Edinburgh Earth Initiative

What Edinburgh Earth Initiative does

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative (EEI) is a non-profit, cross-institution platform established in 2022 within the University of Edinburgh to catalyse transdisciplinary climate and environment research, innovation, and partnerships. Headquartered at High School Yards, Edinburgh, with a team of 21 staff, EEI coordinates activity across the University rather than developing proprietary technology products. Its core offerings are the Earth Fellows Programme (paid postgraduate student placements on climate projects, now spanning 34+ fellows across multiple cohorts), the Earth Champions Programme (senior academic leaders driving Clean Energy Systems, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Cities), the COP Engagement Project (student participation at UN climate meetings including COP30), and strategic publications such as the 2025–2030 strategy and annual Earth Fellows Edit.

EEI serves University of Edinburgh students, researchers, and academic staff, while making academic knowledge available to external decision makers in business, industry, policymaking institutions, regulatory authorities, and civil society. Strategic partnerships extend its reach internationally — notably the Edinburgh-Ibadan Partnership with the University of Ibadan, UNHCR on climate vulnerability frameworks for refugee communities in Jordan, the EU-funded DiaDev Project, and the engineering biology network CIRCBIONET spanning the UK and Singapore. Ecosystem anchors include Energy@Edinburgh (200 researchers), the Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments (ACE, 100+ research groups), and the Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes.

EEI does not charge for its services and is funded by the University of Edinburgh and external supporters, with awards, grants, gifts and donations detailed in its Annual Report. The initiative carries no separate equity structure and operates as an institutional research translation platform rather than a commercial enterprise, ranking alongside the University of Edinburgh's 7th-place global sustainability standing (QS 2025) and joint 1st place for SDG 9 impact (THE 2025).

Name

Edinburgh Earth Initiative

Legal name

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative, The University of Edinburgh

Website

https://earth.ed.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative is a non-profit cross-institution platform within the University of Edinburgh, founded in 2022, that coordinates transdisciplinary climate research, runs a paid student Earth Fellows programme, and partners internationally to translate academic climate knowledge into policy and practice.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainability Research Coordination

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD), International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Climate research platform
• Sustainability programmes
• Academic climate partnerships
• Environmental research coordination
• Climate justice initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: The Edinburgh Earth Initiative is funded by the University of Edinburgh and external supporters. All awards, grants, gifts and donations to the Edinburgh Earth Initiative are detailed in their Annual Report.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Edinburgh Earth Initiative is a cross-institution platform at the University of Edinburgh that coordinates interdisciplinary climate and environment research, supports paid student engagement through the Earth Fellows Programme, drives senior academic leadership through the Earth Champions initiative, and facilitates knowledge transfer to policymakers, businesses, and civil society. It is funded by the University of Edinburgh and external supporters.

Product overview

Edinburgh Earth Initiative is a cross-institution platform at the University of Edinburgh that connects and supports climate action through several interconnected programmes. The core offerings include the Earth Fellows Programme (paid student internships on climate research projects), the Earth Champions Programme (senior academic leadership in strategic climate areas), the COP Engagement Project (student participation in UN climate meetings), and various publications including strategy documents. These programmes work together to advance interdisciplinary climate research, innovation, and partnerships across the University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Earth Fellows Programme: A programme giving current students the opportunity to work on paid climate and environment projects, engage with professional development events and build a network for collective action on climate change.
• Earth Champions

Products and services

• Earth Fellows Programme A paid student internship programme enabling University of Edinburgh postgraduate and doctoral students from all disciplines to work on climate and environment research projects, engage with professional development events, and build networks for collective climate action. Over 34 Fellows have participated across multiple cohorts since inception.
• Earth Champions Programme A senior academic leadership programme featuring visible leadership figures who drive transdisciplinary research and innovation across three strategic priority areas: Clean Energy Systems, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Cities, playing a central role in delivering EEI's Strategy 2025-2030.
• COP Engagement Project An initiative strengthening University of Edinburgh student and staff participation in UN climate and environment meetings, including Conference of the Parties (COP) events and digital pass coordination.
• Edinburgh Earth Initiative Publications Research insights, working papers, and strategic documents including the Edinburgh Earth Initiative Strategy 2025-2030 and the annual Earth Fellows Edit publication showcasing programme work.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Earth Fellows programme has supported 34+ student researchers across multiple cohorts working on diverse climate projects.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of IbadancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The University of Edinburgh's partnership work with the University of Ibadan provides a strong example of international collaboration in climate and environment research. EEI staff meet partners at the University of Ibadan to advance collaboration through the Edinburgh-Ibadan Partnership, which focuses on climate justice and developing international partnerships addressing climate and environment challenges.
• DiaDev Project (EU Funded)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The EU Funded DiaDev Project examines the environmental impact of diagnostic devices designed for use in global health. Dr. Alice Street leads a team of Earth Fellows to study the history of regulation around single use plastics in medical diagnostics.
• Edinburgh InnovationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdinburgh Earth Initiative and Edinburgh Innovations jointly organize initiatives including the Sustainable Business Ideas Competition, supporting student entrepreneurs in developing climate-related business ideas.
• International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) empowers higher education institutions to exchange ideas and best practices for facilitating meaningful action towards sustainable development. With nearly 100 members in over 30 countries including the University of Edinburgh, it supports strategic planning in membership development, funding, and sponsorship.
• Energy@EdinburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy@Edinburgh is a multidisciplinary research group collaborating with local and global partners to address climate change and decarbonization through clean, affordable, secure energy. It has 200 researchers aligned with the Energy Trilemma and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes (CSFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes (CSFL) partners with the Earth Fellows programme to conduct woodland restoration research and develop knowledge resources for practitioners of woodland creation in Scotland.
• Trees for LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrees for Life is an environmental NGO working on woodland creation in Scotland that collaborated with CSFL and Earth Fellows to identify knowledge needs of practitioners.
• Borders Forest TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBorders Forest Trust collaborated with CSFL and Earth Fellows to understand knowledge needs for woodland restoration practitioners in Scotland.
• Future Woodlands ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuture Woodlands Scotland partnered with CSFL and Earth Fellows to identify knowledge needs for woodland creation practitioners.
• The Tree CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tree Council's National Schools Programme supports community tree nurseries, volunteering, skills development and local tree propagation through their Growing Together programme. Richard Pollard presented at EEI's climate justice event.
• Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments (ACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for Adapting to Changing Environments (ACE) is a leading centre in multidisciplinary research with a network of over 100 research groups advancing work on how populations can adapt to our rapidly changing world.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarth Fellows worked on a second phase consultation project with UNHCR to develop a climate vulnerability framework for refugee communities in Jordan.
• Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECCI is a leading centre for research, teaching, policy and practice for climate action that partners with Earth Fellows on climate and One Health evidence synthesis projects.
• CIRCBIONETcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRCBIONET is an engineering biology network developing new biotechnologies to produce specialty chemicals from plastic waste and other feedstocks, bringing together researchers across the UK and four universities and research institutes in Singapore.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oxford Net Zero: University of Oxford's cross-faculty platform coordinating climate research, policy engagement, and student training programmes. Closely comparable to EEI as a multi-disciplinary academic climate coordination hub at a top UK university.
• Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership: University of Cambridge institute that convenes businesses, policymakers, and academics on climate and sustainability leadership. Comparable to EEI as a UK university-based convening platform focused on translating research into action.
• Grantham Institute – Imperial College London: Imperial College's institute for climate change and the environment, linking researchers with policy and industry. Directly comparable to EEI's model of interdisciplinary research coordination and policy translation at a major UK research university.
• Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (University of Oxford): Oxford's enterprise-focused climate and environment research and education institute. Comparable to EEI for its blend of research, student programmes, and engagement with business and policy stakeholders.
• Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI): A partner and potential overlap within the University of Edinburgh itself — focused on climate research, teaching, policy, and practice. Highly relevant as a directly connected peer within the same parent institution.
• Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research: UK multi-university partnership delivering interdisciplinary climate research and policy advice. Comparable to EEI for its interdisciplinary climate coordination and policy-translation role across UK institutions.

Broad incumbents

• MIT Climate Project: MIT's flagship climate action platform coordinating research, education, and convening across the institute. Comparable in scope and convening ambition but materially larger in resources and global reach.
• Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability: Stanford's dedicated school addressing climate and sustainability through research, education, and partnerships. Comparable structurally as a university climate hub, though significantly larger and endowed.

Emerging players

• Yale Center for Environmental Justice: Yale's platform for environmental-justice research, teaching, and partnerships. Overlaps with EEI's climate-justice framing and academic-convening model.

Others

• International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN): A network of ~100 universities across 30+ countries (including Edinburgh) sharing best practices on campus sustainability. Comparable to EEI as a convening platform for sustainability across higher education.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/edinburghearth
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityOfEdinburgh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edinburgh-earth-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/edinburghuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edinburgh Earth Initiative