KNX Association Expands Women in KNX Initiative to Accelerate Diversity in Smart Buildings

The KNX ecosystem is elevating the Women in KNX initiative, transitioning it from a German-focused network into an integral part of KNX Association's global events and communications. Amid persistent gender gaps in engineering, construction, and building automation, this move marks a more structured effort to diversify who designs, integrates, and manages smart building systems. For vendors, integrators, and building owners, diversity is becoming a strategic factor with the potential to impact specification, interoperability, and occupant-centric design.

The Diversity Gap in Engineering and Smart Buildings

Despite advances in STEM, women remain underrepresented in key segments of the smart building value chain.

In 2023, the EU counted 7.7 million female scientists and engineers, and women made up just 22.4% of scientists and engineers in manufacturing activities. According to OECD-based data summarized by the Society of Women Engineers, women accounted for 21.1% of German graduates in engineering, manufacturing and construction programs in 2021. The European Commission's Transition Pathway for Construction notes that women still represent only around 10% of construction workers in Europe.

These data illustrate the talent constraints facing building automation and KNX-based projects:

• A relatively strong pipeline of women in science and technology across Europe
• Far fewer women in heavy engineering, construction, and installation roles
• Very low female representation in electrical and building trades, particularly among KNX system integrators and commissioning specialists

Key Gender Representation Indicators Relevant to Smart Buildings

For facility managers, system integrators, and MEP consultants, these gaps mean that project teams remain predominantly male where requirements are translated into wiring diagrams, control logic, user interfaces, and commissioning protocols.

From KNX Ladies Crew to Women in KNX: An Evolving Initiative

Grassroots Origins Within the KNX Community

Women in KNX emerged as a response to limited visibility for women in building automation. The initiative was conceived at ISH 2023 during a discussion between founder and systems integrator Katja Schuster and KNX Association CEO Heinz Lux, focusing on the gap between public perception and realities on construction sites.

Women in KNX held its first gathering on 6 October 2023 at the ZVEH headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and officially launched during Light+Building in March 2024.

Shortly after launch, the initiative was integrated with KNX Professionals Deutschland e.V., supporting a technology- and manufacturer-neutral stance while remaining embedded within the KNX ecosystem.

Network Building Through German and European Partnerships

In its first two years, Women in KNX focused on strengthening ties across the German-speaking electrical and building trades.

Over its first two years, Women in KNX has established collaborations with the BZL Training and Technology Centre in Lauterbach, the FEHR regional association, the UFH (Women Entrepreneurs in the Trades) network, and Gira's Women in Crafts program.

Partnerships have included:

• Networking at leading German trade fairs such as belektro in Berlin and ISH in Frankfurt
• Participation in cross-trade seminars for women in construction, electrical trades, planning, and architecture
• Joint activities linking building automation with disciplines including plumbing, HVAC, and lighting

These efforts place KNX-based building automation as a significant part of a diversified construction and building services career path.

Expansion Toward Light+Building 2026 and Industry Alliances

The next stage for Women in KNX is marked by its presence at Light+Building 2026 and engagement with industry-wide alliances.

At Light+Building 2026, Women in KNX is co-organizing the "Women in KNX - Empowering Innovation Tour" for female planners, engineers and system integrators, starting from the KNX Association stand in Hall 12.0, Stand B91.

The tour enables participants to visit KNX manufacturers, trade bodies, and integrator stands, promoting networking and visibility for women in building automation.

In parallel, Light+Building describes Women in KNX as an international community serving system integrators, planners, industry, and sales professionals. This framing extends participation beyond Germany throughout the KNX partner base.

A significant development is the formation of ElektroHeldinnen (Electrical Heroines), an alliance across the electrical sector.

The ElektroHeldinnen alliance, launching on 8 March 2026 at Light+Building, lists Women in KNX alongside the VEG, ZVEH and ZVEI trade associations, Messe Light+Building and major manufacturers and wholesalers as founding supporters.

Within this framework, Women in KNX provides KNX-focused expertise and connects diversity initiatives directly to smart building projects.

Scope of the Women in KNX Agenda

Women in KNX sets objectives beyond networking, emphasizing mentoring, barrier reduction, and increasing visibility for women in technical roles such as KNX system integrator.

Women in KNX explicitly lists mentoring, reducing prejudices and barriers, and strengthening the visibility of women in roles such as KNX system integrator among its core aims.

The agenda advances along three major dimensions.

Mentorship and Role Models for KNX Practitioners

The initiative connects experienced KNX professionals with apprentices, junior engineers, and students through:

• Panel discussions at trade fairs highlighting diverse career paths
• Regular profiles and interviews in KNX-focused media featuring women in planning, commissioning, product management, and support
• Scheduled stage time at Light+Building 2026 for female system integrators globally to present projects and insights

For engineering managers and project leads, visible female role models illustrate career progression for women entering technical fields.

Training, Certification, and Technical Confidence

Women in KNX collaborates with training centers and manufacturers to reduce practical entry barriers:

• Working with BZL Lauterbach to align initiatives with formal training in electrical and information technology
• Engaging with Gira Academy's seminars to integrate building automation with construction-related content
• Touring Light+Building to provide hands-on exposure to KNX tools, devices, and integration examples

These activities complement KNX's standard certification, creating peer networks for sharing knowledge, discussing configurations, and building technical confidence.

Visibility in Standards and Associations

Influence on standards and guidelines comes through participation in user associations, national KNX groups, and technical committees. The founder of Women in KNX serves on the board of KNX Professionals Deutschland e.V. and works closely with KNX Association on event platforms and communications.

The KNX Association represents more than 500 member companies and supports over 140,000 KNX partners active in 190 countries worldwide.

Growing female representation informs decision-making on:

• User interface and room control usability for diverse groups
• Commissioning workflows and documentation for mixed teams
• Feature prioritization in KNX tools and devices impacting maintainability and interoperability

The Impact of Diversity in STEM and Smart Building Teams

Research supports the relevance of gender diversity for improved smart building project outcomes.

Recent empirical studies of engineering and software teams find that gender-diverse teams are associated with higher creativity and, on average, higher-impact project outcomes when inclusion is actively fostered.

Key findings include:

• Diverse teams more effectively identify edge cases and overlooked user groups
• Inclusion practices unlock diversity benefits; token representation yields minimal impact
• Increasing female participation is cited as both an equity goal and a response to skills shortages and demographic shifts

For smart building projects, benefits include:

• Occupant-centric design: Gender-diverse teams detect usability issues in controls and dashboards impacting various user groups
• Safety and accessibility: Diverse perspectives enhance emergency signaling and accessible control design
• Interdisciplinary integration: Women from fields like architecture and HVAC add new insights, improving subsystem coordination

Implications for Vendors, Integrators, and Building Owners

Women in KNX and related alliances influence several aspects of the smart building value chain.

Talent Pipeline and Employer Engagement

For system integrators and contractors, sourcing skilled KNX professionals is critical. Engagement with Women in KNX enables:

• Access to a larger pool of female electricians, planners, and engineers familiar with KNX
• Opportunities to demonstrate inclusion at trade fairs and networking events
• Early identification of apprentices or students interested in building automation for targeted training

Project Delivery and Client Perceptions

For consulting engineers and integrators, including women in technical roles can influence client perceptions of competence and innovation. Impacts include:

• Alignment with clients' ESG and diversity requirements in procurement
• Enhanced attention to diverse occupant experience in selecting control interfaces and schemes
• Improved communication and representation in mixed client meetings

Standards, Procurement, and Ecosystem Participation

Manufacturers and integrators active in KNX associations can leverage the Women in KNX network to:

• Recruit for technical working groups with field and diversity expertise
• Test products with more representative user groups
• Align diversity initiatives with wider sector programs such as ElektroHeldinnen

Practical Steps for Industry Stakeholders

Organizations in electrical and smart building sectors can take several actionable steps:

1. Encourage participation in sector networks
   Invite female staff-engineers, technicians, planners, and managers-to Women in KNX sessions at Light+Building, ISH, and similar events.

2. Allocate time and budget for mentoring and events
   Integrate Women in KNX activities into professional development plans. Allocate billable or training hours as appropriate.

3. Use mixed teams on pilot projects
   Assemble gender-diverse teams for high-visibility pilots and document outcomes related to collaboration, design, and client feedback.

4. Review recruitment language and channels
   Audit job postings for KNX roles to remove unnecessary barriers and highlight flexible career paths. Advertise roles via networks like Women in KNX.

5. Connect internal DEI programs with sector initiatives
   Align corporate diversity strategies with platforms such as Women in KNX and ElektroHeldinnen for greater visibility and impact.

6. Track simple metrics
   Monitor indicators such as the share of women in KNX roles, training participation, and representation in key meetings annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Women in KNX related to the KNX Association?

Women in KNX was practitioner-founded and is integrated into KNX Professionals Deutschland e.V., a user organization within the KNX ecosystem. KNX Association leaders have supported the initiative, which now features prominently at events such as Light+Building 2026 and maintains a strong community-driven ethos.

Is Women in KNX only active in Germany?

Women in KNX began and maintains strong activity in Germany through trade associations, training centers, and manufacturers. However, the initiative now operates as an international community, with invitations to women worldwide to participate in KNX Association events. KNX partners span more than 190 countries, broadening the initiative's impact.

What kinds of roles does Women in KNX target?

Women in KNX includes:

• Electrical trades and installation
• Building automation and systems integration
• Information technology roles related to KNX
• Planning and consulting (MEP, architecture, facility design)
• Support, development, sales, and marketing in the KNX ecosystem

This scope encompasses the full lifecycle of a smart building project.

How can a small system integrator with limited HR resources get involved?

Smaller firms can benefit without formal diversity departments by:

• Sharing Women in KNX event information with female staff and apprentices
• Co-presenting case studies with Women in KNX members at regional events
• Hosting internal talks to share Women in KNX activity takeaways

These approaches support retention and engagement for women in technical roles.

Does focusing on gender diversity risk lowering technical standards?

Current research in engineering and software does not support the idea that diversity initiatives reduce technical rigor. Properly managed inclusion ensures that gender-diverse teams maintain or enhance performance, foster creativity, and deliver stronger long-term project outcomes. Maintaining robust technical criteria, while broadening participation, benefits smart building projects.