National groups and userclubs are a major part of what makes KNX special.
By Merve Özcangaz
The KNX National Group
As the number of KNX Members (manufacturers), Partners (certified installers) and Training Centres rapidly grows in a country or region, it makes sense to coordinate things locally through a national group. A KNX National Group is a neutral, non-profit, marketing-driven association that brings together a wide network of professionals who adopt and promote KNX technology.
KNX started life in Germany 35 years ago (when it was known as EIB), and this is where the first national group was created. It was actually formed under the umbrella of the ZVEI/ZVEH German electrical associations, and finally became independent as KNX Germany in 2022. Some of the first other national groups to form across Europe included KNX Austria, KNX Belgium, KNX Denmark, KNX France, KNX Italy, KNX Netherlands, KNX Spain, KNX Sweden, and KNX Switzerland. KNX UK formed in 2006, and since then, dozens more groups have been set up internationally, to the point where there are now 45 national groups worldwide.
From the outset, KNX Association has been very active in nurturing its community, and in 2004, in Brussels, the first edition of the National Group Conference was held, engendering a strong sense of common purpose across borders. Since then, the conference has been held each year in a different country, and in 2025, the 22nd edition of the annual conference will take place in Split, Croatia.
The conference serves as an essential platform for networking, collaboration, and the exchange of updates on the latest developments in KNX technology. It includes sessions and workshops that enable national groups to stay informed about the future strategies and plans of KNX Association and to learn more about national group activities globally. During the conference, national groups also have the opportunity to showcase their best practices and achievements from the past year.
The KNX Userclub
There is also the KNX Userclub – a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences related to KNX technology among KNX partners/integrators. Both KNX National Groups and KNX Userclubs aim to foster collaboration and spread awareness about KNX technology. The key difference between the two is their membership structure. The main members of KNX National Groups are local and global manufacturers for marketing activities, whilst the primary members of KNX Userclubs are integrators who wish to exchange knowledge.
Since KNX was originally called EIB, the original EIB Userclub Germany was founded in 1998 by 20 electricians, with the motto ‘Know-how through the exchange of experience’. KNX Association now has 26 KNX Userclubs, with the most recent ones having been established in Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Panama.
Other opportunities to meet
Other opportunities for the KNX community to meet include international fairs and expos, such as Light + Building or ISE, where the impressive KNX Association stand is always welcoming.
In addition, KNX Association organises online events with networking sessions, which are highly beneficial for the international community. KNX National Groups and Userclubs also organise and participate in local events, which are very important for targeting specific markets. Both local and international events are announced through the KNX Newsroom and through KNX Association’s strong presence on LinkedIn.
A dedicated community
The most impressive aspect of the KNX community over the past 35 years is the commitment and dedication of its members to KNX technology. All activities carried out by KNX National Groups and Userclubs are entirely voluntary, yet they do an outstanding job. The fact that these organisations are burgeoning is testament to the enduring enthusiasm for KNX. This is what makes the KNX community truly remarkable. Everyone involved is proud to be part of it – and they have every reason to be.
Merve Özcangaz is responsible for Marketing and National Groups for KNX Association.
