Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern
The Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) is a University of Bern strategic research centre conducting inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research across climate adaptation, land management, food systems, digital development, and trade policy, serving Swiss federal agencies, international development organizations, and academic institutions through grant-funded projects, policy briefs, and graduate education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersBern, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern does
The Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) is a strategic research centre of the University of Bern, designated Switzerland's centre of excellence for sustainable development, with 105 employees headquartered at Mittelstrasse 43, 3012 Bern. CDE conducts inter- and transdisciplinary research on sustainable development spanning climate adaptation, sustainable land management, food systems transformation, digital development, biodiversity, and trade policy, with a research agenda built through long-standing partnerships across the global North and South. Core assets include the WOCAT database — a global catalogue of over 2,000 sustainable land management examples from five continents — and specialized frameworks such as the UPDATE transdisciplinary methodology for studying gender dynamics in digital employment.
CDE's primary outputs are research projects, policy briefs, scientific publications, and educational programs. Educational offerings include the Master in Sustainability Transformations degree, the periodic Online Winter School on Sustainable Development, and continuing-education programs. Active projects at the time of data collection include a US$4.5 million Swiss government-funded sustainable land management program in Laos, the intercantonal Biel/Bienne food system model region spanning six Swiss cantons, the UPDATE digital employment and gender project in Kenya, and comparative climate adaptation research under the NCCR North-South programme.
Revenue derives almost entirely from competitive research grants and project funding, with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), the Leopold Bachmann Foundation, and the Temperatio Foundation identified as funders. Secondary revenue comes from fee-based education (Master's program, Winter School). Distribution is achieved through direct institutional partnerships with governments and international organizations, academic publications and open-access channels, media engagement, and policy briefs. Customers are predominantly Swiss federal and cantonal government agencies, international development organizations, academic institutions, and students.
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern
- Legal name
- Centre for Development and Environment (CDE)
- Website
- https://cde.unibe.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) is a University of Bern strategic research centre conducting inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research across climate adaptation, land management, food systems, digital development, and trade policy, serving Swiss federal agencies, international development organizations, and academic institutions through grant-funded projects, policy briefs, and graduate education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainability Research and Policy Advisory
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation & Natural Resource Management Technical Assistance (BPADAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management (BPADALAG), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Agriculture, Environmental & Earth Sciences (EDAGABAL)
Keywords
Where Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Research Funding and Grants: Primary revenue from competitive research grants and project funding from Swiss government agencies (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation - SDC, Swiss National Science Foundation - SNSF), international organizations, foundations, and the Federal Government. Projects include specific deliverables and timelines.
- Education and Training Services: Revenue from Master in Sustainability Transformations program, continuing education offerings, and Winter School programs.
- Policy Advisory Services: Science-policy interface work providing evidence-based recommendations to governments and international organizations on sustainable development topics.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CDE conducts inter- and transdisciplinary research on sustainable development, combining social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities to address climate adaptation, sustainable land management, food systems, digital transformation, and biodiversity. It delivers educational programs (Master in Sustainability Transformations, Online Winter School, continuing education) and produces evidence-based policy briefs and advisory services for governments, international organizations, and development agencies. The WOCAT global database of sustainable land management practices (2,000+ documented examples) constitutes its flagship knowledge asset.
Product overview
CDE is Switzerland's centre of excellence for sustainable development and one of the University of Bern's strategic research centres. It is not a commercial product company but rather an academic research institution that offers educational programs (Master in Sustainability Transformations, Online Winter School), produces policy briefs on sustainability topics, and conducts research projects on climate adaptation, food systems, digital transformation, and biodiversity. CDE's offerings include research publications, media content (Spotlights), and virtual exhibitions, all focused on mainstreaming sustainability through inter- and transdisciplinary approaches in partnership with institutions across the global North and South.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master in Sustainability Transformations A master's degree program focused on sustainability transformations, combining inter- and transdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development research and teaching, offered to graduate students at the University of Bern.
- Online Winter School on Sustainable Development An online winter school program on sustainable development offered periodically to international bachelor and master students, with sessions such as Winter School 2027 (application deadline October 15, 2026).
- Policy Briefs A series of policy briefs providing evidence-based policy recommendations on current sustainability challenges, covering topics including urban food systems, biodiversity, trade measures, mining impacts, sustainable landscapes, coffee agriculture, commodity taxation, working time reduction, pesticide regulation, and inequality, distributed to governments, international organizations, and the public.
- Adaptation to Climate Change Research A research project synthesizing findings on climate change adaptation, examining livelihoods in transition, sustainable natural resource use, and health of vulnerable populations, with comparative studies in East Africa, West Africa, South Asia, and the Swiss Alps, conducted under the NCCR North-South programme.
- Food System of Biel/Bienne Project A model region project developing sustainable food systems around Biel/Bienne, supporting regional organic value chains for institutional catering and hospitality, with regulations requiring 60-100% organic food sourced within 35km, across six Swiss cantons (Bern, Fribourg, Jura, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Vaud).
- UPDATE Project (Updating Gender Dynamics for Digital Employment in Kenya) A research project exploring how enhanced connectivity and digital work could be reimagined in a feminist way in Kenya, focusing on safe employment and women's mobilization, conducted in collaboration with University of Nairobi, Pollicy, and Graduate Institute Geneva.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2000+ sustainable land use examples documented in WOCAT database
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of NairobicoreResearch collaboration on digital employment and gender dynamics in Kenya, part of UPDATE project. Primary research location in Kibera informal settlement.
- PollicycoreFeminist technology collective based in Uganda working across East Africa, providing expertise on gender dynamics in digital contexts and organizing stakeholder meetings.
- Graduate Institute Geneva (IHEID)coreGender Centre collaboration providing theoretical frameworks and expertise on gender studies and international development.
- CETRAD (Centre for Training and Integrated Research in ASAL Development)coreResearch partner in East Africa for climate adaptation studies, part of NCCR North-South programme.
- NCCR North-South ProgrammecoreSwiss National Centre of Competence in Research coordinating comparative studies in East Africa, West Africa, South Asia, and Swiss Alps.
- Parc naturel régional ChasseralminorRegional nature park partner in Biel/Bienne food system project, contributing to sustainable food distribution.
- Parc du DoubsminorRegional nature park partner contributing to food system transformation in intercantonal model region.
- Naturpark ThalminorRegional nature park partner in sustainable food system development.
- Open Food Network SwitzerlandminorPlatform partner supporting regional organic value chain development and distribution.
- City of Biel/BiennecoreMunicipal partner with pioneering regulations for healthy diet in municipal care facilities (60-100% organic within 35km).
- WLRC EthiopiaminorWater and Land Resource Centre collaboration on EU deforestation regulation implementation in Ethiopian coffee sector.
- Lao GovernmentcoreExecuting partner for US$ 4.5 million Swiss government-funded sustainable land management project.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- World Resources Institute (WRI): Large global research organisation working on environment and sustainability. Operates at greater scale than CDE but with overlapping climate, food, and land-use policy research and similar funder base (foundations, governments).
- Wageningen University & Research: Dutch university with a major global food systems and sustainable land use research portfolio. Overlaps with CDE on sustainable agriculture, land management, and food system transformation, but at much larger scale.
- ETH Zurich — Department of Environmental Systems Science: Swiss university with deep climate, sustainability, and environmental research capacity. Comparable in geography and academic standing, with overlapping themes (climate adaptation, sustainable land use), but CDE's development-focus is distinct.
Others
- NCCR North–South (University of Bern): Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research based at the University of Bern, where CDE is a core partner. Shares infrastructure and field sites with CDE and represents an internal ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.
Direct peers
- Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research organisation working on environment and development across multiple continents. Highly comparable to CDE's transdisciplinary, policy-oriented, global-South engagement model.
- Stockholm Resilience Centre: University-affiliated research centre focused on sustainability, resilience, and planetary boundaries. Highly comparable to CDE in its transdisciplinary model, North–South partnerships, and policy advisory role, though with a stronger planetary-boundaries focus.
- International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD): Independent policy research organisation working on sustainable development trade, climate, and natural resources. Comparable to CDE in policy advisory role and North–South research partnerships, particularly on commodity trade and land governance.
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Austria-based international research institute applying systems analysis to global sustainability, energy, and development challenges. Comparable in cross-disciplinary approach, international partnerships, and science-policy interface.
- Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): German research institute producing interdisciplinary climate and sustainability science with strong policy engagement. Comparable to CDE in its academic anchoring, sustainability focus, and influence on climate adaptation policy.
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS): German policy-oriented research institute on sustainable development and international cooperation. Directly comparable to CDE in development-research mandate, transdisciplinary methods, and donor-funded model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern social profiles
Digital presenceCentre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern
What does Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern do?
CDE conducts inter- and transdisciplinary research on sustainable development, combining social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities to address climate adaptation, sustainable land management, food systems, digital transformation, and biodiversity. It delivers educational programs (Master in Sustainability Transformations, Online Winter School, continuing education) and produces evidence-based policy briefs and advisory services for governments, international organizations, and development agencies. The WOCAT global database of sustainable land management practices (2,000+ documented examples) constitutes its flagship knowledge asset.
Is Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern a public or private company?
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern founded?
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern was founded in -1. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern based?
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are education and Training Services and policy Advisory Services.
Who are Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are World Resources Institute (WRI), Wageningen University & Research and ETH Zurich — Department of Environmental Systems Science. NCCR North–South (University of Bern) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm Resilience Centre, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
Does Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern.
What industry is Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern in?
Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern's product category is Sustainability Research and Policy Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAEAJ, Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation & Natural Resource Management Technical Assistance, with a secondary code of BPADALAG, Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems & Land Management. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8731.