Verbund

Verbund is a German noun meaning "association, network, alliance, or joint operation," used to describe a coordinated system in which separate parts function as a single entity. In business language, a Verbung refers to an integrated enterprise or consortium formed to share resources, knowledge, and markets, often with central strategic governance and interdependent activities. The term is especially common in German-speaking regions and is frequently used to describe energy, infrastructure, or industrial groups that coordinate generation, transmission, and distribution under a common umbrella.

In the energy sector, the concept of a Verbung is associated with vertically integrated utilities and multi-utility networks that own and operate generation assets, grids, and customer interfaces. The best-known modern use of the name is Verbund AG, Austria's largest electricity producer. Verbund AG concentrates on the generation, transmission, and trading of electricity, with a heavy focus on hydropower sourced from Alpine basins and an expanding portfolio of renewable energy projects. The company operates across Austria and in neighboring countries, selling electricity on European markets. It is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange and is regarded as a major player in the European energy landscape.

Other organizations in German-speaking countries use Verbund in their corporate names to signal integration or cooperative structure, from regional utilities to industrial consortia. The term derives from the German verbund, meaning "joined together" or "bound in combination."