About us

INNOFACT AG is more than a market research institute: it is the institute that works for your market advantage. With innovative methods, robust data collection from our own online panels, high speed and great commitment to your questions.

At a glance

INNOFACT is a full service market research institute.

We combine traditional market research knowledge and skills with options for online surveys and state-of-the-art data collection.

We are active in Germany, Europe and across the world.

INNOFACT is one of the market and quality leaders for online surveys in Germany and operates its own online panels.

We employ people who apply high standards to the quality and usability of their results, and we supply solutions and recommendations for our customers’ market questions.

The head office of INNOFACT is in Düsseldorf. There are branch offices in Berlin, Zurich and Lengerich.

Company facts

80 employees at the Düsseldorf, Berlin, Zurich and Lengerich locations
Approx. 1000 projects a year
European and world-wide field network
In-house IT team and innovative IT solutions

Proprietary online panel
Reliable, secure methods even in complex question setting and survey designs
Founded in 2001
Member of ESOMAR, BVM and DGOF

Board

Karsten Polthier
CEO /Spokesman of the Board

Customer care, consulting, controlling, corporate strategy

Karsten Polthier (born 1963) studied business administration in Cologne (graduated in business administration with a premium master’s degree in summer 1990). Major fields of study were marketing, market research and psychology.

Already during the study and in the direct connection extensive experiences in different management consultations could be collected. Based on these experiences and contacts, Polthier Marktforschung & Marketingberatung was founded in 1991 in Meerbusch. After nine years of successful consulting activities, he moved to INNOFACT AG in 2000 as Spokesman of the Management Board.

Email Karsten Polthier
+49 211 86 20 29-0

Ralf Kahsmann
Member of the Board

IT, technical consulting

Ralf Kahsmann (born 1967) studied computer science and physics at the University of Osnabrück after completing secondary school. During his studies, he was already involved in the development and adaptation of statistical software. Ralf Kahsmann has extensive expertise in software development, IT engineering, Internet, dynamic HTML, web-based database management and multivariate methods in social science research.

Email Ralf Kahsmann
+49 211 86 20 29-0

Dr. Stefan Niebrügge
Member of the Board

Customer care, consulting, law, HR, methodical knowledge management, corporate strategy

Stefan Niebrügge (born 1968) is a graduate psychologist. After receiving his doctorate in 1996, he founded Dr. Niebrügge and Partner Research Consulting, who also belonged to Ralf Kahsmann. Stefan Niebrügge has been a member of the Executive Board since the founding of INNOFACT AG in 2001.

“Market research must take the customer’s perspective, and the simplest and most direct route to a good study design is to do it the way I would like it to be if I had the client’s position.”

Email Dr. Stefan Niebrügge
+49 211 86 20 29-0

Partner

Christian Thunig
Managing Partner

Corporate communications, marketing, consulting

Christian Thunig (born 1968) is Managing Partner. Previously, the Master of Business Administration was with the Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt for 17 years. Most recently, he was editor-in-chief of the Absatzwirtschaft – Zeitschrift für Marketing, the market leader among the monthly marketing magazines in Germany. He is chairman of the Marken Award jury, Germany’s oldest brand award in cooperation with the German Marketing Association and numerous other juries such as the German Marketing Prize or the German Science Award.

E-Mail an Christian Thunig
+49 211 86 20 29-268