CNA e.V. | Think Tank for Transport & Logistics

What CNA e.V. | Think Tank for Transport & Logistics does

CNA e.V. (legally CNA Center for Transportation & Logistics Neuer Adler e.V.) is a German nonprofit association founded in 1996 and headquartered at Theresienstraße 9 in Nürnberg, Bavaria. The organization operates as a think tank and innovation dialogue platform for mobility, transport, and logistics, connecting stakeholders across three constituencies: science and research, politics and municipalities, and business and entrepreneurship. CNA holds an official mandate from two Bavarian state ministries to manage Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern (under the StMWi Cluster-Offensive Bayern) and to coordinate Logistik Initiative Bayern (under the StMB), making it a quasi-governmental cluster management organization with continuous state support since inception.

CNA's service portfolio is event- and program-based rather than product- or SaaS-based. Core offerings include 15+ themed Innovation Circles (covering Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Transport, Truck+Bus, IntraLogistics, InterModal Transport, Mobility, Energy+Sustainability, RailCybersecurity, and Urban Logistics), three flagship annual congresses (LogistikCongress Bayern, BahnCongress Bayern, MobilitätsCongress Bayern), and award programs (InnovationsPreis, Technology for Future Award, FAIRMOTION). Distribution and community engagement are driven by the biannual H.O.R.I.Z.O.N.T.E magazine, LinkedIn as the primary social channel, and on-site visits (CNA-vor-Ort). The organization also participates in the European Rail Cluster Initiative (ERCI10) for cross-border railway technology cooperation.

The revenue model combines three streams: tiered annual membership fees (€30 personal, €300-€1,000 corporate based on employee count, €500 institutional), pay-per-event congress registration (€24-€299), and government grants from Bavarian state ministries for cluster coordination. CNA operates with a lean team of six core staff (Managing Director Dr. Rudolf Aunkofer, Senior Manager Dr. Johannes Kraus, plus managers and marketing/IT roles) supported by an 11-person Vorstand (board). The association claims 300+ members and 700+ competency partners, including major enterprise names such as Siemens Mobility, MAN Truck & Bus, Schaeffler, Alstom Transport Germany, DB Schenker, Dachser, and Jungheinrich, alongside research institutions like DLR.

Name

CNA e.V. | Think Tank for Transport & Logistics

Legal name

CNA Center for Transportation & Logistics Neuer Adler e.V.

Website

https://cna-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CNA e.V. is a Bavarian nonprofit think tank founded in 1996 that connects science, politics, and industry stakeholders across mobility, transport, and logistics through cluster management mandates, Innovation Circles, annual congresses, and networking programs, serving 300+ members and 700+ competency partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transport & Logistics Industry Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM), Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Transport and logistics
• Mobility innovation networking
• Cluster management services
• Industry membership association
• Rail technology cluster

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees based on company size and type. Corporate members pay tiered fees from €300 to €1,000 per year depending on employee count. Institutional members €500/year, personal members €30/year.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from congresses including LogistikCongress Bayern (€299 standard, €189 for universities/authorities, €99 for politics/municipalities, €24 for students)
3. Government Support: Funding and support from Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft and Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr for cluster management activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CNA e.V. is a non-profit think tank that facilitates innovation dialogue and networking in mobility, transport, and logistics. It manages the Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern and coordinates the Logistik Initiative Bayern on behalf of Bavarian state ministries, offering tiered membership, annual congresses (LogistikCongress, MobilitätsCongress, BahnCongress Bayern), themed Innovation Circles, the H.O.R.I.Z.O.N.T.E magazine, and innovation awards through a network of 300+ members and 700+ competency partners.

Product overview

CNA e.V. operates as a non-profit think tank and networking organization for mobility, transport, and logistics. Rather than a unified software platform, the organization offers a portfolio of event-based programs and initiatives including Innovation Circles (expert discussion sessions on specific topics), three annual congresses (LogistikCongress, MobilitätsCongress, and BahnCongress Bayern), the H.O.R.I.Z.O.N.T.E magazine publication, and two award programs (Technology for Future Award and InnovationsPreis). Additionally, the organization manages the Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern and coordinates the Logistik Initiative Bayern under the Bavarian Cluster Offensive. These offerings are supported by a network of over 300 members and 700 competency partners from science, politics, and industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern: Cluster initiative for rail technology in Bavaria, managed by CNA e.V. under the Cluster-Offensive Bayern.
• Logistik Initiative Bayern
• H.O.R.I.Z.O.N.T.E
• Innovation Circles
• InnovationsPreis
• Technology for Future Award
• bahnbrechend
• Logistik ist weiblich
• FAIRMOTION

Products and services

• CNA e.V. Membership Program
• LogistikCongress | Bayern
• MobilitätsCongress | Bayern
• BahnCongress | Bayern
• H.O.R.I.Z.O.N.T.E Magazine
• Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern (Cluster Management Services)
• Logistik Initiative Bayern (Coordination Office Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• 15+ Innovation Circle formats covering topics from railway infrastructure to urban logistics

Named customers12 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

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie (StMWi)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Government ministry that supports and funds CNA e.V. to manage Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern as part of the Cluster-Offensive Bayern initiative. This is a foundational partnership enabling the association's core cluster coordination activities.
• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr (StMB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1996Government ministry that commissions CNA e.V. as the coordination office (Koordinierungsstelle) for Logistik Initiative Bayern. Provides ongoing support and funding for logistics cluster activities.
• BayernInnovativ GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Logistik Initiative Bayern, BayernInnovativ serves as the central contact for the logistics initiative and works with CNA e.V. on networking and innovation activities.
• Stadt Nürnberg WirtschaftsförderungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Nuremberg's economic development department supports CNA e.V. as a founding member and host city partner, providing office space and local network access.
• European Rail Cluster (ERCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNA e.V. participates in the European Rail Cluster Initiative (ERCI10), connecting Bavarian railway technology companies with European cluster network for international cooperation.
• Cluster BahnTechnik BayerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Bavarian railway technology cluster managed by CNA e.V. under the Cluster-Offensive Bayern. Connects companies, research institutions, and public sector in railway technology ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• bitkom: Germany's digital industry association with membership-based lobbying, working groups, and major events across mobility, AI, and logistics. Comparable in membership/event model but covering digitalization across all industries rather than transport specifically.
• UITP – International Association of Public Transport: Global membership association for public transport authorities, operators, and industry. Overlaps with CNA's Public Transport and Urban Logistics Innovation Circles, but at significantly larger global scope and with broader policy and program portfolio.
• VDI – Verein Deutscher Ingenieure: Germany's largest engineering association, operating regional networks, working groups, awards, and conferences across mobility and production. Overlaps with CNA on networking, expert exchange, and mobility themes but at much broader engineering scale beyond transport/logistics.

Direct peers

• VDB Verband der Bahnindustrie: German rail-industry association representing railway suppliers and OEMs on policy, standards, and innovation. Closely comparable to CNA's railway technology cluster work, particularly the Cluster BahnTechnik Bayern mandate, though specialized to rail rather than transport/logistics broadly.
• ERCI – European Railway Clusters Initiative: Pan-European network of regional railway technology clusters that CNA itself participates in via ERCI10. Comparable because it bundles regional cluster managers into a cross-border cooperation platform for rail innovation dialogue, exhibitions (e.g., InnoTrans), and project scouting.
• BVL Bundesvereinigung Logistik (Global Supply Chain Network): The leading German logistics membership association, running congresses, regional chapters, working groups, and innovation programs. Directly comparable to CNA in model (membership + events + working groups) and overlapping logistics focus, but operating at German rather than Bavarian scale.
• DVWG – Deutsche Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft: German transport-science society operating as a membership-based networking and expert platform across all transport modes. Compares to CNA in its nonprofit association structure, regional chapters, expert events, and policy dialogue orientation in mobility and logistics.

Emerging players

• Mobil in Deutschland e.V. Smaller German mobility advocacy association focused on individual transport and infrastructure topics. Comparable in nonprofit membership model and policy dialogue orientation, but lighter in scale than CNA's cluster management mandates.

Others

• acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften: Germany's national academy of technical sciences, a think tank providing technology policy advice. Comparable in 'think tank' label and convening role across science and industry, but focused on national-level technology policy rather than cluster management.
• BayernInnovativ GmbH: Bavaria's central innovation agency and core partner of CNA on Logistik Initiative Bayern. Adjacent rather than competitive—provides state-level innovation services and connects CNA's logistics work with broader Bavarian technology and funding programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cna-ev

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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