Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP

Name

Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP

Legal name

Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP

Website

https://babs.admin.ch

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Civil Protection and Emergency Management Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Security Systems Services (56162), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Communications, Alerting & Public Warning Systems (HLAJAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Management & Communications Support (Mass Notification) (BPABANAF), Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Setup & Management (BPABANAC)

Keywords

• Civil protection services
• Emergency alerting systems
• Radiological monitoring network
• Protective shelter infrastructure
• Crisis coordination services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FOCP operates Switzerland's nationwide civil protection infrastructure, coordinating population alerting, emergency response, and protective shelter services. Core offerings include the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for incident management, the Polyalert central alerting system, the Alertswiss public warning platform, the nationwide siren network, IBBK emergency radio, Polycom safety radio network, the NADAM radioactivity monitoring network, and approximately 370,000 protective shelters with 9 million places. Supporting operations include the Spiez Laboratory for NBC protection expertise and the Federal Training Centre in Schwarzenburg.

Product overview

The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP/BABS) operates a broad civil protection portfolio encompassing physical infrastructure, digital systems, training, and technical documentation. The core operational systems include the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for event management and radiological monitoring, Polyalert for multi-channel population alerting, the nationwide siren network, IBBK emergency radio for crisis broadcasts, and Polycom secure radio for inter-agency communication. Digital services include the Alertswiss app/website for public alerts and the DIM ZS civil protection service management platform. Physical infrastructure spans approximately 370,000 protective shelters with ~9 million places. Supporting operations are the Spiez Laboratory (NBC expertise), the Federal Training Centre in Schwarzenburg, ResMaB (federal resource management), and extensive technical documentation covering protective structures, NBC protection, and alerting systems. The DIZIS programme is the overarching digitisation initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) National Emergency Operations Centre responsible for early detection and assessment of civil protection-relevant events, coordinating situation monitoring, warning authorities, alerting and informing the population, and ordering immediate radiological protection measures. Operates the NADAM radiation measurement network across Switzerland.
• Spiez Laboratory (Labor Spiez) Scientific-technical expertise service for NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection. Supports procurement of NBC protection material, maintains emergency preparedness for acute NBC events, and contributes to arms control and non-proliferation agreements through international missions.
• Polyalert Central Alerting System Central alerting system that enables cantonal police operations centres and federal authorities to quickly and consistently inform, warn, and alert the population through the most suitable channels (sirens, radio, Alertswiss, cell broadcast) for any given situation.
• IBBK Emergency Radio System Federal emergency radio system operated in cooperation with civilian and military partners, broadcasting official government information during crises via enhanced FM signals from protected fixed transmission sites, capable of reaching basements and shelters up to two floors underground.
• Alertswiss App and Website Official Swiss alerting and information platform and mobile application for the population, enabling cantonal and federal authorities to publish safety information, warnings, and alerts. Continues to be enhanced for accessibility and offline availability.
• Polycom Safety Radio Network Nationwide secure radio network for authorities and organizations involved in rescue and security (BORS), enabling cross-agency and cross-cantonal radio communication.
• Swiss Nationwide Siren Network Switzerland's nationwide siren network with approximately 5,000 stationary and 2,200 mobile sirens for alerting the population. Controlled via a central remote triggering system. Annual nationwide siren test conducted on the first Wednesday of February.
• Dienstmanager Zivilschutz (DIM ZS) Digital platform for civil protection members to access their service data, view past and upcoming duties, manage personal information, and (from Phase 2, 2027) submit duty rescheduling and leave requests. Replaced the physical service booklet (Dienstbüchlein) as of June 2026.
• Protective Shelters (Schutzräume) Underground protective shelter infrastructure with approximately 370,000 private and public shelters and around 9 million protection places (over 100% population coverage). Shelters protect against armed conflict, ABC warfare agents, and conventional weapons; they also serve during natural or civilizational disasters.
• Federal Training Centre Schwarzenburg (EAZS / FTCS) Federal training centre in Schwarzenburg offering civil protection and population protection training. Infrastructure also available for conferences and seminars.
• Cultural Property Protection (Kulturgüterschutz) Protection of cultural goods during armed conflicts and disasters. Annual conference of cantonal cultural property protection officers is coordinated by FOCP.
• Federal Resource Management (ResMaB) Federal resource management service that coordinates and deploys equipment and human resources from civil protection, emergency services, and healthcare providers at national level, supporting cantons and critical infrastructure operators during national or international incidents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100% protective shelter coverage for Swiss population with approximately 370,000 shelters and 9 million places
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRG SSR operates the ICARO emergency broadcasting system and transmits official emergency instructions via the three national radio networks (SRF, RTS, RSI). This partnership ensures 24/7 emergency broadcasting capability as part of the IBBK emergency radio system.
• Swiss CantonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOCP coordinates with 26 Swiss cantons on civil protection planning, siren management, emergency response, and the cantonal threat analysis process (KATAPLAN). Cantons are the primary implementers of civil protection measures.
• International Atomic Energy Organisation (IAEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Alarm Centre (NAZ) maintains ongoing contact with IAEA for official information on nuclear incidents, including the situation at Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
• Swiss Armed ForcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOCP coordinates with the Swiss Armed Forces on civil protection matters, including joint exercises and the planned merger of civil protection and civilian service into a unified disaster protection service.
• Swiss Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Red Cross (SRK) participates in civil protection through its search, rescue, and national disaster assistance division. Partners coordinate on crisis management and emergency response.
• DDPS (Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports)coreOthersFOCP operates under the DDPS, which is currently exploring solutions for emergency radio system renewal and manages the overall civil protection policy framework.
• Private Radio BroadcastersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2023, FOCP operates a system to transmit emergency messages to private radio broadcasters. 20 private radio stations signed agreements to broadcast mandatory alerts. This supplements SRG's emergency broadcasting.
• Swiss Mobile Network OperatorsmajorTechnology or IntegrationCell Broadcast technology requires technical deployment by Swiss mobile network operators. Each network will establish a highly available Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) to receive and distribute emergency alerts.
• Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on natural hazard warnings including flood monitoring and earthquake preparedness. BAFU coordinates the national earthquake risk management program.
• Swiss Seismological Service (SED) at ETH ZurichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SED provides earthquake monitoring and alerts as part of the natural hazard warning system. Collaborates on earthquake preparedness and resilience topics with civil protection.
• State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil protection supports SEM with emergency accommodation of refugees, particularly from Ukraine. Up to 24,000 service days allocated for civil protection support.
• Federal Office for National Economic Supply (BWL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates on emergency supply recommendations including the recommended one-week emergency supply kit. BWL advises population on emergency provisions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Everbridge: Global commercial mass notification and critical event management vendor used by governments and enterprises for IT alerting, public warning, and crisis communication. Comparable technology stack to FOCP's Polyalert and Alertswiss, but as a commercial vendor rather than a governmental operator.

Direct peers

• Direction Générale de la Sécurité Civile et de la Gestion des Crises: France's directorate for civil security and crisis management within the Interior Ministry, running the FR-Alert public warning system and civil defense planning. A European peer operating mass-notification and crisis coordination on a national scale.
• Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK): Germany's federal agency for civil protection and disaster assistance, operating the federal warning system (MoWaS) and warning apps, and coordinating KRITIS critical infrastructure protection. Structurally and functionally the closest international counterpart to FOCP.
• Belgian National Crisis Centre: Belgium's federal center for national crisis coordination, BE-Alert mass notification, and emergency planning. Direct counterpart at similar size and federal scale, serving as a useful benchmark for FOCP's multi-channel alerting model.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): U.S. federal agency coordinating disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Although jurisdiction is federal rather than confederal, the mandate and portfolio overlap heavily with FOCP's NEOC and multi-channel alerting.
• Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior — Civil Protection: Austria's federal authority for civil protection, siren systems, and crisis coordination, including the KATWARN-aligned alerting ecosystem. German-speaking neighbor with a comparable federal structure and shelter/alerting mandates.
• Netherlands National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV): Dutch agency coordinating national security, crisis management, and the public warning system (NL-Alert). Closer in size and federal structure to FOCP than larger peers, and a relevant comparison point for the Cell Broadcast rollout.
• EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC): EU-level operational hub for emergency response coordination and population alerting, including the 112-based EU-Alert system. Comparable to FOCP's NEOC at the supranational level and a relevant landscape peer for cross-border coordination.
• Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB): Norway's agency for civil protection, emergency preparedness, and population alerting, including the Norwegian Public Warning system and Sivilforsvaret corps. Mirrors FOCP's integrated civil protection, training, and alerting responsibilities.
• Public Safety Canada / Emergency Management: Canadian federal department responsible for national emergency management, including the National Public Alerting System (Alert Ready) and the GetPrepared program. Closely comparable to FOCP's mandate for coordinated civilian alerting and preparedness.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/babs-ofpp-ufpp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP