MOSAiC Expedition
MOSAiC Expedition is the largest polar research expedition in history, deploying the icebreaker Polarstern for a year-long Arctic drift (2019-2020) to collect climate data, led by Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute with 300+ scientists from 20 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersBremerhaven, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What MOSAiC Expedition does
MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) Expedition is an international scientific research initiative led by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, in Bremerhaven, Germany. The expedition deployed the German research icebreaker Polarstern from Tromsø, Norway in September 2019 to drift with the Arctic sea ice for a full year — including the first sustained polar-winter observations in the central Arctic Ocean — concluding in October 2020. Over 300 researchers from 20 countries and 80+ research institutions participated, working from a distributed network of observational sites up to 50 km from the ship, supported by helicopters, tracked vehicles, snowmobiles, and remote-sensing aircraft. Co-led by Markus Rex with Klaus Dethloff and Matthew Shupe, MOSAiC was the largest polar expedition in history and a successor in spirit to Fridtjof Nansen's 1893-1896 Fram drift.
The expedition's core outputs are scientific: terabytes of climate-relevant data and thousands of samples spanning atmosphere, sea ice, ocean, biogeochemistry, and ecosystems, distributed through the MOSAiC Data Portal to researchers globally. Supporting outputs include a progressive web app for live tracking, a free MOOC on Coursera, the IcePod podcast, the Drifting North planetarium show, the Polarstern 3D virtual tour, the MOSAiC Monday educator newsletter, and K-16 classroom activities — all delivered at zero cost. Recognition includes the IASC Award for Service 2024, the Arctic Circle Prize 2022, and a Nature Geosciences cover publication in September 2023.
MOSAiC is not a commercial entity. It is funded by national research agencies — principally the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), with parallel contributions from agencies in all 20 participating countries — and coordinated under the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. There are no paying customers, no pricing model, and no revenue; the go-to-market motion is community-led, targeting the global scientific community, educators, students, and the public through open data, conferences, podcasts, social media, and free online courses.
MOSAiC Expedition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MOSAiC Expedition
- Legal name
- MOSAiC Expedition
- Website
- https://mosaic-expedition.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Closed
- Short description
- MOSAiC Expedition is the largest polar research expedition in history, deploying the icebreaker Polarstern for a year-long Arctic drift (2019-2020) to collect climate data, led by Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute with 300+ scientists from 20 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MOSAiC Expedition industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Research Services
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Space Research and Technology (92711)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs (EUAHAHAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys (EUAHAHAA), Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
Keywords
Where MOSAiC Expedition is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bremerhaven
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
MOSAiC Expedition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Research Funding: MOSAiC is funded through national research funding agencies of participating countries, with lead coordination by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres. Major funding sources include the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and equivalent agencies from the 20 participating countries.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels14 records
MOSAiC Expedition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) is a year-long research expedition aboard the German research icebreaker Polarstern that drifted through the Arctic Ocean from September 2019 to October 2020. The expedition deployed the ship as a stationary drifting research platform surrounded by a distributed network of observational sites up to 50 km away, collecting year-round atmospheric, oceanic, sea ice, biogeochemical, and ecosystem data — including the first continuous measurements through the polar night. Spearheaded by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), MOSAiC also produces freely shared data, educational content, virtual experiences, and outreach programs for the global scientific community and the public.
Product overview
MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory of the Study of Arctic Climate) Expedition is the largest polar expedition in history, led by the Alfred Wegener Institute. The core offering is the year-long Arctic research expedition (September 2019 - October 2020) aboard the research vessel Polarstern. Supporting products include the MOSAiC Web App for real-time expedition tracking, the MOSAiC Data repository for sharing climate data, educational programs (MOSAiC Monday, Online Course), virtual experiences (Polarstern 3D tour, Planetarium show), and classroom curriculum materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MOSAiC Expedition The largest polar expedition in history — a year-long drift through the Arctic Ocean aboard the German research icebreaker Polarstern, studying the Arctic as the epicenter of global warming. Aimed at climate researchers, atmospheric scientists, oceanographers, sea-ice scientists, and ecosystem researchers.
- MOSAiC Data Free-access repository of terabytes of climate-relevant data and thousands of samples collected during the expedition, offered to climate scientists worldwide.
- MOSAiC Web App Progressive web application providing live tracking of the Polarstern drift and real-time expedition updates from participants. Aimed at the general public, educators, students, and media.
- MOSAiC Monday Newsletter Monthly newsletter offering real-time updates, behind-the-scenes access, and short classroom activities about Arctic science, targeted at educators and K-16 students.
- MOSAiC Online Course (MOOC) Free massive open online course (MOOC) covering the MOSAiC expedition, Arctic sea ice, climate change, and impacts on Arctic indigenous peoples, featuring 50 videos from 35+ MOSAiC scientists. Hosted on Coursera.
- Polarstern 3D Virtual Tour Interactive 3D virtual tour of the research vessel Polarstern that allows users to explore the ship's interior and instrumentation online. Aimed at educators, students, and the public.
- Drifting North Planetarium Show Planetarium show produced with CU Boulder graduate students depicting the MOSAiC scientific mission; available in dome, VR, and 2D versions on YouTube for educators and planetariums.
- Classroom Activities & Curriculum Lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities covering ocean processes, albedo, and Arctic climate for K-16 students, produced in partnership with CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Quantifiable outcome
- Terabytes of climate data and thousands of samples collected during the expedition, available to the global scientific community
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use MOSAiC Expedition
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
MOSAiC Expedition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
MOSAiC Expedition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)coreThe Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, is the leading institution spearheading the MOSAiC expedition. AWI provides the research icebreaker Polarstern, overall coordination, and serves as the legal provider of the MOSAiC website. AWI is a foundation under public law and member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.
- National Science Foundation (NSF) - USAcoreMajor U.S. funding agency supporting American participation in MOSAiC. NSF funded graduate students from CU Boulder to produce planetarium shows about the expedition.
- CIRES (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences)corePartnership with University of Colorado Boulder for U.S. education and outreach activities including MOSAiC Monday newsletters, classroom materials, and media production.
- International Arctic Science Committee (IASC)majorProvided travel support for Early Career Scientists to attend MOSAiC Science Conferences through IASC Cross-Cutting Funded Projects.
- APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists)majorPartnership for MOSAiC School outreach program where 20 early-career scientists serve as ambassadors for their home countries and institutes.
- KOPRI (Korea Polar Research Institute)majorKey international partner institution from Korea participating in the MOSAiC expedition research activities.
- Universities from 20 CountriescoreOver 80 research institutions from 20 countries including universities such as University of Tokyo, University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, Stockholm University, University of Helsinki, and many more. These institutions contributed researchers, equipment, and funding to various aspects of the expedition.
- Russian Academy of Sciences / AARImajorArctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) from Russia provided scientific collaboration and the Akademik Federov icebreaker for support operations.
- European Space Agency (ESA)majorESA participated through the WMO Polar Space Task Group, contributing remote sensing expertise and satellite data integration.
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreU.S. agency providing scientists, atmospheric research expertise, and forecast support for the expedition.
- NASAcoreU.S. space agency contributing researchers, satellite data, and atmospheric measurement expertise.
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)majorWMO Polar Space Task Group coordination for satellite observations and weather forecasting support aligned with MOSAiC objectives.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
MOSAiC Expedition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- National Geographic Society: Major scientific exploration, education and media organization with deep polar expedition heritage. Comparable as an ecosystem player for science storytelling and public engagement around expeditions like MOSAiC, though its mission scope is far broader.
Broad incumbents
- Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropically funded oceanographic research organization operating research vessels for global ocean exploration. Comparable as a privately-funded scientific expedition platform with strong educational outreach, but ocean-focused rather than polar-focused.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Leading private non-profit oceanographic research institution. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary ocean and climate research organization with significant public outreach and education programs, but with broader geographic scope.
- European Space Agency (ESA): Intergovernmental space agency that contributed remote sensing expertise and satellite data integration to MOSAiC through the WMO Polar Space Task Group. Comparable as an international scientific coordination body providing observational infrastructure supporting polar research.
- NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies: NASA's climate and atmospheric science research center, which contributed researchers and satellite data to MOSAiC. Comparable as a globally significant atmospheric/climate science institution with a much broader remit than MOSAiC's polar focus.
- NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories: Major U.S. government atmospheric and climate research laboratory that contributed scientists and atmospheric measurement expertise to MOSAiC. Comparable as a large-scale, publicly funded atmospheric/climate research entity with broader scope than polar-only.
Direct peers
- Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI): AWI is the parent/leading institution of MOSAiC and a major German polar and marine research center. Directly comparable as a multi-disciplinary polar research organization running ship-based and ice-based observation programs in the Arctic and Antarctic.
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS): UK's national polar research organization operating in both the Arctic and Antarctic. Directly comparable as a publicly funded polar science institute running long-duration ice-based and ship-based observation campaigns.
- Norwegian Polar Institute: Norway's central government institution for polar research, mapping, and environmental monitoring. Directly comparable as a national-level polar research body operating field campaigns in the Arctic, with Tromsø as a hub — the same departure point as MOSAiC.
Emerging players
- OceanX: Ocean exploration and media organization combining research vessel operations with high-quality public-facing content. Comparable as a science-and-storytelling organization that uses ship-based platforms to advance marine science and public engagement.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
MOSAiC Expedition social profiles
Digital presenceMOSAiC Expedition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MOSAiC Expedition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
MOSAiC Expedition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MOSAiC Expedition 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 MOSAiC Expedition
What does MOSAiC Expedition do?
MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) is a year-long research expedition aboard the German research icebreaker Polarstern that drifted through the Arctic Ocean from September 2019 to October 2020. The expedition deployed the ship as a stationary drifting research platform surrounded by a distributed network of observational sites up to 50 km away, collecting year-round atmospheric, oceanic, sea ice, biogeochemical, and ecosystem data — including the first continuous measurements through the polar night. Spearheaded by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), MOSAiC also produces freely shared data, educational content, virtual experiences, and outreach programs for the global scientific community and the public.
Is MOSAiC Expedition a public or private company?
MOSAiC Expedition is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently closed.
When was MOSAiC Expedition founded?
MOSAiC Expedition was founded in 2019.
Where is MOSAiC Expedition based?
MOSAiC Expedition is headquartered in Bremerhaven, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does MOSAiC Expedition make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Research Funding.
Who are MOSAiC Expedition's main competitors?
National Geographic Society is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Schmidt Ocean Institute, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), European Space Agency (ESA), NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories. Direct peers are Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and Norwegian Polar Institute. OceanX is listed as an emerging player.
Does MOSAiC Expedition have an API?
No public API is recorded for MOSAiC Expedition.
What industry is MOSAiC Expedition in?
MOSAiC Expedition's product category is Climate Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAHAHAE, Biodiversity Baseline Studies & Long-Term Monitoring Programs, with a secondary code of EUAHAHAA, Terrestrial Ecology & Habitat Surveys. Its NAICS code is 541360 and its SIC code is 8731.