Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart

What Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart does

Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart (ZD.BB) is a state-funded regional digital hub founded in February 2018 as a GmbH by the Landkreis Böblingen and the Herman Hollerith Zentrum (HHZ) of Hochschule Reutlingen, headquartered at Danziger Straße 6, Böblingen. The organization operates as a publicly funded, provider-independent central point of contact for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups in the Stuttgart region, delivering consulting, qualification, innovation, and networking services across the digital transformation lifecycle. Service lines include Digitalisierungs-Sprechstunde, Digitalisierungs-Check, Internal Process Analysis & Digital Roadmap, Funding Advisory, ZD.BB Akademie training programs, Design Thinking and innovation workshops, prototype development, expert matching, and recurring Digitalfrühstück networking events. Dedicated project arms include the AI-focused KI-Lab Region Stuttgart, DiKITransPRO/DiKICheck for vocational training, KIRBE for AI-based bioeconomy, DECIDE for circular economy under EU Interreg, Q-Guide for further education, and 5G-PreCiSe, plus the newly launched Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS) consortium inaugurated in June 2026 with seven partner organizations.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight and partner-dependent rather than proprietary: Bitrix24 CRM handles event registration and contact management; GlideApps powers the No-Code Toolbox at tools.zd-bb.de; Zoom delivers online workshops and webinars; and the web infrastructure is hosted via IONOS with Cloudflare in front. AI capabilities are delivered as educational and applied services rather than in-house products — workshops cover knowledge retrieval (RAG, MCP), agentic AI, generative AI marketing, anomaly detection for cybersecurity, and natural language processing — while relying on third-party platforms such as n8n, Walead, and ElevenLabs. No proprietary models, patents, or named research IP are disclosed.

The revenue model is structurally hybrid but dominated by public funding. Primary inflows are government grants from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism (approximately €950,000 in ZD.BB II second-phase funding confirmed July 2023, plus €100,000 for KI-Lab), supplemented by project-specific grants from the federal Ministry for Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ, via JOBvision/DiKITransPRO), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food and Rural Areas (MLR, via KIRBE), the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (via LN WBB/The Chänce), and the EU (Interreg Danube, DECIDE). Commercial revenue is limited to paid workshops priced between €19 and €149 per participant, individual consulting engagements, and training program fees; most advisory offerings, the Digitalisierungssprechstunde, the Digitalisierungs-Check, the CybersicherheitsCheck für KMU, and Digitalfrühstück events are free of charge. The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff, does not disclose revenue figures, and is led by Managing Director Dr. Claus Hoffmann under the supervisory chairmanship of Roland Bernhard.

Name

Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart

Legal name

Zentrum für Digitalisierung Landkreis Böblingen – ZD.BB GmbH

Website

https://zd-bb.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ZD.BB is a state-funded regional digital hub in Böblingen, Germany, providing free-to-low-cost consulting, training, and innovation services on digitalization and AI to SMEs and startups across the Stuttgart region, anchored by a seven-partner consortium and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Digital Innovation Hub / Digital Transformation Advisory Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Operations & Process Improvement Consulting (BPAHACAB), Emerging Tech (IoT, Blockchain, AR/VR, Edge) Consulting (BPAHAEAL), Enterprise/School-District Virtual Tutoring Providers (B2B2C) (EDANAGAF)

Keywords

• Digital transformation consulting
• SME digitalization advisory
• AI training workshops
• Regional innovation hub
• Digital maturity assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Böblingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Government Grants: As a regional digital hub (Digital Hub), ZD.BB receives ongoing public funding from the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism Baden-Württemberg. A second-phase funding round (ZD.BB II) was confirmed at approximately €950,000. Additional project-specific funding comes from EU programs (Interreg Danube, DECIDE), federal ministries (BMFSFJ via JOBvision/DiKITransPRO), and state ministries (MLR via KIRBE, MWK). The organization is established by the Landkreis Böblingen.
2. Event and Workshop Fees: ZD.BB charges fees for certain paid workshops and seminars. For example: 'KI-gestütztes Wissensmanagement' workshop at €149 per participant; 'Next Level Marketing mit KI-Agenten' at €19; 'NIS2 & Cyber Resilience Act' webinar at €29. Free events such as Digitalfrühstück and certain webinars are also offered.
3. Professional Services and Consulting: Individual consulting engagements, digitalization check-ups, internal process analysis, and roadmap development are offered as billable consulting services. Funding advisory services are offered free of charge as they are grant-funded.
4. Qualification and Training Programs: The ZD.BB Akademie offers qualification programs and training impulses for companies. Programs are offered both free and at low cost, with some sessions covered under publicly funded programs (e.g., DiKITransPRO, The Chänce – Weiterbildungsscout).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart (ZD.BB) provides neutral, provider-independent consulting, qualification/training, and innovation services for SMEs, startups, and training companies in the Stuttgart region. The organization operates a regional digital hub delivering digitalization check-ups, AI consulting, digital roadmap development, Design Thinking workshops, prototype development, no-code application development, expert matching, and ongoing networking events. Services are structured into five areas: Beratungsangebote (consulting), Qualifizierungsangebote (qualification), Innovationsangebote (innovation), Vernetzungsangebote (networking), and Digitalisierungsexpertise (digital expertise content).

Product overview

Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart (ZD.BB) is a regional digital hub for SMEs and startups in the Stuttgart region, operated by ZD.BB GmbH (founded 2018) with funding from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs and support from Landkreis Böblingen. The organization offers a multi-layered portfolio structured around five core offering areas: (1) Consulting services including Digitalisierungs-Sprechstunde, Digitalisierungs-Check, Internal Process Analysis & Digital Roadmap, and Funding Advisory; (2) Qualification offerings including the ZD.BB Akademie, Qualification Impulses, Individual Training Consultation, and explainer videos; (3) Innovation offerings including Design Thinking workshops, Custom Innovation Workshops, Zukunfts-Workshop, Prototype Development, and the No-Code Toolbox (a no-code web application platform powered by GlideApps at tools.zd-bb.de); (4) Networking offerings including Digitalfrühstück events, Expert Matching, and Co-Working; and (5) Digital expertise content including the Digital Blog, Podcasts, FAQ, and Newsletter. ZD.BB also manages a portfolio of dedicated projects and initiatives including the AI-focused KI-Lab Region Stuttgart (at the Herman Hollerith Zentrum), DiKITransPRO (digital and AI integration in vocational training), DiKICheck (training readiness assessment), KIRBE (AI-based regional bioeconomy), DECIDE (circular economy service catalogue), the Weiterbildungsscout (free education advisory), Q-Guide (qualification portal), 5G-PreCiSe, DigiTrans, and the newly launched Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS, June 2026) — a consortium-led hub for AI, cybersecurity, VR, and sustainable digital innovation. The ecosystem is anchored at Danziger Straße 6, 71034 Böblingen, and partners with academic institutions (Hochschule Reutlingen / Herman Hollerith Zentrum), the Landkreis Böblingen, and regional industry partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZD.BB Akademie: Qualification and training programs for digital skills offered by ZD.BB.
• KI-Lab Region Stuttgart
• Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS)
• No-Code Toolbox
• Digitalfrühstück

Products and services

• Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS) A central hub for SMEs in the Stuttgart region offering AI, Cybersecurity, VR, and sustainable digital innovation support via workshops, consulting, networking events, and a strong business-science-startup network. Operated by a seven-organization consortium including ZD.BB GmbH as the coordinating entity.
• ZD.BB Akademie Training and qualification platform offering seminars, workshops, and structured learning programs on digital topics (AI, cybersecurity, digital skills). Programs run January to July each year (e.g., 2026 program). Available for companies in the Stuttgart region.
• KI-Lab Region Stuttgart A dedicated AI laboratory in the Stuttgart region (at the Herman Hollerith Zentrum, Böblingen) focused on applied AI research, knowledge transfer, and practical AI applications for SMEs. Part of the Baden-Württemberg AI lab network.
• No-Code Toolbox A no-code web application platform accessible at tools.zd-bb.de, enabling companies to create digital projects without programming. Integrated with GlideApps and used for building interactive web apps within the ZD.BB ecosystem.
• DiKITransPRO A JOBvision project under the DiKITransPRO initiative supporting SMEs in the Stuttgart region to integrate digital and AI competencies into dual vocational training. Offers workshops, consulting, and exchange formats for companies, educational institutions, and regional networks.
• DiKICheck (DiKITransPRO) A compact 60-minute on-site assessment tool for company-based vocational training, evaluating digital readiness across four dimensions: company structure & strategy, knowledge & competency management, training management, and training execution. Delivers a visual evaluation and individualized roadmap for digital and AI integration.
• KIRBE (KI-basierte regionale Bioökonomiekonzepte) A ZD.BB project promoting AI-based regional bioeconomy concepts for rural areas, funded by the Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs Baden-Württemberg. Uses AI to systematically capture regional raw materials and by-products, building new economically viable and ecologically sound value chains.
• DECIDE Circular Economy Service Catalogue An EU Interreg Danube project delivering a publicly available Circular Economy Service Catalogue (danube-services.eu) that bundles business models, tools, and services for circular economy implementation. Covers food, packaging, textiles, smart cities, and batteries. Targeted at SMEs, municipalities, and research institutions across 10 countries.
• Weiterbildungsscout Region Stuttgart (The Chänce) A free, neutral, and provider-independent Weiterbildungsberatung (continuing education advisory) service for individuals and SMEs in the Stuttgart region, funded under The Chänce project via the Ministry of Economic Affairs Baden-Württemberg and the Landesnetzwerk Weiterbildungsberatung (LN WBB).
• Q-Guide Region Stuttgart A qualification guide and portal for training responsible individuals from companies in the Stuttgart region, bundling services from 15 partner organizations of the Weiterbildungsverbund Region Stuttgart.
• Digitalfrühstück (Digital Breakfast) Regular networking event series held online or in person every two months at the Böblingen hub, featuring short expert presentations on digital topics followed by Q&A and networking. Topics include AI, cybersecurity, and SME digitalization. Free admission.
• 5G-PreCiSe A 5G-focused research and application project led by ZD.BB, exploring 5G technology applications for precision use cases in the Stuttgart region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free further education consulting available via LN WBB membership and The Chänce project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability12 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• Landkreis BöblingencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2018The Landkreis Böblingen is the founding entity behind ZD.BB, having established the ZD.BB GmbH and co-funded the digital hub from its inception in 2018. The county provides ongoing financial support and strategic alignment with regional economic development goals.
• Hochschule Reutlingen (Herman Hollerith Zentrum / HHZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hochschule Reutlingen, through its Herman Hollerith Zentrum (HHZ) in Böblingen, is a founding consortium partner of ZD.BB. The HHZ provides academic expertise, research capabilities, student talent, and co-locates with ZD.BB at the Danziger Straße facility. Key collaborators include Prof. Dr. Alexander Rossmann (Head of HHZ) and Martin Kinitzki (Doctoral Researcher and consultant).
• Softwarezentrum Böblingen/Sindelfingen e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA ZD.BB consortium partner contributing software industry expertise and network access to the digital hub. Represents the regional software cluster of Böblingen and Sindelfingen.
• STAR COOPERATION GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTAR COOPERATION is a consortium partner providing interdisciplinary consulting, electronics, engineering, IT, logistics, and media expertise. Oliver Messer (CIO) represents the company in ZD.BB activities. Contributed to the Digitalgipfel 2019 presentation alongside ZD.BB.
• LGI Logistics Group International GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGI is a consortium partner contributing logistics and digital business model expertise. Benedikt Gräter represented LGI at the Digitalgipfel 2019. LGI also spun off pakadoo GmbH as a corporate startup through the ZD.BB ecosystem.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Landkreis BöblingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe economic development agency of the Landkreis Böblingen is a key partner, working closely with ZD.BB on innovation projects, digitalization initiatives, and the Digital Hub Region Stuttgart. Dr. Sascha Meßmer (Head of Wirtschaftsförderung) participated in the DiKITransPRO kickoff event.
• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional economic development corporation for the Stuttgart region is a partner in the Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS) consortium and supports ZD.BB's regional outreach and SME engagement activities.
• Digital Hub Region Stuttgart (DHRS) Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DHRS is a seven-partner consortium including ZD.BB GmbH as the coordinating entity, along with six other organizations (specific partner names not individually listed in source). The consortium supports SMEs across the Stuttgart region with AI, cybersecurity, VR, and sustainable digital innovation. The hub was officially opened in June 2026 with funding from the Ministry for Economic Affairs.
• IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) Region StuttgartmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Chamber of Industry and Commerce Stuttgart region collaborates with ZD.BB on events and initiatives including the Fabulous Females Barcamp and other SME support programs. Serves as a channel partner for reaching regional businesses.
• Kreissparkasse BöblingenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe local savings bank (Kreissparkasse) is a partner in organizing events such as the Fabulous Females Barcamp and co-hosts events at the Sparkassenforum venue in Böblingen.
• AI xpress BöblingenmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAI xpress is a co-organizer of events and programs related to AI for SMEs in Böblingen. Operates out of the AI XPRESS venue at Röhrer Weg 8, Böblingen.
• Kreishandwerkerschaft BöblingenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe local craft guild association is a partner in the Fabulous Females Barcamp and collaborates with ZD.BB on initiatives targeting craft and trades sector SMEs.
• Coworking Space HerrenbergminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-working partner providing physical space for ZD.BB events and activities in the Herrenberg area. Extends ZD.BB's geographic reach within the Landkreis Böblingen.
• digiZ (Digitalisierungszentrum Ostwürttemberg)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerdigiZ collaborated with ZD.BB on the Digitalfrühstück cybersecurity event in February 2026. Elena Paduano from digiZ presented the free CyberSicherheitsCheck für KMU tool. The partnership enables cross-regional knowledge exchange on SME digitalization support.
• Landesnetzwerk Weiterbildungsberatung (LN WBB)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZD.BB joined the LN WBB (Landesnetzwerk Weiterbildungsberatung), funded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Baden-Württemberg, to provide free, neutral, and provider-independent further education consulting in the Stuttgart region. This enables ZD.BB to offer its Weiterbildungsberatung as a member benefit.
• forewood GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Sarah Übele from forwood GmbH presented at the KIRBE Bioökonomie-Innovationsforum on nature-fiber-based biomaterials as sustainable alternatives for the packaging industry.
• FRENVI GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Markus Götz from FRENVI GmbH presented at the KIRBE Bioökonomie-Innovationsforum, emphasizing bioeconomy as a connecting element between different industries.
• Interreg Danube DECIDE Consortium (16 partners, 10 countries)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Interreg Danube project DECIDE – Digital Services for Circular Economy. ZD.BB is a partner in the 16-organization consortium spanning 10 Danube countries. ZD.BB contributes to the circular economy service catalogue and delivers workshops on circular business model development. The project is co-funded by the EU.
• Landeszentrum Barrierefreiheit (LZ-BARR)minorOthersThe State Center for Barrier-Free Access provides a conciliation service for accessibility complaints under the Baden-Württemberg Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Act (L-BGG). Referenced in ZD.BB's accessibility statement.
• Landeskriminalamt Baden-Württemberg (ZAC – Zentrale Ansprechstelle Cybercrime)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe ZAC of the State Criminal Police Office Baden-Württemberg collaborates on cybersecurity events. Torsten Seeberg (ZAC) provides threat intelligence briefings and police recommendations at ZD.BB Digitalfrühstück events.
• Agentur für Arbeit StuttgartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Federal Employment Agency Stuttgart, represented by Chairman Gunnar Schwab, provided an impulse lecture at the DiKITransPRO kickoff event on the current apprenticeship and labor market situation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• CyberForum e.V. Large regional digital entrepreneur network and hub in the Karlsruhe/Rhine-Neckar technology region. Comparable to ZD.BB as a regional digital hub for SMEs and startups, with deeper startup focus and a larger membership, but geographically adjacent rather than overlapping.
• bwcon GmbH: Baden-Württemberg's leading digital and high-tech industry network/cluster, frequently co-hosting events with ZD.BB. Comparable as a regional SME/innovation network with digital transformation focus, but covering all of Baden-Württemberg rather than a single district.

Direct peers

• Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WRS): Regional economic development agency for the Stuttgart region and a documented DHRS consortium partner. Comparable to ZD.BB in target segment (regional SMEs) and mission (innovation and location promotion), with broader scope including mobility, settlement, and cluster programs.
• Softwarezentrum Böblingen/Sindelfingen e.V. Regional software industry cluster association and DHRS consortium partner. Directly comparable — co-located in Böblingen, similar SME-focused digitalization mission, and overlapping stakeholder base with ZD.BB.
• digiZ | Digitalisierungszentrum Ostwürttemberg: Regional digitalization center for SMEs in Ostwürttemberg, funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs. Directly comparable to ZD.BB: same public-hub model, same SME target segment, and already a documented GTM partner (jointly running Digitalfrühstück and CyberSicherheitsCheck for KMU).

Broad incumbents

• IHK Region Stuttgart: Regional Chamber of Industry and Commerce serving the Stuttgart region, a documented GTM partner for ZD.BB events. Comparable as a public/quasi-public SME-support body offering consulting, qualification, and networking for regional businesses, with much broader regulatory mandate.
• Fraunhofer IAO / IAIS: Applied research institutes that, similar to ZD.BB's HHZ/academic ties, deliver SME-focused digital transformation research, AI/living lab demonstrations, and qualification programs. Comparable as publicly funded applied research + SME advisory capacity, but at national scale and with much larger budgets.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentren (network): Federally funded network of 'Mittelstand-Digital Zentren' providing free digitalization consulting, demos, and training to German SMEs. Highly comparable model to ZD.BB (free assessment, workshops, demo workshops) but larger national footprint and central federal funding through BMWK.
• Digitalagentur Baden-Württemberg: State-level coordination agency for digitalization in Baden-Württemberg, set up to oversee the state's Digitalisierungsstrategie. Comparable to ZD.BB as a publicly funded digitalization coordinator but operates at the state level rather than a single region, with broader policy mandate.

Others

• Handelsverband Baden-Württemberg: Regional retail/trade association that co-runs SME digitalization events with ZD.BB. Adjacent peer — same SME/retail digitalization subject matter, but as an industry association rather than a dedicated digital hub; serves as a channel partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zdboeblingen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zdbb
• Instagraminstagram.com/zd_boeblingen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Zentrum Digitalisierung in der Region Stuttgart