Arctic Ice Project
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Arctic Ice Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arctic Ice Project
- Legal name
- Arctic Ice Project
- Website
- https://arcticiceproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arctic Ice Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Geoengineering Research
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enhanced Weathering (Rock Milling, Distribution & Field Ops) (EUABAFAE)
Keywords
Where Arctic Ice Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Arctic Ice Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Donations: Arctic Ice Project operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded exclusively through private donations from individuals, major donors, and charitable foundations. The organization ran campaigns such as a COVID-19 Arctic Restoration Gift Campaign targeting $500,000.
- Foundation and Grant Funding: Funding from organizations such as the Open Road Foundation for climate modeling projects. Multi-year, multi-million dollar collaborations with research partners like SINTEF.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Research and development services are free; funded through donations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Arctic Ice Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arctic Ice Project develops and evaluates Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) technology using hollow glass microspheres (HGMs)—tiny, silica-based reflective beads spread in thin layers over Arctic sea ice to increase reflectivity and protect young ice through summer. The organization funds and publishes scientific research, climate modeling, ecotoxicological testing, and policy engagement aimed at preserving and restoring Arctic sea ice as a climate intervention.
Product overview
Arctic Ice Project is a nonprofit climate research organization (formerly Ice911 Research) focused on developing surface albedo modification (SAM) technology using hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) to preserve and restore Arctic sea ice. The core offering is the HGM technology, which involves spreading a thin layer of reflective silica-based glass microspheres over sea ice to increase albedo and slow ice melt. Research activities include climate modeling with CESM 2.0, materials testing with SINTEF in Norway, ecotoxicological safety testing, and publishing technical papers. The technology is at Technology Readiness Level 3 of 8. In January 2025, the organization announced it is winding down operations due to funding challenges and the need for additional safety research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Hollow Glass Microspheres (HGMs) Technology A surface albedo modification (SAM) approach deploying tiny hollow glass microspheres made from amorphous silica (silicon dioxide) over Arctic sea ice. The reflective beads stick on contact with ice and water and are designed to be reversible, dispersing within 6-12 months in marine conditions. The technology is offered for deployment governance research and field-testing partnerships with governments, research organizations, and Indigenous Arctic communities.
- Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) Research Program The organization's central research methodology investigating the application of reflective materials (HGMs) to sea ice surfaces to enhance albedo. Outputs include peer-reviewed publications addressing the efficacy and safety of SAM techniques, intended for the scientific research community, governments, and policy stakeholders.
- Climate Modeling Services (Beaufort Gyre / Fram Strait Simulations) Quantitative climate modeling services evaluating regional and global climate impacts of HGM deployment, delivered in partnership with Climformatics using the CESM 2.0 framework with reference and Beaufort Gyre perturbation cases covering 2000-2050. Outputs are intended for governments, research partners, and policy stakeholders evaluating Arctic climate intervention scenarios.
- Technical Publications and Research Papers Peer-reviewed scientific publications presenting research on HGM albedo enhancement, ecotoxicology, and Arctic ice restoration. Available freely through the organization's website and through venues including Earth's Future and the Arctic Circle Journal, intended for the scientific research community, policymakers, and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- Increases sea ice reflectivity by approximately 50%
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Arctic Ice Project
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Arctic Ice Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Arctic Ice Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered key, foundational, core and support.
- Ocean VisionskeyArctic Ice Project was recognized in Ocean Visions' first-of-its-kind digital road map identifying pathways to slow Arctic sea ice loss, included in comprehensive assessment of 21 approaches across five categories.
- Dr. Leslie Field (Founder)foundationalTechnical founder who developed the original concept of using reflective materials for Arctic ice restoration. CTO who leads technical development of the solution.
- SINTEFcoreMulti-year, multi-million dollar collaboration with SINTEF, one of the largest independent research organizations in Europe with over 2000 researchers based in Trondheim, Norway. Full joint work plan covers materials testing, safety testing, performance testing, and methods for deployment. Initial phase involves laboratory testing on material performance in simulated Arctic Ocean environment.
- ClimformaticscoreClimate modeling partnership using CESM 2.0 global climate model to simulate reflective material deployment in the Beaufort Gyre and evaluate regional and global climate impacts. Conducted modeling of Arctic-wide and Fram Strait applications.
- NASA Earth ExchangesupportProvides supercomputer time for climate modeling simulations, enabling extensive climate model runs for the project.
- Harvey Mudd CollegesupportArctic Ice Project Clinic Team at Harvey Mudd College developed simulations of dispersion of hollow glass microspheres from shipboard over Arctic sea ice, accounting for blower fan force, wind, drag, and gravity.
- University of Bergen and Bjerknes Centre for Climate ResearchsupportCollaboration with Dr. Smedsrud of U. Bergen and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Norway for climate modeling expertise.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Arctic Ice Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SilverLining: 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused exclusively on research, governance, and risk assessment of climate intervention / solar geoengineering. Most direct analog to AIP's surface albedo modification work and nonprofit funding model.
- Ocean Visions: Nonprofit that maintains the digital road map in which AIP was recognized for Arctic sea ice loss approaches. Comparable nonprofit/convener model focused on ocean-based climate solutions, with overlapping scientific and policy stakeholder networks.
- Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering: Civil-society coalition focused on governance and deliberation of solar geoengineering research. Directly comparable to AIP's policy/governance work alongside UN moratorium discussions, though with a broader portfolio of solar radiation management approaches.
- Carbon Removal Alliance: Coalition of carbon removal and climate intervention organizations convened to advance responsible deployment. Comparable nonprofit/coalition model in the adjacent carbon-and-climate intervention space, with shared funder and policy networks.
Emerging players
- Make Sunsets: Venture-backed startup deploying weather balloons for stratospheric aerosol geoengineering testing. Operates in the same climate-intervention category as AIP but with a delivery mechanism (balloons vs. HGM) and commercial (vs. nonprofit) model.
Regional players
- The Arctic Institute: Washington, D.C.-based think tank producing research on Arctic policy, security, and environmental issues. Comparable regional focus on the Arctic and audience of policymakers, Indigenous communities, and scientists, but does not run field experiments.
Broad incumbents
- Clean Air Task Force: Established climate nonprofit conducting research and advocacy across climate intervention, advanced energy, and atmospheric science. Comparable nonprofit operating model but at much larger scale and broader portfolio than AIP's Arctic-specific remit.
- World Resources Institute: Major global climate and sustainability research organization publishing widely cited analyses. Comparable climate-research nonprofit structure but operates across food, water, energy, and cities rather than a single Arctic intervention technology.
- Project Drawdown: Nonprofit that reviews and ranks climate solutions across categories including cryosphere and engineered approaches. Comparable climate-solutions nonprofit with similar audience of funders and policymakers, though more focused on assessment than deployment.
- World Wildlife Fund Arctic Programme: Major international NGO running Arctic conservation, climate, and policy programs. Comparable Arctic focus and large-donor base, but pursues protection through conservation and advocacy rather than technological intervention.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Arctic Ice Project social profiles
Digital presenceArctic Ice Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arctic Ice Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Arctic Ice Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arctic Ice Project 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 Arctic Ice Project
What does Arctic Ice Project do?
Arctic Ice Project develops and evaluates Surface Albedo Modification (SAM) technology using hollow glass microspheres (HGMs)—tiny, silica-based reflective beads spread in thin layers over Arctic sea ice to increase reflectivity and protect young ice through summer. The organization funds and publishes scientific research, climate modeling, ecotoxicological testing, and policy engagement aimed at preserving and restoring Arctic sea ice as a climate intervention.
Is Arctic Ice Project a public or private company?
Arctic Ice Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was Arctic Ice Project founded?
Arctic Ice Project was founded in 2009. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Arctic Ice Project based?
Arctic Ice Project is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arctic Ice Project make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Private Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Grant Funding.
Who are Arctic Ice Project's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SilverLining, Ocean Visions, Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering and Carbon Removal Alliance. Make Sunsets is listed as an emerging player. The Arctic Institute is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Clean Air Task Force, World Resources Institute, Project Drawdown and World Wildlife Fund Arctic Programme.
Does Arctic Ice Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arctic Ice Project.
What industry is Arctic Ice Project in?
Arctic Ice Project's product category is Climate Geoengineering Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAFAE, Enhanced Weathering (Rock Milling, Distribution & Field Ops).