Eawag
Eawag is a Swiss federal water research institute within the ETH Domain with 251–500 staff at Dübendorf and Kastanienbaum. It conducts interdisciplinary water research across 12 departments and provides consulting, continuing education, and open-data platforms to governments, utilities, and academia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersDubendorf, Switzerland
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Eawag does
Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), founded in 1936 and headquartered in Dübendorf, Switzerland, is a federally mandated water-research institute operating within the Swiss ETH Domain alongside ETH Zurich, EPFL, Empa, PSI, and WSL. The institute is organized across 12 specialized research departments covering aquatic ecology, fish ecology, surface waters, urban water management, systems analysis and modelling, environmental chemistry, microbiology, environmental social sciences, environmental toxicology, process engineering, water resources and drinking water, and sanitation for development. Its workforce of 251–500 staff is distributed across two Swiss locations (Dübendorf and Kastanienbaum), with research output disseminated through the ERIC open-data portal and the DORA publication repository (hosted with Lib4RI), and policy influence tied to UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Eawag's core technology and products span research outputs and applied consulting/education services: proprietary and operational methodologies include environmental DNA (eDNA) for global fish-biodiversity monitoring, vermifilter sanitation using earthworms for wastewater treatment, and urban drainage-based disease surveillance. Commercial-facing offerings include the Ecotox Centre, Quagga Mussel Competence Center, Swiss Rivers Program, VSA Platforms for Micropollutants Process Engineering and Water Quality, Groundwater Network, PFAS Collaboration, Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation, and a Fisheries Advisory Service, complemented by digital tools (Interactive Knowledge, Tools for Practice, Data Portals), open datasets, and the institute's spin-off program. Educational offerings include MOOCs, PEAK practice-oriented continuing-education courses, summer schools, and a Postdoc Stipendium, with joint professorships and academic programs run alongside ETH Zurich and partner universities.
The revenue model is dominated by Swiss federal core funding through the ETH Domain, supplemented by project grants (UN agencies, BAFU, international academic partners), consulting contracts, continuing-education fees (PEAK, MOOCs), and revenue from spin-off ventures. There is no public listing; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments split across Swiss and international government agencies and water utilities (primary), academic institutions including ETH Zurich, University of Zurich, University of Basel, and international partners (primary), and international development organizations working on water/sanitation in developing regions (secondary).
Eawag firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Eawag
- Legal name
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)
- Website
- https://eawag.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Eawag is a Swiss federal water research institute within the ETH Domain with 251–500 staff at Dübendorf and Kastanienbaum. It conducts interdisciplinary water research across 12 departments and provides consulting, continuing education, and open-data platforms to governments, utilities, and academia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Eawag industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Research and Aquatic Science Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Water Supply (4941)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), EHS Management Systems & ISO Consulting (ISO 14001/45001) (BPAHAJAF), Data Management, LIMS & Compliance Software (ELN, eDMS, reporting automation) (EUANAJAE)
Keywords
Where Eawag is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubendorf
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Eawag business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Federal Government Funding: As part of the ETH Domain (ETH-Bereich), Eawag receives core funding from the Swiss federal government. This constitutes the primary funding source for its research activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional education courses (PEAK) |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Eawag product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Eawag is a Swiss federal water research institute that conducts interdisciplinary research on aquatic systems, drinking water, wastewater, and environmental contaminants across 12 specialized departments. It delivers consulting services through competence centers (Ecotox Centre, Quagga Mussel Center, VSA Platforms), offers continuing education programs (PEAK courses, MOOCs, Summer Schools), and publishes open research data and scientific publications. Its primary funding comes from the Swiss federal government as part of the ETH Domain.
Product overview
Eawag is a Swiss Federal water research institute comprising 12 specialized research departments covering aquatic ecology, fish ecology, surface waters, urban water management, systems analysis, environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology, environmental social sciences, environmental toxicology, process engineering, water resources and drinking water, and sanitation for development. The institute offers a unified portfolio of research, consulting services, and educational programs. Consulting services include specialized centers like the Ecotox Centre, Quagga Mussel Competence Center, and PFAS Collaboration. Educational offerings include MOOCs, PEAK practice courses, and Summer Schools. Digital knowledge platforms provide interactive tools, practical resources, and open data portals. Eawag also commercializes research through spin-off companies and provides advisory services for fisheries, water quality, and groundwater management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ecotox Centre (Oekotoxzentrum) Expert center providing toxicological assessment and consulting services for environmental contaminants and pollutants in aquatic systems, serving regulators, industry, and water utilities.
- Competence Center Quagga Mussel Expert center for research and control of invasive quagga mussels in Swiss waters, providing monitoring, advisory, and management services.
- Swiss Rivers Program Program focused on river ecosystem research and conservation in Swiss waterways, supporting federal and cantonal authorities.
- VSA Platform for Micropollutants Process Engineering Platform providing technical guidance on micropollutant treatment processes in water for wastewater treatment plant operators and regulators.
- VSA Platform for Water Quality Platform providing resources and guidance on water quality monitoring and assessment for water professionals and authorities.
- Groundwater Network Network of experts focused on groundwater research and management, serving water authorities and practitioners.
- Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation Center focused on translating biodiversity conservation research into practical applications for conservation practitioners and policy makers.
- PFAS Collaboration Collaborative initiative addressing PFAS ('forever chemicals') contamination in the environment for regulators, water utilities, and industry.
- Fisheries Advisory Service Advisory service providing expertise on fisheries management and fish ecology to cantonal authorities and fishery professionals.
- Spin-offs of Eawag Commercial ventures spun off from Eawag research to commercialize water technologies developed at the institute.
- Data Portals (ERIC and DORA) Open access data portals (ERIC for research data, DORA for publications) providing water research data and environmental datasets to researchers, practitioners, and the public.
- MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) Massive open online courses on water, sanitation, and environmental topics offered through digital learning platforms to global learners and practitioners.
- PEAK Practice Courses Hands-on practice-oriented courses for continuing education in water management, with reduced fees available for students.
- Summer Schools Intensive summer educational programs on water and environmental topics offered to graduate students and early-career researchers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Research contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
Companies that use Eawag
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Eawag technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Eawag partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Lancaster UniversitycoreCollaborative research partnership on climate change and scientific advocacy. Eawag researchers participated in a major research review examining whether scientific advocacy on climate change strengthens or undermines public trust, published in PLOS Climate.
- University of AmsterdamcoreJoint research collaboration with Eawag researchers on climate change scientific advocacy study published in PLOS Climate, examining the effects of scientist engagement on public trust.
- University of BaselcoreCollaborative research on climate change impacts on lakes' natural purification processes. Study examined Lake Baldegg and found climate change could weaken denitrification by 8-13 percent.
- ETH ZurichcorePart of the ETH Domain (ETH-Bereich) network. Collaborates on joint professorships, academic education, and shared research facilities including the NEST modular research building.
- Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)coreJoint development of the NEST (Modular Research and Innovation Building) and shared sustainability initiatives. Collaborative sustainability officer position shared between Eawag and Empa.
- University of Zurich (UZH)coreInternational research partnership including joint leadership on global fish biodiversity studies using environmental DNA analysis, in collaboration with Yunnan University.
- Yunnan UniversitycoreInternational research collaboration on global fish biodiversity analysis using environmental DNA, alongside University of Zurich and Eawag.
- United Nations AgenciescoreContributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), through research that supports global water policy objectives.
- Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU)corePartner in biodiversity protection initiatives including the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (2025-2030) and environmental monitoring programs.
- Energy Agency for the Economy (EnAW)coreVoluntary universal target agreement (UZV) on climate protection and energy efficiency with binding targets for CO2 reduction and sustainable energy use.
- Lib4RI (Library for the Research Institutes of the ETH Domain)corePartner library consortium for managing and providing access to Eawag publications through the DORA repository system.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Eawag competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- KWR Water Cycle Research Institute: Dutch water research institute with a near-identical public-good mandate covering drinking water, wastewater, and aquatic systems. Operates a comparable mix of applied research, consulting for utilities, and PhD/educational programs, making it the closest structural peer to Eawag.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute: Swedish government-affiliated environmental research institute with research, consulting, and policy advisory work on water, air, and sustainability. Closely mirrors Eawag's combination of research depth and applied consulting for public authorities.
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI): CGIAR-affiliated international water research organization with a global mandate spanning water resources, agriculture, and development. Highly comparable to Eawag's 'sanitation for development' and WASH-aligned international programs.
- IHE Delft Institute for Water Education: UNESCO-affiliated institute specializing in water education, capacity building, and applied research. Comparable to Eawag's PEAK practice courses, MOOCs, Summer Schools, and development-focused research mandate.
- Water Research Australia: Australian water research collaborative supporting utilities and governments with applied water research, monitoring, and capacity building. Mirrors Eawag's role as a national water research platform serving public-sector clients.
- Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Sister institute within the ETH Domain that co-develops facilities (e.g., NEST) and shares a sustainability officer with Eawag. Most directly comparable ETH Domain peer, with overlapping infrastructure and federal funding model.
- WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research): Sister ETH Domain institute covering environmental and landscape research. Shares the federal funding, governance, and infrastructure model with Eawag and conducts adjacent environmental/ecology research that often intersects Eawag's aquatic ecology work.
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): German large-scale environmental research center covering water, soil, and ecosystem research with both fundamental science and applied consulting. Comparable in scale and breadth to Eawag's 12-department research portfolio.
Regional players
- Water Research Commission (South Africa): South African government-funded water research commission focused on water research, capacity building, and supporting developing-country water priorities. Comparable mandate to Eawag but operates in a different geography with different funding mechanisms.
Others
- UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP): UN intergovernmental program coordinating global water research, education, and capacity-building aligned with SDG 6. Functions more as an enabling/coordination platform than a direct research operator, but intersects with Eawag's international water and SDG 6 work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Eawag social profiles
Digital presenceEawag financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Eawag leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Eawag funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Eawag M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Eawag
What does Eawag do?
Eawag is a Swiss federal water research institute that conducts interdisciplinary research on aquatic systems, drinking water, wastewater, and environmental contaminants across 12 specialized departments. It delivers consulting services through competence centers (Ecotox Centre, Quagga Mussel Center, VSA Platforms), offers continuing education programs (PEAK courses, MOOCs, Summer Schools), and publishes open research data and scientific publications. Its primary funding comes from the Swiss federal government as part of the ETH Domain.
Is Eawag a public or private company?
Eawag is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Eawag founded?
Eawag was founded in 1936. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Eawag based?
Eawag is headquartered in Dubendorf, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Eawag make money?
One revenue line is on record: federal Government Funding.
Who are Eawag's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are KWR Water Cycle Research Institute, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Water Research Australia, Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research) and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ). Water Research Commission (South Africa) is listed as a regional player. UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) is listed as an others.
Does Eawag have an API?
No public API is recorded for Eawag.
What industry is Eawag in?
Eawag's product category is Water Research and Aquatic Science Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAH, Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management, with a secondary code of EUAHABAB, Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.