About ZDE
That’s what defines us
We are the Center for Digital Development – a team of experts with the vision of supporting municipalities, regions, institutions, and companies on their journey into the digital future. Our approach combines solution-oriented thinking, strategy, planning, training, and concrete implementation to realize customized digital solutions.
We are passionate about helping municipalities, regions, institutions and companies with solutions and innovations on the path to the digital future. We combine solution orientation, strategy, planning, training and concrete implementation.
employees
Customers
data points processed per day
Smart City strategies written
Smart City Campus on site
The history of the ZDE
Since its founding in 2019, the Center for Digital Development (ZDE) has developed into a leading innovator and reliable partner in the field of smart city solutions. With groundbreaking projects, a strong team, and visionary ideas, ZDE is shaping the digital transformation of municipalities and companies.
2019
Founding of the Center for Digital Development with the vision of supporting municipalities, regions, institutions and companies with solutions and innovations on the path to the digital future.
2020
Opening of the ZDE Academy, where our continuing education programs combine theory and practice, with the first Chamber of Industry and Commerce-certified qualification in the field of smart cities, the Smart City Expert (IHK). Opening of our Smart City Campus.
2021
Expanding our product portfolio in the areas of smart city infrastructure and 5G campus networks, as innovative infrastructures are a fundamental building block for the cities and companies of tomorrow. By establishing our Technology team, we want to ensure that ZDE remains at the forefront of technological developments and can offer our customers comprehensive, future-proof infrastructures and consulting. Opening of our Bavarian office in Neu-Ulm.
2022
Leading the European project consortium DCEx (Digital City Experts), which consists of six partners from different countries with expertise in the field of digital cities. The ZDE Academy received AZAV certification, confirming the quality and professionalism of our continuing education programs.
2023
Over 100 projects already completed in our Strategy, Technology, and Academy divisions. We opened our office in Norderstedt at EBERO FAB’s Smart City Campus to ensure a local presence for our customers in the north.
2024
We are celebrating a significant milestone with our 5th anniversary of ZDE. With the introduction of the new umbrella brand GEO.DIGITAL the companies in the group are joining forces to actively shape the digital future.
2025
With a newly formed management team, we are setting the course for the future. We have also opened a branch in Berlin-Adlershof to be even closer to our customers. With these changes, we are strategically well positioned to continue driving digital development forward together with our team and partners.
This is what sets us apart
The Center for Digital Development stands for competence, progress, and a sustainable connection between people and technology. With our locations in Westhausen, Neu-Ulm, Norderstedt, and Berlin, we are regionally anchored and support projects in various regions of Germany.
Reliable partnership
With an experienced team at your side, we will accompany you from the initial idea to successful implementation – always transparent and on time. With us, you enter into a sustainable partnership based on equal terms.
100% customer focus
We listen carefully and understand your requirements to develop tailor-made digital solutions for your success. We always work in a solution-oriented, efficient manner, and we don’t stop until our customers are satisfied.
Practice first
Measures must work and be practically feasible. Chasing rainbows is of little help in implementation. We bring our technical expertise from completed projects and from testing numerous applications on our Smart City Campus to your service.
Future-oriented
We leverage the latest innovations and trends to offer you proven solutions that future-proof your projects. That’s why we always keep an eye on the European market and are active in a wide range of European projects and initiatives.
The management introduces itself
With experience, strategic vision, and innovative strength, we shape the digital future of municipalities and regions. Meet the minds behind ZDE.
Wolfgang Weiß
Managing Director of ZDE GmbH
As ZDE, we rely on close cooperation on an equal footing with our customers – because real innovation and the smart city of the future emerge from partnerships.
Wolfgang Weiß brings over 18 years of experience in leading positions in the municipal sector to his role as Managing Director of ZDE. His career includes activities in smart city, economic development, and city marketing units, as well as as Managing Director of an inter-municipal special purpose association and a municipal utility.
As a graduate in economic geography, certified innovation manager, and employer brand manager, he combines strategic vision with technical expertise. His focus is on digital infrastructures such as 5G campus networks, digitalization strategies, digital twins, and the development of sustainable neighborhoods.
Georg Würffel
Managing Director of ZDE GmbH
The digital transformation of our society, and especially of our public spaces, is an ongoing social process that is constantly gaining momentum and must be managed specifically and sustainably! Implementation has to be understandable for everyone.
Georg Würffel has held various municipal management positions for over 15 years and brings this extensive experience and a broad range of skills to his role as Managing Director. His in-depth knowledge of funding management and project management – particularly in EU and federal programs – makes him an indispensable contact for innovative municipal and regional projects.
His focus is on strategic implementation consulting, digital strategies, trend scouting, project management and the strategic development of the ZDE Academy.
Adrian Groche
Authorized signatory and Team leadership
Technology is only valuable if it can be used practically. Our focus is on designing complex IT systems, artificial intelligence, and smart infrastructures so that they are tangible, secure, and future-proof for municipalities.
Adrian Groche heads the technical department of ZDE and brings with him many years of experience in management consulting as well as extensive expertise in cybersecurity and risk management. After completing his master’s degree at the University of Southampton, he specialized in consulting and auditing IT systems with a focus on artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centers. He was also involved in the development of the BSI’s (German Federal Agency for Cyber Security) first official AI requirements catalog (AIC4).
His focus at ZDE is on smart city strategies, 5G campus networks, and LoRaWAN. Using agile project management methods, he ensures efficient and future-oriented solutions.
The ZDE team –
Strategy and technology experts
The ZDE team combines expertise and passion to develop innovative solutions for the digital transformation and sustainable development of municipalities and regions. We work together in two specialized areas – the Strategy Team and the Technology Team – in a most agile manner to ensure that every challenge is considered holistically and solved efficiently.
Shaping innovation together –
Welcome to the ZDE network!
As ZDE, we always work exclusively in the interests of our clients to achieve the goals we have set together. Nevertheless, it is important to engage with experts from numerous areas and sectors of digitalization and infrastructure development to ensure we can always advise and implement solutions based on the latest scientific and technological developments. For this reason, we founded the ZDE network.
The ZDE network stands for collaboration, innovation, and synergies in the field of digital and technological development. Through close cooperation with competent companies and partners, we pool expertise, resources, and ideas to jointly develop future-oriented solutions for our public sector and corporate partners.
- REfficient collaboration: Benefit from active exchange with leading companies and experts from various sectors of digitalization, education, consulting and infrastructure.
- RSynergies for our customers: Through networking, we create solutions that are optimally tailored to our customers’ needs.
- RTechnological innovation: We develop new solutions and technologies together within our network of partners and implement projects more efficiently and quickly.
- RCost optimization: We reduce development costs in customer projects and reduce investment risks through network collaboration.
The ZDE network thrives on the commitment and diversity of its members. Are you a company that wants to benefit from these synergies and actively shape the future of digital development? Then we cordially invite you to become part of our network. Together we will create the digital solutions of tomorrow!
Photo of the ZDE Network Meeting 2024 at Smart City Solutions GmbH representatives of our partners EBERO FAB, BOS Connect GmbH, Smart City System Parking Solutions GmbH, HFK Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB, GEO DATA GmbH, ETO GRUPPE, energiedata 4.0, innosaxess, and KI-P GmbH were present.
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Who we are, what we stand for, and who we work with.
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