What Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions does

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is a non-profit knowledge mobilization and research coordination institute hosted at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 2008, PICS operates as a dynamic knowledge network that brings together leading researchers from four BC universities—University of Victoria (UVic), Simon Fraser University (SFU), University of British Columbia (UBC), and University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)—along with First Nations communities and provincial policymakers. Its stated mandate is to catalyze and mobilize research, partnerships, and knowledge that generate climate action in British Columbia and around the world. PICS has no commercial technology products; its core function is to coordinate, fund, and disseminate climate research rather than build software or sell services.

The institute delivers its mandate through three interconnected program pillars. The funding pillar includes the Uplifting Reciprocal Research Scholarship Program, the Climate Internship Program, the World Weaving Climate Research Program, the Policy Spark Research Grant Program, the Climate Foresight Program, and University and Community Climate Knowledge Mobilization Events (37 events funded in the 2025/26 cycle). The knowledge resource pillar includes the PICS Library, climate courses, academic publications, and the "Building Climate Resilience in Rural & Remote Communities" resource hub. The content pillar is anchored by the award-winning "A Radical Act of Hope" podcast featuring Inuk climate advocate Siila Watt-Cloutier, which won a global Quill Podcast Award in 2026. PICS also distributes content across LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Bluesky, and an email newsletter.

PICS operates under a community-led go-to-market model with no commercial pricing or paid customers. Funding flows in through provincial and federal research grants and university appropriations, and is disbursed via scholarships, fellowships, grants, internships, and events. The organization is governed within UVic's institutional framework, with no independent equity ownership, no funding rounds, and no disclosed financial figures. Revenue concentration on grant-making bodies and the BC provincial geography represents the principal structural risk to the institute's operating model.

Name

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Legal name

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Website

https://pics.uvic.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is a BC-based non-profit research and knowledge mobilization institute hosted at the University of Victoria, coordinating climate research, funding programs, and Indigenous partnerships across four BC universities to advance climate action.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Research & Knowledge Mobilization

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)

Keywords

• Climate research
• Knowledge mobilization
• Climate solutions
• Research grants
• Climate policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: PICS operates as a federally and provincially funded research institute, receiving grants and appropriations to support climate research programs, scholarships, fellowships, and knowledge mobilization activities across British Columbia.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is a knowledge mobilization and research coordination institute that connects British Columbia's four leading research universities with Indigenous communities and policymakers to accelerate climate solutions. It funds interdisciplinary climate research, provides scholarships and internships, and produces educational resources including courses and a podcast focused on climate change.

Product overview

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) is a climate research and knowledge mobilization institute hosted at the University of Victoria. Rather than a commercial tech product, PICS operates as a coordination hub offering multiple interconnected programs: funding programs for students and researchers (scholarships, internships, research grants), knowledge resources (PICS Library, courses, publications), and content platforms (the Quill Award-winning A Radical Act of Hope podcast). These programs collectively support climate action research, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across British Columbia's university network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Radical Act of Hope: Podcast featuring Siila Watt-Cloutier, an Inuk climate advocate. The podcast won a global Quill Podcast Award.

Products and services

• Uplifting Reciprocal Research Scholarship Program
• Climate Internship Program
• World Weaving Climate Research Program
• Policy Spark Research Grant Program
• Climate Foresight Program
• University Climate Knowledge Mobilization Events
• Community Climate Action Events Program
• A Radical Act of Hope Podcast
• Climate Courses
• Building Climate Resilience in Rural & Remote Communities A research and resource initiative focused on supporting climate resilience and adaptation in rural and remote communities across British Columbia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37 climate-focused events funded at B.C. universities in 2025/26
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Victoria (UVic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUVic hosts the PICS main office on its campus. The partnership serves as the anchor institution for the institute's operations, with PICS acknowledging and respecting the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFU is one of four partner universities in the PICS network, participating in collaborative climate research programs, funding opportunities, and knowledge mobilization events across British Columbia.
• University of British Columbia (UBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUBC is a core partner university in the PICS network, contributing to climate research collaboration, student funding programs, and knowledge sharing initiatives.
• University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNBC is a partner university in the PICS network, providing northern British Columbia perspective on climate research and extending the institute's reach across diverse geographic regions of the province.
• First Nations CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPICS maintains reciprocal research partnerships with First Nations communities across British Columbia, including the Uplifting Reciprocal Research Scholarship Program that funds graduate research developed in collaboration with First Nations communities. PICS acknowledges traditional territories including Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and many others.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uvic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PICSClimate
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofvictoria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/picscanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/picsclimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions