Fundación Dinópolis

What Fundación Dinópolis does

Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis (commonly Fundación Dinópolis) is a non-profit foundation established in 1998 and headquartered in Teruel, Aragón, Spain, under the patronage of the Gobierno de Aragón. It conducts paleontological research, fossil excavation and conservation, and operates the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología alongside the Dinópolis Teruel paleontological theme park, two satellite visitor centers (Galve and Castellote), and the 50-kilometer 'Carretera de las Huellas de Dinosaurio' geotourism route spanning 8 municipalities and 11 BIC-designated track sites within the 2,622 km² Maestrazgo UNESCO Global Geopark. The foundation is internationally recognized for describing Turiasaurus riodevensis (Europe's largest sauropod), Iguanodon galvensis, Oblitosaurus bunnueli, and other dinosaur taxa, with research published in peer-reviewed journals including the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society and Diversity.

The foundation's core technology consists of specialized fossil excavation and preparation techniques, tracksite conservation, museography, and geotourism infrastructure (DINOpaseo urban tours, traveling exhibitions, the 'Dinosaurios Viajeros' ferry exhibition with Trasmediterránea, and a Fukui, Japan collaboration). It runs educational programs including the annual 'Paleontología y Desarrollo' summer course with Universidad de Verano de Teruel (23 editions, ~700 cumulative participants), the international Premio Paleonturología research award (24 editions, €2,500 endowment, 475+ publications, 1,223+ researchers), and a publication portfolio spanning Paleoguías, Fundamental, Fundamentos, and the Journal of Taphonomy. Multidisciplinary research collaborations include Universidad de Zaragoza, Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Munich Paleontological Museum, MNCN-CSIC, and INMA.

Revenue is generated primarily through institutional public funding (Gobierno de Aragón, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, EU Plan de Recuperación), supplemented by Dinópolis museum admissions and merchandising, course tuition from Universidad de Verano de Teruel, exhibition licensing, and prize co-sponsorship by Caja Rural de Teruel and Fundación Teruel Siglo XXI. The organization operates with approximately 5 employees and is governed by a Patronato chaired by Manuel Blasco (Consejero de Medio Ambiente y Turismo del Gobierno de Aragón), with Alberto Cobos as Director-Gerente. Its customer base spans the general public, school groups, the international paleontological research community, and rural municipalities in Teruel province.

Name

Fundación Dinópolis

Legal name

Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis

Website

https://fundaciondinopolis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fundación Dinópolis is a public non-profit foundation in Teruel, Spain, that conducts dinosaur paleontological research, conserves fossils, and operates the Dinópolis museum, satellite visitor centers, and a 50-km geotourism route. It serves the general public, schools, researchers, and rural municipalities across Aragón.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paleontology Museum and Educational Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

Keywords

• Paleontology museum
• Fossil conservation
• Paleontological research
• Geotourism services
• Science education

Headquarters

HQ city

Teruel

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Institutional Public Funding: Fundación Dinópolis is primarily funded through public institutional sources including the Gobierno de Aragón, the Gobierno de España (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades), and the European Union (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia). This constitutes the core operational funding for research, conservation, and dissemination activities.
2. Dinópolis Museum Admissions and Merchandising: Revenue generated through the main paleontological theme park museum (Dinópolis Teruel) and its satellite centers, including admission fees and paleontological merchandise.
3. Educational Programs and Courses: Tuition fees from specialized courses such as the 'Paleontología y Desarrollo' course offered through Universidad de Verano de Teruel, which includes field excavations.
4. Exhibition Licensing and Traveling Shows: The foundation produces and licenses traveling exhibitions (e.g., 'Dinosaurios del carbón', 'Los yacimientos paleontológicos BIC', 'Dinosaurios Viajeros' on ferries) to museums and institutions, generating licensing and collaboration revenue.
5. Paleonturología Prize Partnerships: Co-sponsorship of the international Paleonturología prize with partners such as Caja Rural de Teruel and Fundación Teruel Siglo XXI, which includes prize money and publication rights.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fundación Dinópolis is a non-profit foundation that operates a paleontology museum complex including Dinópolis Teruel and the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología, conducts paleontological research, conserves fossils, and delivers educational programs about prehistoric life and natural heritage in Aragón, Spain. It also runs satellite centers across the region and an annual paleontology summer course with the Universidad de Verano de Teruel.

Product overview

Fundación Dinópolis operates as a paleontological foundation with a multi-product portfolio centered around research, conservation, and science outreach. The core offerings include Dinópolis Teruel (the main theme park/museum) and the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología, complemented by Satellite Centers in Galve and Castellote. The foundation publishes scientific literature through the Paleoguías series, Fundamental series, Fundamentos publications, and the Journal of Taphonomy. Educational services include didactic workshops, Geolodía field trips, science outreach programs, and the annual Paleontología y Desarrollo course. The foundation also produces traveling exhibitions and manages La Carretera de las Huellas de Dinosaurios, a 50-kilometer geotouristic route. The Premio Paleonturología international award recognizes outstanding paleontological research. Together, these products and services form an integrated approach to paleontological research, conservation, education, and regional development through geotourism.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Museo Aragonés de Paleontología: The Aragonese Museum of Paleontology operated by the foundation as its main museum and research center in Teruel.
• Paleoguías
• Premio Paleonturología
• La Carretera de las Huellas de Dinosaurio

Products and services

• Dinópolis Teruel Main museum and theme park complex in Teruel, Spain, featuring exhibits on prehistoric life, dinosaurs, and paleontological discoveries for families and individual visitors.
• Museo Aragonés de Paleontología Aragonese Museum of Paleontology operated by the foundation, hosting the region's paleontological collections and research outputs.
• La Carretera de las Huellas de Dinosaurios Geotourism route across multiple locations in Aragón connecting dinosaur footprint sites and paleontological points of interest.
• Satellite Centers (Galve, Castellote, Peñarroya de Tastavins, etc.) Regional satellite centers operated by the foundation across Aragón, each focused on local paleontological themes and exhibits.
• Paleoguías Series Series of paleontological guide publications about fossils, sites, and the paleontology of the Aragón region.
• Paleontología y Desarrollo Summer Course Annual summer course on paleontology and development held in collaboration with the Universidad de Verano de Teruel for students and the general public.
• Journal of Taphonomy (Revista de Tafonomía) Scientific journal published by the foundation on the study of fossil preservation processes (taphonomy).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 475 scientific publications and 1,223+ researchers have participated in the Paleonturología prize since 2002
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Gobierno de AragóncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder and governing authority of Fundación Dinópolis. Provides institutional support, operational funding through the Departamento de Ciencia, Universidad y Sociedad del Conocimiento, and serves as the foundation's Patronato chair (Manuel Blasco, Consejero de Medio Ambiente y Turismo).
• Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Gobierno de España)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides funding through the Unidad de Paleontología de Teruel and the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia (European Next Generation funds). Supports research projects and paleontological infrastructure.
• Universidad de Verano de TeruelmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual co-organizer of the 'Paleontología y Desarrollo' summer course, now in its 23rd edition. Combines academic lectures with field excavations and geotourism activities.
• Dinópolis (Aragón dinosaur theme park)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe commercial dinosaur theme park brand and entity with which the foundation shares the Museo Aragonés de Paleontología facilities. Jointly co-convoyor of the Paleonturología prize.
• Universidad de ZaragozamajorTechnology or IntegrationAcademic collaborator in joint excavation campaigns, including the Camarillas sauropod project alongside Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont and Museo Paleontológico de Múnich.
• Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)majorTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated in the excavation of the Camarillas sauropod fossils between 2017 and 2021 alongside Universidad de Zaragoza and Museo Paleontológico de Múnich.
• Museo Paleontológico de MúnichmajorTechnology or IntegrationInternational partner in the joint excavation of the Camarillas sauropod (La Peñuela site) between 2017 and 2021.
• European Geoparks NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founding member network through the Maestrazgo UNESCO Global Geopark. Shares best practices in geoconservation and geotourism with other geoparks across 48 countries.
• Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - CSICmajorTechnology or IntegrationCollaborated on the excavation of saber-toothed cat (felids) fossils at the Puente Minero site and on the research into giant sloth skulls for the International Museum Day.
• Ayuntamiento de Alcalá de la SelvaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the scientific and museographic development of the 'Río Alcalá' dinosaur tracksite, which now features visitor-accessible skin impression footprints.
• Museo de Dinosaurios de la Prefectura de Fukui, JapónmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaborated on a traveling dinosaur exhibition in Japan showcasing giant dinosaur fossils from Teruel, including original specimens and replicas shipped internationally.
• TrasmediterráneaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for the 'Dinosaurios Viajeros' exhibition displayed aboard the ferry vessel Tenacia on Barcelona-Palma routes and extended to connections with Mahón and Ibiza.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology: Canada's premier paleontology-focused museum and research institution in Drumheller, Alberta. Directly comparable as a publicly supported science museum specializing in dinosaur research, fossil preparation, public exhibits, and educational programming in a rural setting.
• Museo Paleontológico de Elche (MUPE): Spanish paleontology museum in Alicante operating a regional research center, permanent exhibits, and educational programs. Comparable as a Spanish regional paleontology museum competing for the same school-trip and family-visitor audiences.
• Museum für Naturkunde Berlin: One of Europe's largest natural history museums with a major paleontology collection including the Giraffatitan and original Tendaguru specimens. Comparable as a publicly funded museum combining large-scale dinosaur research, conservation, and public education.
• Zigong Dinosaur Museum: China's first dedicated dinosaur museum, built over an active fossil site in Sichuan. Comparable as a museum-research hybrid anchored by an in-situ dinosaur locality with educational tourism and species discovery programs.
• Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum: Japan's leading dinosaur-focused museum and a confirmed exhibition partner (joint dinosaur exhibition featuring Teruel fossils). Comparable as a dinosaur-specific regional museum combining research, original fossils, and large-scale public visitor experiences.
• Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont: Catalan paleontology research center and an explicit collaboration partner on the Camarillas sauropod excavation. Comparable as a Spanish public paleontology institution combining research, fossil conservation, and public dissemination with university partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Natural History Museum, London: Global benchmark natural history institution with world-leading paleontology collections (including the animatronic dinosaurs and core dinosaur research). Comparable on scientific output and museum operations, though broader in scope and far larger in scale.
• Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC): Spain's national natural science museum in Madrid and a confirmed research partner (saber-toothed felid work, traveling exhibitions). Comparable as a larger, broader natural history institution that overlaps with Dinópolis on paleontology research and exhibition hosting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Funda_Dinopolis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFtXcoX1P5OXeK234U6XH-g
• Facebookfacebook.com/fundacion.dinopolis
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundaciondinopolis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundaci%C3%B3n-din%C3%B3polis

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundación Dinópolis