Tbw Research

What Tbw Research does

Tbw Research ("the better way research") is an Austrian non-profit applied research and consulting firm founded in 2013 and headquartered in Vienna, operating across mobility, energy and bioresources, water, construction, and process optimization. The firm serves primarily Austrian and European public-sector clients — including the City of Vienna, City of Klagenfurt, the Federal Ministry for Climate Action (BMK), AMS Kärnten, and Horizon Europe consortia — as well as private partners needing applied sustainability and infrastructure research.

Its core product surface combines consulting and project-based research with proprietary tools, including the PERSEUS decision-support platform for 15-minute city planning, the SINA simulation tool, and the operational eTaxi Austria mobility platform. Underlying technical capabilities span GIS analysis, data science, predictive modelling, and mobile network operator data analytics, enabling Tbw to convert raw mobility and infrastructure data into planning-grade insights. The firm is productizing these capabilities beyond pure research deliverables through tools and operational platforms.

Tbw's revenue model is grant- and contract-driven: funding flows from national agencies (FFG, KPC, BMK) and EU programs (Horizon Europe), supplemented by consulting fees from municipalities and industrial partners. The firm is privately held under Austrian GmbH structure, employs 11–50 staff, and is currently expanding its Data Science team under new Managing Director Roland Hackl (2026).

Name

Tbw Research

Legal name

tbw research GesmbH

Website

https://tbwresearch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tbw Research is an Austrian non-profit applied research and consulting firm (founded 2013, Vienna) that delivers mobility, energy, water, construction, and process optimization projects — combined with proprietary tools such as PERSEUS and eTaxi Austria — to public-sector clients and EU consortia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research and Consulting Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Governance, Operating Model & Internal Carbon Pricing Design (EUABAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Mobility research consulting
• Applied research services
• Urban mobility planning
• Bioeconomy research
• Construction process analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Breitenfurt Bei Wien

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: Government-funded research projects through national programs (FFG, BMK, BMIMI) and European programs (Horizon Europe, LIFE). Projects are awarded through competitive grant applications and consortium partnerships.
2. Consulting Services: Direct consulting engagements with municipalities, government agencies, and enterprises for mobility planning, strategy, and implementation support.
3. Research Management Services: Consortium leadership, project management for research projects, and research funding advisory services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Tbw Research (the better way research) conducts non-profit applied research and consulting in mobility, energy & bioresources, water, construction, and process optimization. The firm delivers applied research projects, data science and GIS-based spatial analyses, mobility and spatial planning, biobased product and process development, life cycle assessments, and construction process analyses primarily for public-sector clients.

Product overview

Tbw Research (the better way research) is a research company offering specialized consulting services in three main areas: Mobility, Energy & Bioresources, and Construction. The company does not operate a unified software product but rather provides a portfolio of research services, analytical tools, and planning methodologies. Core offerings include Data Science & Big Data Analysis (with GIS, predictive modeling, and AI/ML capabilities), Market Research & Surveys, Applied Research & F&E project management, Mobility & Spatial Planning (including MaaS, SUMP/SULP), and Consulting & Strategy services. In the Energy sector, they offer Biobased Product & Process Development, Technical-Economic Analyses (TEA), Market Introduction & Technology Transfer, and LCA services. The Construction sector provides Process Analysis, Safety Analysis, Lifecycle Cost Analysis, and Heat Stress Analysis. Notable project tools include PERSEUS (15-Minute City decision support), SINA (leisure mobility simulation), Masterplan Gehen (pedestrian planning), and contributions to eTaxi Austria automated charging infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Data Science & Big Data Analysis

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of Vienna's area covered by Masterplan Gehen pedestrian master plans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RocknRolla Rental Concepts GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Industrial partner and vehicle provider for ELINDRA zero-emission vehicle development
• Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt KlagenfurtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025City of Klagenfurt providing field testing opportunities for ELINDRA in EU Cities Mission 2030
• Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Institute for Transport Studies providing academic expertise for ELINDRA research
• University of AegeancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner in PERSEUS project for 15-minute city research, contributing to modelling and data expertise
• TU DresdencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner in PERSEUS project for 15-minute city development
• Linköping UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partner contributing to PERSEUS project research framework
• TU Wien - FVVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Technical university partner in PERSEUS project
• RSA FG iSPACEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Research partner in spatial analysis for PERSEUS project
• UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Urban innovation partner in PERSEUS project and multiple other initiatives including SINA, PolicyLab
• Universität Wien - Institut für Publizistik- und KommunikationswissenschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Academic partner in JUMP project for youth mobility research
• TU Wien - Institute of Visual Computing and Human-Centered TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Human-computer interaction research partner in JUMP project
• WIENER LINIEN GmbH & Co KGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2024Vienna public transport operator partner in JUMP project
• cyclebee GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Mobility technology partner in SELMA project for digital platform integration
• Grazer Energieagentur GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Energy agency partner in SELMA project
• ibiola Mobility Solutions GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Mobility solutions partner in SELMA project
• iMobility GmbH (wegfinder)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Digital mobility platform partner in SELMA project for routing and booking integration
• Paris Lodron Universität SalzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Lead partner in KOMOA mobility observatory concept study commissioned by BMK
• Salzburg ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in KOMOA mobility observatory study
• PRISMA SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Technology partner in KOMOA mobility observatory study
• Herry ConsultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Mobility consulting partner in KOMOA study
• AIT Austrian Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Research partner in KOMOA and PolicyLab projects
• UIV Urban Innovation Vienna GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Core consortium partner in PolicyLab mobility transition initiative alongside AIT, iSpace, netwiss, and University of Innsbruck
• AIT Austrian Institute of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Core consortium partner in PolicyLab
• Dimos Athinaion Epicheirisi Michanografisis (DAEM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner in Athens for PERSEUS pilot implementation
• Stadt Wien (City of Vienna)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy implementation partner in PERSEUS for Vienna pilot
• Stadt St. PöltencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy implementation partner in PERSEUS for pilot activities
• University College DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead academic partner in FARM4MORE EU LIFE project
• BMRS Ltd. Bantry Marine Research StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in FARM4MORE project
• Agricultural Research & Education Centre Raumberg-GumpensteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural research partner in FARM4MORE project in Austria
• Elke Pichler (MagnoliaTree)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEI consulting and training partner for the better way project, providing workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Industrias Mecánicas Alcudia S.A.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium lead in PERCAL project for biochemical production from biowaste
• Aimplas - Asociacion De Investigacion De Materiales PlasticoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlastics research association partner in PERCAL project
• Agricultural University Of AthenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in PERCAL project
• Covestro Deutschland AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical industry partner in PERCAL project for biobased polymers
• Leibniz-Institut Für Agrartechnik Pnd Biookonomie EvcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman agricultural technology research institute partner in PERCAL
• Universiteit GentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian university partner in PERCAL project

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Rupprecht Consult: Bonn-based mobility research and consulting firm focused on sustainable urban transport, SUMP support, and EU projects — emerging peer in the same niche with comparable thematic depth.

Broad incumbents

• TNO: Dutch applied research organization active across mobility, energy transition, and built environment. Comparable public-purpose research model with stronger scale and EU consortium leadership.
• Fraunhofer Institute: Germany's largest applied research organization with mobility, energy, and production institutes — much broader in scale but competing for the same Horizon Europe and national grant pools, often as consortium lead.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Nordic equivalent in the public applied-research landscape, covering mobility, bioeconomy, and built environment with similar non-profit/government-tied model — useful benchmark for EU-wide competition and partnership.

Direct peers

• AIT Austrian Institute of Technology: Austria's largest applied research organization, with mobility, energy, and sustainability programs that frequently partner with or compete against tbw research in FFG and EU consortia (e.g., PolicyLab, KOMOA). Closest direct Austrian peer in scale and thematic scope.
• Salzburg Research: Austrian non-profit applied research institute active in mobility, ICT, and innovation — directly comparable in size, funding model (FFG/EU grants), and consortium-leadership approach. Partner with tbw research on KOMOA.
• Joanneum Research: Styrian-based applied research institute covering mobility, materials, and sustainability with a similar public-grant funding model and multi-disciplinary project structure — a like-for-like Austrian alternative for public-sector research clients.
• Herry Consult: Austrian mobility and transport consultancy that partners with tbw research on KOMOA and similar public-sector mobility studies. Direct peer in Vienna mobility research and consulting market.
• iC consulenten: Engineering consultancy founded by tbw research shareholder Wilhelm Reismann in the 1990s; operates in transport, environment, and construction advisory — closely comparable service offering and client base, with deeper engineering capacity.
• PRISMA Solutions: Austrian technology and data partner collaborating with tbw research on mobility observatory studies (KOMOA). Comparable niche player combining data science with mobility consulting for public-sector clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tbw-research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Tbw Research