INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS GMBH

Their core work

IMC is a Zurich-based SME specializing in road infrastructure management — helping transport authorities and road operators maintain, monitor, and optimize their networks. Their work spans pavement management systems, decision support tools for infrastructure maintenance, and GIS-based platforms that help prioritize repairs and respond to extreme events. More recently, they have moved into autonomous robotics for road maintenance and safety, working on systems that reduce human exposure to dangerous roadside work zones.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IMC's trajectory shows a clear progression from assessment to automation. Their earliest project (SAFE-10-T, 2017) focused on safety evaluation of existing transport infrastructure. By 2018, SAFEWAY added GIS-based management systems, predictive maintenance, and resilience planning. Their most recent and largest-funded project, InfraROB (2021), marks a significant shift toward autonomous robots and drones for physical road maintenance — moving from software-based decision support into hardware-integrated solutions.

IMC is evolving from a pure infrastructure consultancy toward integrating robotics and autonomous systems into road maintenance, positioning them at the intersection of transport management and Industry 4.0.

How they like to work

IMC participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, suggesting they contribute specialized infrastructure management expertise to larger consortia rather than leading projects themselves. With 41 unique partners across 14 countries in just 3 projects, they operate in large European consortia and appear comfortable working with diverse, multinational teams. Their consistent participation in Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) indicates they contribute applied knowledge rather than basic research.

Despite only three projects, IMC has built a surprisingly broad network of 41 partners across 14 countries, reflecting participation in large European transport research consortia. Their Swiss base gives them a neutral, non-EU hub position in pan-European infrastructure projects.

What sets them apart

IMC brings a rare combination: deep infrastructure management consulting expertise paired with growing capability in autonomous maintenance technologies. As a Swiss SME, they offer a practitioner's perspective — they understand how road authorities actually manage networks, not just the theory. For consortium builders, they fill the gap between academic transport research and real-world infrastructure operations.

Highlights from their portfolio

• InfraROB
  Their largest-funded project (EUR 364K) and a strategic pivot into autonomous robots and drones for road maintenance — signals their future direction.
• SAFEWAY
  Built a GIS-based infrastructure management system for extreme event response, combining predictive maintenance with resilience planning across terrestrial transport.