IHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIHI (formerly IMI) is Europe's largest public-private initiative in health research with a €2.4 billion budget (2021-2027). Concentris manages IHI/IMI projects and provides project management, proposal coordination, and dissemination services.
• German Research Foundation (DFG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFG is Germany's largest research funding organization supporting projects across all scientific disciplines. Concentris assists clients in finding suitable calls and applying for DFG funding.
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF funds projects in basic research, applied research, and technological innovation. Concentris supports clients in identifying and applying for BMBF funding opportunities.
• Volkswagen FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolkswagen Foundation funds various research projects in natural sciences and humanities. Concentris helps clients navigate and apply for this funding.
• Fritz Thyssen FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation funds research in history, language, culture, government, economics, society, medicine and natural sciences. Concentris supports clients with applications to this funding source.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INNO TSD: INNO TSD is a French-EU consultancy offering innovation management, EU funding advisory, and project management services for Horizon Europe and similar programs, operating as a comparable full-service EU research management boutique.
• ttopstart: ttopstart is a European life sciences and health consultancy specializing in grant writing and project management for EU-funded research, with overlap in healthcare/biomedical consortium engagements similar to concentris's MARKOPOLO and PANCAID projects.
• ZENIT GmbH: ZENIT is a German innovation consultancy that supports SMEs and research institutions in accessing EU and national funding programs, with comparable services around proposal support and project management.
• EURICE (European Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence): EURICE is a German-based research management company providing proposal writing, project management, and dissemination services for EU-funded research projects, with comparable service portfolio and target customer base.
• accelCHAMP: accelCHAMP provides EU project management, communication, and dissemination support to research consortia, sharing the niche boutique consulting positioning in the EU framework programs market.
• PNO Consultants: PNO Consultants is a European innovation funding consultancy helping universities, research organizations, and companies secure EU and national grants, with significant overlap in target customers and service offerings.
• Europa Media: Europa Media provides project management, financial administration, and training services for EU framework program participants, with similar full-lifecycle offerings across Horizon Europe and other EU funding instruments.

Broad incumbents

• VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH: VDI/VDE-IT is a major German innovation consultancy supporting EU and federal R&D programs at significantly larger scale, representing a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities but a much wider portfolio.
• Ayming: Ayming is an international consulting firm offering innovation funding advisory and R&D tax incentive services across Europe, with overlap in EU grant advisory services but a broader commercial focus.

Regional players

• Innovate UK: Innovate UK is the UK's national innovation agency funding and supporting research businesses, comparable in its role supporting research funding access but operating as a UK-focused public agency rather than a commercial consultancy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@concentris
• Xx.com/concentrisRM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concentris-research-management-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 concentris research management GmbH