Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.v.

What Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.v. does

Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.V. is a Berlin-based non-profit association (gemeinnütziger eingetragener Verein) founded in 2017 to advance the digital transformation of the German school system. It operates as a neutral platform funded by ten major German foundations — Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Stiftung, Heraeus Bildungsstiftung, Joachim Herz Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Siemens Stiftung, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland, and Wübben Stiftung Bildung — and coordinates across all 16 German federal states. Its primary audience consists of school leadership teams (Schulleitungen), school trustees (Schulträger), school inspectorates (Schulaufsichten), state pedagogical institutes (Landesinstitute), and education ministries (Ministerien).

The organization's portfolio is a coordinated set of programs, events, and digital resources rather than a single product. Core offerings include the Konferenz Bildung Digitalisierung (the leading DACH conference on digital school transformation, attracting 700-1,400+ participants annually), the Fachtagung Dimension Digitalisierung specialist conference series, the Schulleitungsqualifizierung BD leadership qualification program (which has trained 240+ school leadership teams nationwide), the Train-the-Trainer program that scales delivery through state institute partners, and the Kompetenzverbund lernen:digital science-practice transfer hub. Digital tools include Expedition BD (interactive web tool guiding school leaders through digital school development), Navigator BD (orientation compass for school system actors), Magazin Plan BD (digital magazine with expert content), and Podcast Auftrag:Aufbruch. Newer 2026 initiatives include Generation BD (student participation project) and EdTech Policy Lab (structured policy-industry dialogue). All services are provided free of charge to education stakeholders.

The association has 18-22 staff based at the Geschäftsstelle in Berlin and operates as a membership-governed entity under German non-profit law, with Ralph Müller-Eiselt serving as Vorstand since October 2023. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and community-led, relying on conferences, training programs, dialogue formats, working groups, and partnerships with state institutes and ministries to scale reach. Revenue is derived entirely from foundation membership contributions and project funding; no commercial pricing exists.

Name

Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.v.

Legal name

Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.v.

Website

https://forumbd.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berlin-based non-profit association (founded 2017) funded by ten major German foundations that drives digital transformation of the German school system through qualification programs, conferences, digital tools, and policy dialogue with school leaders, state institutes, and education ministries across all 16 federal states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Policy and Digital Transformation Services

NAICS

Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Teaching Resources & Lesson Plan Libraries (EDAGAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Open Educational Resources (OER) & Curriculum Repositories (EDAFACAJ)

Keywords

• Digital education transformation
• School leadership qualification
• Education policy dialogue
• Digital learning resources
• Education conference services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Membership Funding: The association is funded by ten large German foundations (Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Dieter Schwarz Stiftung, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Stiftung, Heraeus Bildungsstiftung, Joachim Herz Stiftung, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Siemens Stiftung, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland, Wübben Stiftung Bildung). As a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein), it operates on membership contributions and project funding from member foundations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Forum Bildung Digitalisierung is a non-profit association that drives the digital transformation of the German school system through an interconnected portfolio of qualification programs (Schulleitungsqualifizierung BD, Train-the-Trainer), interactive digital tools (Expedition BD, Navigator BD), dialogue platforms (EdTech Policy Lab, LabBD), participation formats (Generation BD), flagship conferences (Konferenz Bildung Digitalisierung), publications (Magazin Plan BD, position papers), and a podcast (Auftrag:Aufbruch). All offerings are provided free of charge to the education system and are designed to bridge school practice, politics, administration, science, business, and civil society.

Product overview

Forum Bildung Digitalisierung is a non-profit association (gemeinnütziger Verein) comprising ten major German foundations working to advance the successful digital transformation of the German school system. Rather than offering a single unified product, the organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs and services: qualification programs (Schulleitungsqualifizierung BD, Train-the-Trainer-Qualifizierung), interactive tools (Expedition BD, Navigator BD), dialogue platforms (EdTech Policy Lab, LabBD), participation formats (Generation BD), major conferences (Konferenz Bildung Digitalisierung, Fachtagung Dimension Digitalisierung), publications (Magazin Plan BD, orientation papers), and the podcast Auftrag:Aufbruch. These offerings are designed to work in concert—bridging stakeholders, providing orientation, and offering practical solutions—to achieve the shared goal of a digitally transformed, equitable school system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generation BD
• EdTech Policy Lab
• Kompetenzverbund lernen:digital
• Konferenz Bildung Digitalisierung (KonfBD)
• Fachtagung Dimension Digitalisierung
• Expedition BD
• Navigator BD (Navigator Bildung Digitalisierung)
• Schulleitungsqualifizierung BD

Quantifiable outcome

• 240+ school leadership teams qualified through BD qualification program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• aim – Akademie für Innovative Bildung und ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademy partner in developing and piloting the leadership qualification program BD. Hosted the pilot of the Schulleitungsqualifizierung BD in Summer 2022.
• Pädagogisches Landesinstitut Rheinland-PfalzmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerState pedagogical institute partner for Train-the-Trainer qualification programs and regional implementation.
• Kompetenzverbund lernen:digitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative competence network for digital learning. The Forum contributes to transfer and science communication work areas in the lernen:digital transfer hub, strengthening cooperation between science and state institutes.
• Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in Germany. Forum co-organizes Fachtagungen with KMK and aligns programs with KMK strategies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft: Umbrella association of German foundations advancing education, science, and innovation. Comparable to Forum BD as a multi-foundation convening organization working at the intersection of education policy and practice in Germany.
• ZUM – Zentrale für Unterrichtsmedien im Internet e.V. Long-standing teacher-led non-profit providing free open educational resources for German schools. Comparable as a digital content/repository platform serving German educators with curriculum-aligned materials.
• Eduversum GmbH: Publisher and service provider of educational media and teacher professional development resources in Germany. Comparable as an organization creating teaching resources and supporting educator qualification in the German market.
• Teach First Deutschland gGmbH: Non-profit preparing outstanding graduates for leadership roles in schools serving underprivileged communities. Comparable as a German education non-profit focused on leadership development and systemic school improvement.
• Wikimedia Deutschland – Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e.V. Non-profit association promoting open educational resources and free knowledge in Germany. Comparable as a mission-driven non-profit developing digital learning infrastructure and open content for the German education ecosystem.

Others

• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (bpb): German federal agency providing civic education materials, publications, and programs nationwide. Comparable as a publicly-oriented provider of educational content and qualification programs for educators in Germany, though operating as a federal agency rather than a foundation-led non-profit.

Broad incumbents

• Cornelsen Verlag GmbH: One of Germany's largest K-12 educational publishers with a growing digital learning portfolio. Comparable as an established player developing digital learning content and platforms for German schools, though operating as a commercial publisher rather than a non-profit.
• Klett Group: Major German educational publisher covering K-12, vocational, and adult learning with digital offerings. Comparable as an incumbent digital learning content provider for German schools, broader portfolio than Forum BD's policy focus.
• Westermann Gruppe: German educational media group producing textbooks, digital learning platforms, and classroom materials. Comparable as an incumbent K-12 digital learning player in Germany with portfolio scope beyond Forum BD's convening role.
• Bitkom e.V. Germany's leading digital industry association with an active education and training agenda. Comparable as a stakeholder-convening organization bridging policy, industry, and digital transformation in Germany, though broader in scope than Forum BD's school focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXFWZhBsWRIberLUk9MCY2A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forum-bildung-digitalisierung
• Instagraminstagram.com/forumbildig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Forum Bildung Digitalisierung E.v.