Company lists · Data refreshed September 2026

Top 25 Economic research institutes based in Germany

Name: Economic research institutes based in Germany
Creator: RevenueBase
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Compiled by the RevenueBase Data Team Data refreshed Sep 19, 2026 141 companies tracked

RevenueBase identified 141 economic research institutes headquartered in Germany as of September 2026 and tracks 4,838 professional contacts across them, including 1,224 with verified work emails. Berlin is the largest hub.

This list covers economic research institutes headquartered in Germany, matched on what each company actually does as described in its own words. Ranked by team size, largest first. Every row shows the company's own description, its RevenueBase Smart Search rating, and when it was last checked. Data refreshed September 19, 2026.

Published by RevenueBase, a B2B data infrastructure company. This list was built with RevenueBase Smart Search, the natural-language company search RevenueBase customers use to build their own targeted lists and unlock verified emails and direct dials at the companies on them. How these lists are built and judged.

How to read this list HQ checked on every row RevenueBase Smart Search rating on every row Refreshed Sep 19, 2026 86% judged on-target in blind review

141Companies

4,838Contacts tracked

1,224Verified emails

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The 25 largest economic research institutes based in Germany

Ranked by team size

Top 25 of 141 economic research institutes based in Germany, ranked by team size, largest first. Data refreshed Sep 19, 2026. RevenueBase Smart Search rates how each company's information relates to economic research institutes: strong evidence (its own description names it), partial (names part of it), indirect (matched on the rest of its profile rather than the description shown). Click a contact count to view that company's people.
#	Company	RevenueBase Smart Search	Headquarters	Employees	Contacts
1	Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft	Partial evidence	München, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	10001+	1,594 contacts →
	Partial evidence “Die Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft ist eine der führenden Organisationen für anwendungsorientierte Forschung: Seit der Gründung 1949 stärken Fraunhofer-Institute die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
2	GESIS	Partial evidence	Mannheim, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	261 contacts →
	Partial evidence “With more than 300 employees at two locations - Mannheim and Cologne - GESIS provides essential and internationally relevant research-based services for the social sciences.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
3	Institute For Employment Research Of The German Federal Employment Agency	Strong evidence	Nürnberg, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	224 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) conducts research on the labour market in order to advise political actors at all levels in a competent manner.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
4	IFO Institute Leibniz Institute For Economic Research	Strong evidence	Munich, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	215 contacts →
	Strong evidence “Shaping the Economic Debate”: The ifo Institute wants to help shape the economic policy debate in Germany and Europe.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
5	DIW Berlin	Strong evidence	Berlin, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	214 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) is one of the leading economic research instituts in Germany.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
6	German Economic Institute	Indirect evidence	Cologne, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	189 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “As a group, we provide services across the whole spectrum – from science and education to consultancy and communication.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
7	ZEW	Strong evidence	Mannheim, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	178 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim is a non-profit and independent institute with the legal form of a limited liability company (GmbH).” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
8	Kiel Institute For The World Economy	Strong evidence	Kiel, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	147 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Kiel Institute aims to be Europe’s preeminent research institute for global economic affairs, combining cutting-edge research on par with leading economics departments with…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
9	Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin Fuer Sozialforschung WZB	Indirect evidence	Berlin, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	103 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Das Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB) untersucht grundlegende gesellschaftliche Fragen.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
10	RWI Leibniz Institute For Economic Research	Strong evidence	Essen, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	101 contacts →
	Strong evidence “RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research is a leading center for scientific research and evidence-based policy advice in Germany and a member of the Leibniz Association.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
11	INFAI	Partial evidence	Leipzig, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	87 contacts →
	Partial evidence “The Institute for Applied Informatics (InfAI) e.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
12	ZBW	Partial evidence	Kiel, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	201-500	79 contacts →
	Partial evidence “The ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics is the world’s largest information centre for economic literature, online as well as offline.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
13	IWH Halle Institute For Economic Research Member Of The Leibniz Association	Strong evidence	Halle (saale), GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	75 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) is a member of the Leibniz Association.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
14	MAX Planck Institute For The Study Of Societies	Strong evidence	Cologne, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	64 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies conducts basic research on the governance of modern societies.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
15	Institut FÜR Ökologische Wirtschaftsforschung IÖW	Strong evidence	Berlin, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	62 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW) is a leading scientific institute in the field of practice-oriented sustainability research.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
16	Leibniz Institute For Financial Research Safe	Indirect evidence	Frankfurt Am Main, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	54 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “The recent financial crisis has raised serious doubts about the self-stabilizing powers of financial markets.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
17	Düsseldorf Institute For Competition Economics Dice	Strong evidence	Düsseldorf, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	51 contacts →
	Strong evidence “DICE is an acronym for Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
18	Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Wirtschaftsinformatik UND Wirtschaftsrecht DER UNI Siegen	Indirect evidence	Siegen, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	1,001-5,000	25 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Die Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Wirtschaftsinformatik und Wirtschaftsrecht der Universität Siegen versteht ihre Forschung und Lehre als einen zentralen Beitrag zur…” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
19	Institut FÜR Informationssysteme DER Hochschule HOF - Iisys	Indirect evidence	Hof, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	1-10	23 contacts →
	Indirect evidence Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
20	Hamburgisches Weltwirtschaftsinstitut Hwwi	Indirect evidence	Hamburg, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	11-50	20 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “Das Hamburgische WeltWirtschaftsInstitut (HWWI) ist ein unabhängiges, privatwirtschaftlich finanziertes wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Forschungsinstitut.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
21	GWS Institute Of Economic Structures Research	Strong evidence	Osnabrück, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	11-50	18 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Institute of Economic Structures Research (GWS) is a private, independent economic research and business and policy consultancy organisation.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
22	DIW Econ Gmbh	Partial evidence	Berlin, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	11-50	18 contacts →
	Partial evidence “DIW Econ is an economics consultancy with a clear focus on business clients needs.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
23	Inwis Gmbh Inwis Forschung & Beratung Gmbh	Partial evidence	Bochum, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	11-50	17 contacts →
	Partial evidence “InWIS steht für Institut für Wohnungswesen, Immobilienwirtschaft, Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
24	ZOIS	Strong evidence	Berlin, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	11-50	17 contacts →
	Strong evidence “The Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) is an independent, international, publicly funded research institute.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026
25	Institute For Social Work And Social Education	Indirect evidence	Frankfurt, GermanyHQ checked Sep 19, 2026	51-200	17 contacts →
	Indirect evidence “ISS e.V.” Source: RevenueBase Database · checked Sep 19, 2026

RevenueBase Smart Search

RevenueBase Smart Search assesses information from a company’s LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website, and other publicly available sources. It uses that information to rate how closely the company relates to this list’s category: economic research institutes. Every row carries its rating and the description the rating was read from, so each one can be checked rather than taken on trust.

Strong evidence: The company's own public description of its business names economic research institutes.
Partial evidence: Its own public description names part of economic research institutes, so it works in or next to the category without describing itself that way.
Indirect evidence: The description shown does not name economic research institutes. The match rests on the rest of the company's public profile rather than the one sentence quoted here, so this is the rating to check first.

RevenueBase Smart Search is how these lists are built: RevenueBase's data engine and AI assemble the companies that match a category defined in a user's own words, so a list can be about what companies actually do rather than about whichever industry code they were filed under.

Showing 25 of 141 economic research institutes based in Germany

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Economic research institutes based in Germany at a glance

As of Sep 19, 2026

25.3%Verified-email coverage

34.3Average contacts per company

11-50Median size (employees)

14.9%Largest-city concentration · Berlin

Sep 19, 2026Page data refreshed

Companies by employee count

1-10

11-50

51-200

201-500

501-1,000

1,001-5,000

10001+

Email recency for this list is measured worldwide rather than for Germany, so it is reported there. Company counts and contact totals on this page are exact for Germany, over 141 companies.

How this list was built

Company categories are rarely black and white. RevenueBase reads each company's own description of its business to decide whether it belongs among economic research institutes, so some rows will be adjacent to the category rather than pure plays. The description and RevenueBase Smart Search rating on every row are there so you can check each match yourself.

Source: The RevenueBase company graph: 60 million companies and 398.9 million professional contacts resolved from primary sources, queried with RevenueBase Smart Search, the natural-language company search available to every RevenueBase user.
What qualifies: Companies headquartered in Germany whose own description of what they do matches “economic research institutes”. Matching reads each company's description, not its industry code or its name.
RevenueBase Smart Search: RevenueBase Smart Search is how this list is assembled and how each row is rated. RevenueBase's data engine and AI assess a company's LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website and other publicly available information, then relate it to a category defined in a user's own words. Each row is rated strong evidence (its own description names economic research institutes), partial evidence (it names part of the category) or indirect evidence (the description shown names none of it and the match rests on the rest of the company's profile). The description supporting each rating is quoted on the row.
What we exclude: Companies whose own description does not clearly place them among economic research institutes, and records with no verified work email. Companies headquartered outside Germany are excluded even when they keep an office there.
Match quality: In blind human judging of this matching method, 86% of matched companies were on target. Expect roughly 1 in 7 rows to be adjacent to the category rather than a pure play. Every row shows the company's own description and its RevenueBase Smart Search rating so you can judge each match yourself. Read the full methodology: how the lists are built, how the judging worked, and what the figure means.
Ranking: Team size, largest first: companies are ordered by the number of professionals RevenueBase tracks at each one. Employee ranges shown are reported bands, for context.
Verification: Every listed company carries at least one verified work email, 1,224 across the full list. Contacts re-verify on a rolling cadence, and each contact's own verification date is shown inside RevenueBase.
Refresh: This page's figures were pulled from the company graph on September 19, 2026. Lists refresh periodically as the graph is re-checked.
Corrections: Wrong category, wrong headquarters, or a company that has closed? Use “Report an issue” on any row. Reports go to the RevenueBase Data Team and feed back into the company graph.

Frequently asked

What is RevenueBase Smart Search?

RevenueBase Smart Search is how RevenueBase decides which companies belong on this list and how strongly each one fits. Its data engine and AI assess a company's LinkedIn profile, information supplied directly by the company, its website and other publicly available information, then relate it to the category the list is about. Each row is rated strong evidence when the company's own description names economic research institutes, partial evidence when it names part of the category, and indirect evidence when the description shown names none of it and the match rests on the rest of the company's profile.

How many economic research institutes are there based in Germany?

RevenueBase identified 141 economic research institutes headquartered in Germany as of September 2026, matched on each company's own description of what it does rather than its industry code.

What is the largest company on this list?

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, headquartered in Munchen, tops this list with the largest team on record.

Which city has the most economic research institutes?

Berlin leads with 21 headquartered companies, followed by Munchen (10) and Hamburg (9).

How do I get contact information for these companies?

A free RevenueBase account lets you run this exact search and work the top results, verified emails and direct dials included. Upgrading unlocks all 1,224 verified decision-maker contacts tracked across these 141 companies.

How current is this list?

The list refreshes periodically as the company graph is re-checked. This page's figures were pulled on September 19, 2026.

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About this data

RevenueBase is a B2B data infrastructure company. Its company graph covers 60 million companies and 398.9 million professional contacts, with emails verified on a rolling cadence rather than scraped once and left to decay. These company lists are generated directly from that graph with RevenueBase Smart Search, the same natural-language company search every RevenueBase user has: describe a market in plain words, get the companies that match, and add verified emails and direct dials for the people at them. It is the same data that powers RevenueBase's B2B data products, and a free account includes 500 credits to start. How these lists are built and judged.