European Astronomical Society

What European Astronomical Society does

European Astronomical Society (EAS) is an independent non-profit professional astronomical society founded in 1990 and domiciled in Switzerland, with its operational office hosted by the Department of Astronomy of the University of Geneva in Versoix. The society's stated purpose is to promote and advance astronomy in Europe, serving as the pan-European coordinating body for a community spanning affiliated national astronomical societies in more than 35 countries. Its principal deliverables are programmatic rather than technological: an annual scientific meeting (formerly EWASS and JENAM, now the EAS Annual Meeting), a quarterly e-Newsletter launched in 2016, an online Job Directory, and a portfolio of prestigious awards including the Tycho Brahe Medal (since 2008), the Lodewijk Woltjer Lecture (since 2010), the MERAC Prizes (since 2013), the Fritz Zwicky Prize (since 2020), and the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal (since 2021), supplemented by HERA workshops for early-career researchers and an EAS Fellows programme introduced in 2026.

The business model is membership-based and dual-track. Individual membership has been standardized at a flat €40 per year since 2019 across Ordinary, Junior, and Honorary classes, with members of affiliated national societies eligible for free EAS membership — a deliberate low-friction mechanism to maximize individual reach. Organizational membership is tiered into Affiliates (≥€1,000/year), Sponsors (≥€2,000/year), and Patrons (≥€5,000/year), conferring benefits including web listings, job postings, meeting registrations, and exhibition space; the named patron/sponsor roster includes ESO, SKA Observatory, the Royal Astronomical Society, INAF, ETH Zurich, CEA, CTAO, and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, among others. Distribution is primarily web-based self-serve for individuals and direct office contact for organizational members; the society does not engage in commercial marketing, relying instead on its scientific reputation, recurring meetings, and the affiliated-society network for visibility and growth.

EAS is governed by a Council of five officers (President, two Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer) plus seven councillors, drawn from senior European academic and research institutions, with a small operational staff of approximately 16 people. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there are no technology products, patents, or AI/ML capabilities associated with the organization. Strategic emphasis over the past several years has been on broadening recognition mechanisms (new prizes, Fellows programme), formalizing governance (Sustainability and EDI Advisory Committees established in 2020), and rotating the annual meeting across European host cities (e.g., Vienna in 2027).

Name

European Astronomical Society

Legal name

European Astronomical Society

Website

https://eas.unige.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The European Astronomical Society (EAS), founded in 1990 and based in Switzerland, is a non-profit professional society that promotes astronomy in Europe through individual and organizational memberships, an annual scientific meeting, awards and prizes, a job directory, and a quarterly newsletter serving affiliated national societies in 35+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Versoix

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: The EAS collects annual membership fees from individual members. Since 2019, there is a single fee of €40 for all individual membership classes. Members of Affiliated Societies can join EAS for free through their society.
2. Organisational Membership Fees: Organisational members pay annual fees at three tiers: Affiliates (≥€1000/year), Sponsors (≥€2000/year), and Patrons (≥€5000/year). These fees provide benefits including web listings, job advertisements, meeting registrations, and exhibition space.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The European Astronomical Society (EAS) is a non-profit professional astronomical society that promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. It sells individual and organizational memberships (Ordinary, Junior, Honorary member classes; plus Affiliate, Sponsor, and Patron tiers for institutions) and provides member services including the annual EAS Annual Meeting, quarterly e-Newsletter, online Job Directory, prize/fellowship administration, and training workshops for early-career researchers. The society acts as a pan-European coordinator connecting national astronomical societies, research institutions, and individual professional astronomers.

Product overview

The European Astronomical Society is a professional astronomical society that serves as the primary organization for advancing astronomy in Europe. Rather than a software technology product, EAS operates as a membership-based professional society offering services including annual conferences (EAS Annual Meeting), a job directory for the astronomical community, a quarterly e-Newsletter, multiple prestigious awards (Tycho Brahe Medal, Lodewijk Woltjer Lecture, MERAC Prizes, Fritz Zwicky Prize, Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal), an EAS Fellows programme, and HERA workshops for early career researchers. The society manages individual and organizational memberships with benefits including discounted meeting registration, job posting privileges, and prize nomination rights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tycho Brahe Medal: Award for exploitation or development of European instruments leading to major discoveries (formerly Tycho Brahe Prize)
• MERAC Prizes
• Fritz Zwicky Prize
• Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal
• Lodewijk Woltjer Lecture
• EAS Fellows Programme
• HERA Workshops

Products and services

• EAS Annual Meeting Annual European astronomical conference (formerly EWASS and JENAM) featuring plenary sessions, topical symposia, and parallel sessions for professional astronomers to share research and foster European networks. Held annually since 1990.
• EAS Membership Services Individual membership programme with Ordinary, Junior, and Honorary Member categories, and three organizational tiers (Affiliate ≥€1,000, Sponsor ≥€2,000, Patron ≥€5,000). Subscription fees are €40/year for individuals (free for members of Affiliated Societies). Benefits include e-Newsletter access, job posting privileges, prize nominations, and discounted annual meeting registration.
• EAS Job Directory Online job board serving the European astronomical community, allowing members and non-members to post and search academic jobs, PhD positions, and non-academic positions free of charge.
• EAS e-Newsletter Quarterly digital newsletter (issued in January, April, July, and October) covering astronomical topics, astronomical life in Europe, society developments, and European networks. Published since 2016, superseding the former paper newsletter.
• Tycho Brahe Medal Medal awarded since 2019 (previously a prize until 2018) in recognition of the exploitation or development of European instruments which led to major discoveries. The winner presents a lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
• Lodewijk Woltjer Lecture Lecture series since 2010 honoring astronomers of outstanding scientific distinction who contributed greatly to the promotion of astronomy in Europe, with a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
• MERAC Prizes Three yearly prizes awarded since 2013 to recognize and support young European astronomers, with laureates giving plenary lectures at the EAS annual meeting. Funded by the MERAC Foundation.
• Fritz Zwicky Prize Biennial prize since 2020 awarded to scientists who have obtained fundamental and outstanding results related to astrophysics and cosmology, with a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting. Co-sponsored by the Fritz Zwicky Foundation.
• Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal Medal awarded in alternate years since 2021 to recognize astronomers of all career stages whose contribution beyond scientific research has significantly impacted astronomy, with a plenary lecture at the EAS annual meeting.
• EAS Fellows Programme Programme introduced in 2026 to recognise current EAS members for their contributions toward promoting and advancing astronomy in Europe, with certificates presented at the EAS annual meeting.
• HERA Workshops Wilhelm und Else Heraeus-EAS Early Career Researchers in Astronomy (HERA) workshops providing training for early career scientists on interaction, research design, broad perspective development, and international collaboration. Funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual EAS meetings attract thousands of astronomers from Europe and worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• University of GenevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Geneva, founded in 1559, is the second largest university in Switzerland and hosts the Department of Astronomy. The EAS Office is hosted by the University of Geneva, providing administrative infrastructure and support for the society.
• FONDATION MERACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMERAC (Mobilising European Research in Astrophysics and Cosmology) is a non-profit foundation started in 2012 with headquarters in Switzerland. It funds the yearly MERAC Prizes awarded by EAS and supports young European astronomers.
• European Southern Observatory (ESO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESO, founded in 1962, is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe, building and operating world-leading ground-based astronomical telescopes. ESO is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• SpringersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpringer sponsors 'Springer Travel Grants' for EAS members and co-funds grants for young astronomers to attend EAS annual meetings.
• SKA ObservatorysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased at Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, the SKA Observatory oversees the design, construction and operation of the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest radio telescope. SKAO is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• Royal Astronomical Society (RAS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAS, founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, and geophysics. It is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerINAF is the main Italian research institute for the study of the Universe and is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• NOVA (Netherlands Research School for Astronomy)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOVA is the alliance of astronomical institutes of Dutch universities (Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden, Nijmegen) and is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• German Astronomical Society (Astronomische Gesellschaft)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe professional German national association for astronomy and astrophysics promotes activities in science and research and is an Organisational Patron of EAS.
• ETH ZurichsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerETH Zurich, founded in 1855 and ranked among the world's best universities, focuses research at the Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics on star and planet formation, extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology and dark matter. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• CEAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA French government-funded technological research organisation with the Service d'Astrophysique (SAp) at Saclay near Paris. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Italian Astronomical Society (SAIt)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1920, SAIt promotes astronomical studies and spreads scientific culture in Italy with about 500 professional members. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTAO ERIC is responsible for constructing and operating the world's largest gamma-ray astronomy observatory with over 60 telescopes across both hemispheres. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Fritz Zwicky Foundation (FZS)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1973, the Foundation holds and manages Fritz Zwicky's estate and promotes morphological research. It co-sponsors the Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology awarded by EAS. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Astronomy & Astrophysics JournalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA leading peer-reviewed scientific journal covering theoretical, observational, and instrumental astronomy and astrophysics, funded by a consortium of 27 countries. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Observatoire de ParissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1667, it is the largest astronomy centre in France with sites in Paris, Meudon and Nançay. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC (JIVE)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJIVE provides central support to the European VLBI Network, promoting and implementing Very Long Baseline Interferometry. It is an Organisational Sponsor of EAS.
• EDP SciencessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwned by learned societies since 1920, EDP Sciences produces and publishes international journals including Astronomy & Astrophysics, books and internet sites. It is an Organisational Affiliate of EAS.
• Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (AEI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1995, the AEI pursues research into fundamental laws of gravitation from gravitational wave detection to cosmology. It is an Organisational Affiliate of EAS.
• Affiliated National Astronomical SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAS maintains relations with affiliated national astronomical societies across Europe including societies from Armenia, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, and others. These provide free membership transfers for their members.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: US-based professional and educational astronomy society with membership, prizes, and outreach programmes; comparable to EAS in mission but with a stronger public-education thrust.
• American Astronomical Society: The largest professional astronomical society in North America, with a comparable mix of membership services, journals, prizes, and a major annual meeting; serves as the closest structural analogue to EAS.
• Royal Astronomical Society: Long-established UK-based astronomical society that is both an EAS Organisational Patron and a direct peer offering individual membership, prizes, publications, and policy advocacy for astronomers.
• Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA): National professional society for astronomers in Canada, structured similarly to EAS with individual members, an annual meeting, awards, and committee-driven advocacy.
• International Astronomical Union: Global professional society for astronomers that, like EAS, organises scientific meetings, awards prizes, and represents the astronomical community to policymakers; EAS collaborates with IAU while serving a regional European remit.

Broad incumbents

• European Physical Society: Broader European physics society that overlaps with EAS on solar physics and astrophysics; serves adjacent scientific constituencies and runs comparable divisional meetings and prizes.
• International Science Council: Umbrella organisation for international scientific bodies including IAU; provides a higher-level governance and advocacy layer that frames EAS's policy work in Brussels and at the UN.
• EuroScience: European association for the advancement of science with grassroots research-community representation; shares EAS's policy and advocacy role but covers all scientific disciplines, not just astronomy.

Regional players

• African Astronomical Society (AfAS): Continental astronomical society for Africa with formal EAS liaison; shares EAS's cross-national convening model but operates in a different geography.
• Astronomical Society of Australia: Australia's national professional astronomy society; directly comparable in structure (members, prizes, annual meetings) but serves the Australian research community rather than competing in Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-astronomical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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