Walker Institute
Walker Institute (now The Pearl) is a University of Reading climate research group that delivers interdisciplinary climate risk and adaptation research, training, and capacity building to governments, meteorological agencies, NGOs, and vulnerable communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersReading, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Walker Institute does
Walker Institute, now operating as The Pearl (People & Place, Evidence-based Adaptation for Climate Resilient Livelihoods), is an interdisciplinary climate adaptation research group embedded within the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology in the United Kingdom. The organization advances locally relevant climate information and solutions through the World Climate Research Programme's My Climate Risk Lighthouse Activity framework, working as a founding Global Regional Hub alongside seven sister hubs across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Its core research integrates climate science, meteorology, social science, and community engagement, applied in primary focus regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas with globally transferable methodologies.
Walker Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Walker Institute
- Legal name
- The Pearl (University of Reading Department of Meteorology)
- Website
- https://walker.reading.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Walker Institute (now The Pearl) is a University of Reading climate research group that delivers interdisciplinary climate risk and adaptation research, training, and capacity building to governments, meteorological agencies, NGOs, and vulnerable communities across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Walker Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Adaptation Research
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)
Keywords
Where Walker Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Walker Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Walker Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Walker Institute (now rebranded as The Pearl) is an interdisciplinary research group within the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology that conducts global climate adaptation and risk research. It delivers evidence-based research, training programmes, and capacity building to advance understanding of future climate impacts and support climate-resilient societies, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as a founding WCRP My Climate Risk Global Regional Hub.
Product overview
The Pearl (formerly the Walker Institute) is a single unified interdisciplinary research group rather than a modular software platform. It encompasses core research activities in climate adaptation and risk, supported by training offerings (The Pearl Academy, COPCAS® trademarked training programme), and integrates the Rainwatch web platform for climate monitoring data. The organization also offers MSc teaching through the university's Department of Meteorology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Pearl (Interdisciplinary Climate Research Programme)
- The Pearl Academy
- COPCAS® (Climate Outlook Products and Climate Analogues Synthesis)
- Rainwatch
- MSc Teaching (Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence)
Companies that use Walker Institute
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Walker Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Walker Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)coreAppointed as one of the founding MCR Global Regional Hubs under the WCRP 'My Climate Risk' Lighthouse Activity, working together with other Regional Hubs to advance locally relevant climate information and solutions.
- Climate Futures - Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)coreRegional Hub partner in the WCRP My Climate Risk network, contributing to the global initiative for regional climate risk assessment.
- Himalayan University Consortium (ICIMOD)coreRegional Hub partner and collaborator on Asian Mountain Academic Alliance Network, addressing climate resilience in the Himalayan region.
- Ateneo de Manila UniversitycoreRegional Hub partner in the WCRP My Climate Risk network, contributing expertise on climate risk in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Australian Bureau of MeteorologycoreRegional Hub partner contributing meteorological expertise and climate science capabilities to the My Climate Risk network.
- University of Cape TowncoreRegional Hub partner focusing on climate risk research for the African continent within the WCRP My Climate Risk network.
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (Argentina)coreRegional Hub partner contributing to climate risk research for Latin America within the WCRP My Climate Risk network.
- University of ManitobacoreRegional Hub partner contributing expertise on climate risk, particularly for northern and indigenous perspectives within the WCRP network.
- African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)minorResearch partner focused on technology studies and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.
- African Risk CapacityminorPartner organisation working on climate risk financing and disaster risk management for African governments.
- Met OfficeminorCollaboration with UK Met Office on climate science and weather forecasting for climate resilience research.
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)coreAssociated with WMO through the WCRP programme, advancing global meteorological and climate science standards.
- SightsaversminorDevelopment partner collaborating on the CHAIRR (Climate Health in Africa Integrated Risk Research) project addressing climate and health intersections.
- Lorna Young FoundationminorPartner on BRAVE and NIMFRU projects, adapting Farmers' Voice Radio methodology for climate-vulnerable communities.
- World BankminorDevelopment finance partner supporting climate adaptation projects and programmes.
- UN Environment Programme (UNEP)minorUN agency partner for environmental and climate policy research and advocacy.
- UNFCCCminorPartner for UNFCCC COP events and climate policy engagement.
- UNHCRminorCollaboration on climate risk assessment for refugee and displaced populations.
- Red Cross Red Crescent Climate CentreminorHumanitarian partner for climate adaptation in crisis contexts and disaster risk reduction.
- British Geological SurveyminorTechnical collaboration on geological and groundwater aspects of climate adaptation.
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyminorResearch partnership on ecological and hydrological aspects of climate change.
- Future Climate for AfricaminorRegional programme partnership for climate research and adaptation in Africa.
- Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet)minorNational meteorological agency partnership for climate services development in Ghana.
- Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)minorNational meteorological agency partnership for climate information services in Nigeria.
- Evidence for DevelopmentminorPartnership for evidence-based approaches to development and climate resilience.
- Practical ActionminorDevelopment organisation partnership for technology and climate solutions in developing countries.
- Mott MacDonaldminorEngineering and development consultancy partnership for climate adaptation projects.
- bracminorLarge NGO partnership for community-based climate adaptation, particularly in Bangladesh.
- Climate Action Network UgandaminorClimate advocacy and action network partnership in Uganda.
- EcotrustminorEnvironmental trust partnership for climate solutions in Uganda.
- University of NairobiminorAcademic partnership with University of Nairobi for climate research in East Africa.
- Gulu UniversityminorAcademic partnership with Gulu University in Uganda for regional climate research.
- Maseno UniversityminorAcademic partnership with Maseno University in Kenya for climate adaptation research.
- UCAD (Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar)minorAcademic partnership with UCAD in Senegal for climate science research.
- InsuResilience Solutions FundminorPartnership for climate and disaster risk insurance solutions.
- Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM)minorConsultancy partnership for climate risk management and adaptation planning.
- Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable AgricultureminorPartnership for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
- Wood (John Wood Group PLC)minorEngineering and consulting partner for climate-related infrastructure projects.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Walker Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI): Columbia University-based research institute conducting interdisciplinary climate science and applications work for climate-vulnerable communities globally. Directly comparable to The Pearl in combining climate science with societal applications and serving developing-region stakeholders.
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): German research institute conducting interdisciplinary climate impact research with applications to adaptation and societal resilience. Comparable as a research institute producing peer-reviewed science alongside policy-relevant outputs.
- Climate Analytics: Climate science and policy institute producing research on climate impacts, adaptation, and loss & damage with strong focus on vulnerable regions. Directly comparable in translating climate science into actionable policy and engagement with UNFCCC processes.
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research organisation working at the intersection of environment and development, with strong focus on climate adaptation policy and practice in developing countries. Comparable to The Pearl in mission, methodology (bridging science and policy), and target geographies.
- International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED): Independent research organisation working on sustainable development, with focus on climate adaptation, livelihoods, and community engagement in developing countries. Comparable in interdisciplinary approach and community-grounded methodology.
Broad incumbents
- National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): US-based research centre conducting atmospheric and climate science with applications to societal resilience. Comparable as a national-scale atmospheric science research entity, though operating at substantially larger scale than The Pearl.
- World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organisation working on environment and development challenges including climate adaptation, with major programmes in Africa and Asia. Comparable as a research entity engaging in climate-vulnerable regions, though operating at far larger scale.
- Met Office Hadley Centre: UK national climate science centre providing climate modelling, projections, and services with global reach. Comparable as a UK-based climate research entity and existing partner of The Pearl, though substantially larger in scope and resources.
Emerging players
- Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre: Humanitarian organisation specialising in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, with strong overlap in target geographies (Africa, Asia) and an existing partner relationship with The Pearl. Comparable in applied climate adaptation focus but with a humanitarian lens.
Regional players
- AGRHYMET Regional Centre: West African intergovernmental climate, agriculture, and water resources centre that is a direct training and research partner of The Pearl. Comparable in delivering climate adaptation training and information services in Africa.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Walker Institute social profiles
Digital presenceWalker Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Walker Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Walker Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Walker Institute 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 Walker Institute
What does Walker Institute do?
Walker Institute (now rebranded as The Pearl) is an interdisciplinary research group within the University of Reading's Department of Meteorology that conducts global climate adaptation and risk research. It delivers evidence-based research, training programmes, and capacity building to advance understanding of future climate impacts and support climate-resilient societies, primarily in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as a founding WCRP My Climate Risk Global Regional Hub.
Is Walker Institute a public or private company?
Walker Institute is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Walker Institute founded?
Walker Institute was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Walker Institute based?
Walker Institute is headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Walker Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Climate Analytics, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). Broad incumbents are National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), World Resources Institute (WRI) and Met Office Hadley Centre. Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre is listed as an emerging player. AGRHYMET Regional Centre is listed as a regional player.
Does Walker Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Walker Institute.
What industry is Walker Institute in?
Walker Institute's product category is Climate Adaptation Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADALAD, Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs, with a secondary code of BPADALAK, Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management. Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8731.