The Alliance for Independent Knowledge (ADESW) connects leading service providers with highly qualified, independent knowledge workers, as well as associated partners, such as The Association for Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA). The member companies employ more than 4,500 permanent employees. The sector turnover with self-employed knowledge workers amounted to more than 15 billion euros in 2015. On an annual average, the Alliance members jointly fill more than 20,000 projects with independent experts. More than 5,000 customers, among them well-known Dax companies, numerous SMEs and start-ups, as well as federal authorities and other public contracting entities, benefit from this expertise.