Ev-K2-CNR

What Ev-K2-CNR does

EvK2CNR (formerly Ev-K2-CNR) is a Bergamo, Italy-based scientific research association founded in 1989 by Professor Ardito Desio and Agostino Da Polenza, dedicated to scientific and technological research at high and extreme altitudes. The organization operates across the Third Pole regions — the Himalayas and Karakorum — with primary fieldwork in Nepal and Pakistan, alongside activities in Tibet, Africa, South America, and the Italian Alps. Its central physical asset is the Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory at 5,050 meters on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest, which serves as a platform for atmospheric, glaciological, seismological, and physiological research.

The organization's product surface comprises four core components: (1) the Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory, providing an extreme-altitude research base; (2) the SHARE (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment) project, a multi-decade environmental monitoring network developed with UNEP, WMO, and Italian and international universities; (3) the Mountain Genius Geoportal, a web-based data platform for environmental datasets, metadata, and maps; and (4) a Live Webcam Network streaming real-time imagery from Mount Everest, Lobuche, Pyramid, and Pyramid Valley. Across these assets EvK2CNR has produced 1,300+ scientific publications and conducted 600+ scientific missions, supported by 19 dedicated monitoring stations and partnerships with 170+ organizations.

EvK2CNR's business model is grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams are derived from international organizations (UNEP, WMO, UNDP), Italian governmental bodies (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian Development Agency), and academic partnerships. Pricing is not disclosed and is not commercially applicable in the conventional sense. The go-to-market motion is community-led: the organization secures institutional funding through programmatic collaboration with governments, UN agencies, and universities, and distributes outputs through scientific publications, the open Mountain Genius Geoportal, and conferences. Customers/funder counterparties include UNEP, WMO, Pakistani authorities, local communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, and a network of Italian universities (Milan, Cagliari, Gilgit-Baltistan), with select private-sector engagement such as a Moncler-supported Baltoro/K2 cleanup campaign that has removed over 104 tons of waste over 20 years.

Name

Ev-K2-CNR

Legal name

EvK2CNR

Website

https://evk2cnr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EvK2CNR is a Bergamo-based scientific research association founded in 1989 that operates the Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory at 5,050m on Everest and conducts climate and environmental research across Third Pole mountain regions, serving UN agencies, governments, and academic institutions through grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate and Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC), Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys (EUAHAHAA)

Keywords

• High-altitude climate research
• Environmental monitoring services
• Mountain geoscience research
• Glacier inventory research
• Capacity building training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergamo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Funding and Grants: Funding from international organizations (UNEP, WMO, UNDP), government agencies (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Italian Development Agency), and academic partnerships to support scientific research and monitoring activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ev-K2-CNR is a scientific research association that conducts high-altitude climate, environmental, and geoscience research at extreme elevations, anchored by the Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory at 5,050 meters on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest and the SHARE environmental monitoring network. It delivers long-term climate and environmental datasets, glacier inventories, protected-area management support, capacity-building training for local mountain communities, and advisory services to international organizations, governments, and academic institutions. Core outputs include scientific publications, data accessible via the Mountain Genius Geoportal, live webcam monitoring, and field research campaigns across the Third Pole regions.

Product overview

EvK2CNR is a scientific research association dedicated to scientific and technological research at high and extreme altitudes, particularly in the Third Pole regions (Himalayas and Karakorum). The organization operates the Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory at 5,050m on Mount Everest and maintains the Mountain Genius Geoportal for data access. Through the SHARE project and environmental monitoring stations, EvK2CNR collects and provides long-term climate and environmental data. The offering is a unified platform combining high-altitude research infrastructure, live monitoring webcams, and a geoportal for data dissemination to support climate crisis research and sustainable development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHARE Project: Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment - developed in cooperation with UNEP and WMO
• Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory
• Mountain Genius Geoportal

Products and services

• Pyramid Laboratory-Observatory

Quantifiable outcome

• 1300+ scientific publications including Nature
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic cooperation on the SHARE project (Stations at High Altitude for Research on the Environment) for environmental monitoring and climate research at high altitudes.
• WMO (World Meteorological Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint cooperation on SHARE project for atmospheric and climate monitoring in high mountain regions.
• Italian Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on international cooperation projects to protect ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable development.
• Italian Development AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on development projects focusing on sustainable development for local populations in mountain regions.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Pakistan glacier inventory project, completing the inventory of 13,200 glaciers, the largest freshwater reserve in Asia.
• Pakistani AuthoritiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in establishing Central Karakorum National Park (home to K2) and Deosai National Park management.
• University of MilanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Pakistan glacier inventory project and other research initiatives.
• University of CagliariminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Pakistan glacier inventory project and environmental research.
• University of Gilgit-BaltistanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in Pakistan glacier inventory project and regional research collaboration.
• Italian Universities and Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of Italian academic institutions collaborating on SHARE project and various research initiatives.
• MonclerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Baltoro Glacier and K2 cleanup campaigns, removing over 104 tons of waste from Pakistani mountains over 20 years.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development): Intergovernmental research center based in Kathmandu focused on the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region. Shares EvK2CNR's mandate of mountain-region climate research, environmental monitoring, and capacity building for downstream populations, and is the most direct operational peer.
• World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS): International service that maintains global glacier observation networks and databases under UNEP, UNESCO, and WMO. Directly comparable as a glacier-focused environmental data collection and dissemination organization operating in similar high-mountain geographies.
• Mountain Research Initiative (MRI): Global research network coordinating mountain systems science across the world's major mountain ranges. Comparable to EvK2CNR in its focus on cross-disciplinary mountain research, data coordination, and international scientific community building.
• The Mountain Institute: International NGO working on sustainable development, conservation, and cultural preservation in mountain regions including the Himalayas and Andes. Closely comparable to EvK2CNR's community-facing work in Gilgit-Baltistan and protected-area management.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR / UCAR): US federally funded research and development center for atmospheric and Earth system science. Comparable as a long-established atmospheric and climate research organization, though operating at much larger scale and with broader scope than EvK2CNR.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): International research institute based in Austria conducting systems analysis on environmental, economic, and technological issues. Comparable as an internationally funded, multi-country research organization with similar governance and partnership structures.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization that produces data-driven analysis on climate, water, forests, and sustainable development. Comparable in its mission to translate environmental science into policy and management outcomes, though at a much larger scale.
• NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA GISS): NASA Earth science division conducting climate modeling and global change research. Comparable in its climate-research mandate and ability to operate large-scale, long-term observational programs, though backed by a much larger institutional infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Climate Central: US-based climate research and communications organization producing data-driven analysis on sea-level rise, temperature, and climate impacts. Comparable as a climate research and public-data dissemination organization, with a narrower geographic and topical focus than EvK2CNR.

Others

• UNEP DTU Partnership: UNEP collaborating centre hosted by the Technical University of Denmark working on climate change mitigation, energy, and development. Comparable as an institutional counterpart operating at the UNEP interface on climate-related capacity building, and a potential partner or comparator for EvK2CNR's SHARE-related work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/evk2cnr
• GitHubgithub.com/evk2cnr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@evk2cnr
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evk2cnr
• Instagraminstagram.com/evk2cnr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ev-K2-CNR