Sigmund-freud-institut

What Sigmund-freud-institut does

The Sigmund-Freud-Institut (SFI) is a public-law research foundation (Hessische Stiftung Sigmund-Freud-Institut) based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, founded in 1960 and sponsored by the State of Hesse. It conducts interdisciplinary psychoanalytic research across three departments—sociological-socialpsychological, clinical-psychological, and medical-psychoanalytical—investigating the dynamics of the psyche, causes of psychological suffering, and psychopathology in individual and social dimensions. Its core services include a research outpatient clinic (Forschungsambulanz) serving approximately 400 patients annually, multi-departmental research projects, continuing education and supervision programs, a joint doctoral program with Goethe-Universität Frankfurt and Universität Kassel, and a specialized research library.

The institute's underlying methodology integrates psychoanalytic theory with clinical-psychological assessment, including operationalized psychodynamic diagnostics (OPD), and applies these frameworks to contemporary research areas such as psychodynamic treatment of OCD, complex childhood trauma, digitalization's psychological effects, migration and refugee psychosocial support, and democracy and authoritarianism. SFI does not develop or sell technology products; its outputs are academic publications, conference presentations, clinical services, and policy-relevant evaluation projects.

SFI's business model is institutional public funding rather than commercial revenue. It receives core funding from the State of Hesse (Land Hessen) via HMWK, with project-specific grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, and other foundations. Notable project funding includes approximately €3.1 million through end of 2028 for the DemoReg research association. The institute supplements institutional funding with fee-based clinical services (psychotherapy for ~400 patients/year), organizational consulting and crisis intervention, and continuing education programs. It holds no patents, has no parent company beyond the State of Hesse, and operates as a non-profit foundation under public law.

Name

Sigmund-freud-institut

Legal name

Hessische Stiftung Sigmund-Freud-Institut

Website

https://sigmund-freud-institut.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Sigmund-Freud-Institut is a Frankfurt-based public-law research foundation founded in 1960 that conducts interdisciplinary psychoanalytic research across three departments, operates a research outpatient clinic serving ~400 patients annually, and runs doctoral and continuing education programs in cooperation with German universities, funded primarily by the State of Hesse and national research foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Research & Psychotherapy Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Psychoanalytic research
• Psychotherapy services
• Psychosocial consulting
• Continuing education supervision
• Doctoral research program

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt am Main

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As a foundation of public law (Hessische Stiftung Sigmund-Freud-Institut), the institute receives government funding for research activities. Additional funding from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, and Hessian Ministry for Science and Research (HMWK).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Sigmund-Freud-Institut (SFI) is a public research institute that conducts psychoanalytic research across three departments (sociological-socialpsychological, clinical-psychological, and medical-psychoanalytical). It operates a research outpatient clinic (Forschungsambulanz) serving approximately 400 patients annually, offers professional training, supervision, and continuing education, hosts a doctoral program with partner universities, and provides consultation, supervision, and crisis intervention for organizations.

Product overview

The Sigmund-Freud-Institut is a research institute for psychoanalysis and its applications, not a product company. It operates three main departments (sociological-socialpsychological, clinical-psychological, and medical-psychoanalytical) conducting research on the psyche, suffering, and psychopathology. The institute operates a research outpatient clinic (Forschungsambulanz) treating approximately 400 patients annually, offers continuing education programs, runs a doctoral program in cooperation with Goethe-Universität Frankfurt and Universität Kassel, and maintains a research library. The organizational structure spans four research focus areas and three operational areas including administration, the outpatient clinic, and library.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forschungsambulanz (Research Outpatient Clinic) Outpatient clinic providing psychoanalytic and psychodynamic treatment services, handling approximately 400 patients annually with referrals and psychotherapy care.
• Research Projects (Forschungsprojekte) Research projects spanning sociological-socialpsychological, clinical-psychological, and medical-psychoanalytical departments investigating the dynamics of the psyche, causes of suffering, and psychopathology.
• Continuing Education and Training (Fort- und Weiterbildungen) Training, supervision, and continuing education programs for professionals in psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, offered in cooperation with state associations such as Landesärztekammer Hessen and Psychotherapeutenkammer Hessen.
• Promotionskolleg (Doctoral Program) Joint doctoral program with Goethe-Universität Frankfurt and Universität Kassel, supported by Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, focusing on psychosocial consequences of migration and flight.
• Organizational Consulting, Supervision, and Crisis Intervention Consultation, supervision, and crisis intervention services offered to companies, institutions, and organizations requiring professional psychological support.
• Research Library (Bibliothek) Specialist research library supporting the institute's psychoanalytic and socialpsychological research activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 400 patients served annually through the research ambulance
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am MaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose organizational cooperation between SFI and the university. Prof. Vera King holds a cooperation professorship at the university's Department of Social Sciences. Joint supervision of doctoral students and shared research projects.
• Universität KasselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational cooperation with University of Kassel. Prof. Dr. Patrick Meurs serves as both Director at SFI and at the university. Joint promotional college (Promotionskolleg) for doctoral research on psychosocial consequences of migration and flight.
• Hans-Böckler-StiftungmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding foundation that established the transdisciplinary Promotionskolleg (doctoral college) at SFI focused on 'Psychosocial Consequences of Migration and Flight'. Provides doctoral stipends and research support.
• Institute for Social Research (Institut für Sozialforschung)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular joint conferences and events. Both institutes organized the conference 'The Struggle for Belonging - Social and Psychological Dynamics in Migration Society' in April 2023, and cooperate on various research projects.
• DemoReg Research AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMWK-funded research association 'Challenges of Democracy in Times of its Regression' (DemoReg). SFI is a partner alongside Philipps-Universität Marburg (lead), Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Universität Kassel, TU Darmstadt, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule Darmstadt, and others. Funding of approximately 3.1 million euros until end of 2028.
• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Research Foundation funding body. Supports research projects including the research group 'Medicine and the Time Structure of Good Life' which includes the 'Reproductive Timing' project (2021-2026) at SFI.
• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the DemoReg research association and other joint activities.
• Philipps-Universität MarburgmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead institution for the DemoReg research association on democracy research. Joint research with SFI.
• TU DarmstadtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the DemoReg research association.
• Hochschule DarmstadtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the DemoReg research association.
• International Psychoanalytic University Berlin (IPU Berlin)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in awarding the Lotte Köhler Prize for Psychoanalytic Development, Culture, and Social Psychology. SFI co-organizes events and symposia with IPU Berlin.
• Hans Kilian and Lotte Köhler Center (KKC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint awarding of the Lotte Köhler Prize for psychoanalytic development, culture, and social psychology. The KKC is based in Berlin.
• Oper FrankfurtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural cooperation on events. Joint conference series 'Brüche – Democracy in Times of its Regression' in cooperation with IfS and Oper Frankfurt within the DemoReg research association.
• Behandlungsnetzwerk (Treatment Network)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork cooperation including Frankfurter Psychoanalytisches Institut (FPI), Sigmund-Freud-Institut (SFI), Anna-Freud-Institut (AFI), Jüdisches Psychotherapeutisches Beratungszentrum (JBZ), Institut für Psychoanalyse Frankfurt, and Institut für Traumabearbeitung und Weiterbildung Frankfurt. Organizes joint lectures and professional development events.
• Landesärztekammer HessenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState medical association cooperating on joint continuing education events like the conference on 'Digitalized World - Effects on Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics'.
• Psychotherapeutenkammer HessenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState psychotherapy association cooperating on continuing education and professional events. Recognizes conference attendance with continuing education credits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Anna Freud Centre: UK charity combining child and adolescent mental health research, clinical services, and training, with deep roots in psychoanalytic thinking. Comparable to SFI in bridging psychoanalytic research and clinical practice, particularly in trauma and child mental health — a stated SFI research focus.
• New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute: Long-established US psychoanalytic society and institute combining treatment, training, and research. Comparable to SFI as a major institutional actor in psychoanalytic research and clinical training, and as a reference point for the IPA's international community.
• International Psychoanalytic University (IPU) Berlin: Private German university exclusively dedicated to psychoanalysis and psychodynamic research and training. Closely comparable to SFI as the country's other major psychoanalytic-specialist institution, and an existing cooperation partner via the Lotte Köhler Prize.
• Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust: UK NHS foundation trust combining psychoanalytic psychotherapy training, clinical services, and applied research. Highly comparable in combining a research mission with a treatment clinic and training function, mirroring SFI's Forschungsambulanz and continuing education model.
• Institut für Sozialforschung (IfS) Frankfurt: Frankfurt-based critical social theory research institute, co-organiser with SFI of conferences including 'The Struggle for Belonging' (2023). Highly comparable as a Frankfurt-anchored, public-funded social-research institute that pairs with SFI on interdisciplinary work linking society and psyche.
• Frankfurter Psychoanalytisches Institut (FPI): Frankfurt-based psychoanalytic training and treatment institute that is a documented member of SFI's Behandlungsnetzwerk treatment network. A natural direct peer given shared city, overlapping training mission, and joint lecture programming.
• Hans Kilian and Lotte Köhler Center (KKC): Interdisciplinary centre for social and cultural psychology and historical anthropology that jointly awards the Lotte Köhler Prize with SFI. Closely comparable as a German research centre working at the intersection of psychoanalysis, culture, and social psychology.

Broad incumbents

• Universität Kassel: Public research university whose Professor Patrick Meurs also directs SFI and where the joint Promotionskolleg on psychosocial consequences of migration is housed. A broader incumbent that provides academic infrastructure and doctoral training for SFI.
• Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main: Major public research university in Frankfurt with which SFI has deep cooperation, including cooperation professorships and joint doctoral supervision. Comparable as a broader academic incumbent operating in the same city and partially overlapping research areas.
• International Psychoanalytic Association (IPA): Global umbrella body for psychoanalytic societies that awarded SFI its 2023 'IPA in the Community' prize. A broader incumbent that sets standards and disseminates research across the same psychoanalytic field in which SFI operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sigmund-freud-institut

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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