Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS)

What Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) does

Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS), headquartered in Potsdam, Germany, is a publicly funded non-profit research institute conducting transformative, transdisciplinary research on sustainability. Originally founded in 2009 as the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), the institute was dissolved as a legal entity on December 31, 2022, and integrated into the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft as part of GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung effective January 1, 2023, operating under its current name. RIFS organizes its work around three research areas: Sustainability Transformations and Society, Transformation of Human-Earth Interactions, and Advancing Transdisciplinarity and Co-Creation. It is led by a dual directorate (Doppelspitze) comprising Scientific Director Prof. Mark Lawrence and Director Prof. Doris Fuchs.

RIFS's core methodological offering is a transdisciplinary, co-creative research approach that integrates scientific knowledge with the values, perspectives, and practical expertise of policymakers, civil society, and business actors from project inception. Outputs include scientific articles, monographs, policy briefs, policy papers, discussion papers, and research tools such as the GIS-based ENVIKO EE-Standortfinder and Net4Cities air quality monitoring instruments. The institute hosts an annual Fellowship Programme bringing up to 25 highly qualified persons per year, including the named Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship, generating a global alumni network of nearly 300 Fellows from over 40 countries. Distribution channels include an open-access publications database, the Helmholtz Talks podcast, monthly newsletter, and convening events such as the Potsdam Summer School and Arctic Dialogue.

RIFS's revenue is entirely non-commercial and flows from two main sources: institutional core funding through the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft's Programme-Oriented Funding (PoF), which became permanent after the 2020 Wissenschaftsrat evaluation; and third-party project grants from German federal ministries (BMZ, Federal Foreign Office, BMBF), EU Horizon programmes, and foundations. The State of Brandenburg provides premises (the historic Kleist-Villa and an office building on Helmholtzstraße) as in-kind support. All publications and research outputs are disseminated openly.

Name

Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS)

Legal name

Forschungsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit am GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung

Website

https://rifs-potsdam.de/en

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

RIFS is a publicly funded non-profit research institute in Potsdam, Germany, conducting transdisciplinary, co-creative research on sustainability transformations. Integrated into the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft via GFZ since 2023, it serves policymakers, scientists, civil society, and business through policy advice, publications, and an annual global fellowship programme.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Research and Policy Advisory

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPAIAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation & Natural Resource Management Technical Assistance (BPADAEAJ)

Keywords

• Sustainability research
• Policy advisory services
• Transdisciplinary research
• Climate governance
• Energy transition research

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding (Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft): RIFS receives institutional funding through its integration into the GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung, within the Helmholtz Association (HGF) framework. Since 2023, the institute operates on a permanent financing basis following its successful evaluation by the Wissenschaftsrat in 2020. Funding flows under the Programme-Oriented Funding (PoF) of the HGF.
2. Project-Based Research Grants: RIFS researchers secure third-party project funding from government ministries (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry of Research), EU Horizon programmes, and foundations. These project grants fund specific research activities, conferences, and collaborative research initiatives.
3. Land Brandenburg Facility Provision: The state of Brandenburg has provided the Kleist-Villa in Berliner Straße 130 and the office building in Helmholtzstraße 5 in Potsdam to RIFS for use, representing an in-kind contribution to the institute's operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RIFS conducts transdisciplinary and co-creative research on societal transformations toward sustainability, covering climate governance, energy transition, ocean governance, biodiversity, digital transformation, and systemic risks. The institute produces open-access publications, policy briefs, and policy papers; delivers a global Fellowship Programme including the Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship; and convenes science-policy dialogue platforms such as the Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030). It is part of the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft and is institutionally funded through the GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung.

Product overview

The Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) is a research institute rather than a commercial product company. Its core offerings consist of transformative sustainability research, a fellowship program, publications (including scientific articles, policy briefs, discussion papers, and studies), and various research projects focused on sustainability transformations. The institute does not offer commercial software products but rather produces research outputs, organizes events (such as the Potsdam Summer School and Arctic Dialogue), and provides policy recommendations. Key research themes include sustainability transformations and society, transformation of human-earth interactions, and advancing transdisciplinarity and co-creation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship: A fellowship program honoring personalities who, like founding director Prof. Dr. Klaus Töpfer, are committed to sustainable development and build bridges between science, politics, and society. Awarded annually to individuals who have been engaged with sustainability questions for several years.

Products and services

• Fellow-Programm (Fellowship Programme)
• RIFS Publications Database Open-access online database cataloguing all RIFS research outputs including scientific articles, monographs, policy briefs, policy papers, discussion papers, studies, and thematic brochures, freely accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public.
• ENVIKO Project - EE-Standortfinder GIS-based interactive tool developed within the ENVIKO project that helps identify sites for wind energy and solar PV installations considering social, economic, and ecological criteria while remaining environmentally compatible; aimed at energy planners and policy stakeholders.
• Net4Cities Project Tools Monitoring and modeling tools for European cities to combat transport-related air and noise pollution, helping achieve cleaner and healthier urban spaces through innovative monitoring and modeling methods.
• Potsdam Summer School Annual event organized by RIFS that brings together international participants to discuss and develop solutions for sustainability challenges, typically themed around current global issues; open to applications from researchers and practitioners worldwide.
• Arctic Dialogue Conference series organized by RIFS that fosters open dialogue on Arctic affairs between scientists and policymakers, addressing geopolitical interests and Indigenous peoples' concerns; co-organized with the Sámi Council.
• Helmholtz Talks Podcast Podcast series co-produced by RIFS featuring discussions between scientists and policymakers on topics such as heatwaves, health, and political measures for climate adaptation, reaching a broad public audience.
• Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030) Science-policy platform jointly led by RIFS with DKN and SDSN Germany that facilitates cross-sectoral dialogue between scientists, policymakers, civil society, and private sector actors to support evidence-based policy-making for the German Sustainable Development Strategy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 Fellows from over 40 countries have conducted research at RIFS since its founding
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 core and minor.

• German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)coreOthers · 1 January 2025The conference on industrial decarbonization and hydrogen (October 28-29, 2025) was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, which also funds the GET Sustainable Hydrogen project at RIFS.
• German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt)coreOthers · 1 January 2025The conference on industrial decarbonization and hydrogen was supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. The office also funds the GET Sustainable Hydrogen project (Geopolitics of Energy Transformation: Sustainability Governance in the Hydrogen Sector) at RIFS.
• German Committee Future Earth (DKN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017RIFS jointly leads the Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030) together with DKN and SDSN Germany. The platform strengthens the connection between science and policy to advance sustainable transformation and implementation of the German Sustainable Development Strategy, operating through formats like the Advisory Councils Dialogue and wpn.Lab.
• SDSN GermanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017RIFS jointly leads the Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030) together with DKN and SDSN Germany. The platform facilitates cross-sectoral dialogue between scientists, policymakers, civil society, and private sector actors to support evidence-based policy-making for the German Sustainable Development Strategy.
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) — funding the Science Platform Sustainability 2030coreOthers · 1 January 2017The Science Platform Sustainability 2030 (wpn2030) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Weltraum) since 2017. This ministry-level funding supports the platform's operations and facilitation of science-policy dialogue.
• GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung (German Research Centre for Geosciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS is attached to the GFZ Helmholtz-Zentrum für Geoforschung and is institutionally funded under the Programme-Oriented Funding (PoF) of the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (HGF). The GFZ provides administrative services including recruiting, IT, and HR support. GFZ has granted RIFS use of its organizational infrastructure since 2023.
• Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (Helmholtz Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS belongs to the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft (HGF), Germany's largest research organization. The institute conducts its research and advisory activities within the thematic framework of the HGF's Programme-Oriented Funding, the GFZ's charter, and RIFS's own statutes.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS hosts DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) artist fellows, such as Mica Cabildo, who create multimedia artworks at the institute as part of the DAAD artist programme. This partnership integrates artistic practice into sustainability research.
• Sámi CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS co-organized the 27th Arctic Dialogue in 2026 in collaboration with the Sámi Council, bringing together scientists and policymakers to discuss Arctic affairs, indigenous rights, and decolonial perspectives in environmental governance.
• Heinrich-Böll-StiftungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS co-hosted a webinar with the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung in April 2026 to present the Policy Paper 'Strengthening Sustainability Governance for a Rapid Hydrogen Ramp-Up' and discuss recommendations for a sustainable hydrogen economy.
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS Group Leader Dr. Maheswar Rupakheti was selected as a Distinguished Scientist under the CAS President's International Fellowship Initiative (CAS PIFI), one of China's most prestigious international fellowship programmes, recognizing outstanding scientific achievements.
• EU Horizon Projects (multiple consortia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIFS participates in numerous EU Horizon research projects as a consortium partner, including Net4Cities (air quality monitoring), ENVIKO (digital participation in energy transition), BIRGEJUPMI (Arctic research with Sámi communities), PermaGov (marine governance), OceanNETs (ocean-based carbon dioxide removal), and many others. These projects involve collaborative research with partners across Europe and globally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC): Berlin/Potsdam-based applied sustainability research institute focused on climate and global commons. Directly comparable in mission, geographic context, and policy-advisory role to RIFS, with overlap in transdisciplinary methodology and EU project participation.
• Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy: German research institute conducting applied sustainability research on climate, environment, and energy transitions with strong science-policy interface. Highly comparable in mission, funding model (mix of institutional and project funding), and federal policy advisory function.
• Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung (PIK): Potsdam-based climate impacts research institute, also member of the Leibniz Association. Comparable as a German sustainability/climate research institute in the same city, with overlapping climate, energy transition, and policy advisory scope, though stronger in Earth-system modelling.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: International research centre on sustainability, resilience, and Earth-system science. Directly comparable in transdisciplinary sustainability research, science-policy interface, and fellowship-style talent development, though Swedish-based.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Austria-based international research institute applying systems analysis to sustainability, climate, and energy challenges. Comparable in transdisciplinary methodology, international fellowship programmes, and intergovernmental science-policy mandate.

Broad incumbents

• German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin): Major Berlin-based economic research institute with a dedicated sustainability and climate policy department. Comparable as a German policy-advisory research organization with public funding, though broader in scope (economics) than RIFS.
• German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU): Independent German advisory council providing policy advice on global environmental and sustainability issues to the federal government. Closely comparable in science-policy advisory function on sustainability, though smaller in research staff and without a fellowship programme.

Regional players

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany: German national chapter of the UN SDSN network, co-leader with RIFS of the Science Platform Sustainability 2030. Comparable as a sustainability science-policy network, though organized as a network rather than a single research institute.

Others

• Institute for Advanced Study (IASS) - legacy entity: Predecessor entity to RIFS, dissolved in 2022. Listed for completeness as the prior incarnation that RIFS's governance, leadership, and methodology directly inherit; not a current operational peer.

Emerging players

• Climate Action Tracker: Independent science-based policy assessment consortium tracking government climate action and NDCs. Comparable as a science-policy advisory initiative producing policy briefings on climate governance, though narrower in scope than RIFS and operated as a consortium.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xhelmholtz.social/@RIFS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rifspotsdammedia
• Facebookde.linkedin.com/company/rifs-potsdam
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/rifs-potsdam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS)