GEORESEARCH

What GEORESEARCH does

GEORESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH is a non-profit, non-university research institution founded in July 2016 and headquartered at the Wissenspark Salzburg-Urstein in Puch bei Hallein, Austria. The organization specializes in climate change impacts on high-alpine regions, with core competencies in geomorphology, geoinformatics, and remote sensing. Its flagship research infrastructure is the Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn (OPAL), a high-alpine site operational since 2010 that integrates monitoring across atmosphere, surface, and subsurface domains to track glaciers, permafrost, rock stability, and climate.

The institution operates a multi-method technology stack: UAV-based photogrammetry and laser scanning, terrestrial laser scanning, satellite-based InSAR (jointly with TRE ALTAMIRA via the InSAR Competence Center), applied geophysics (geoelectrics, ground-penetrating radar, seismics), borehole temperature measurements, and isotopic analysis using laser absorption spectrometry. Its product portfolio spans the InSAR Competence Center (millimeter-precision ground movement monitoring for infrastructure planning and natural hazard detection), the Open-Air-Lab itself, structured UAV and InSAR training programs (Modules 1-5 and 1-2 respectively), and a comprehensive methods and technologies service line. Recent additions include the MELT.AI project (2025) combining UAV ground-penetrating radar with AI-supported pattern recognition for glacier thickness mapping, and the FROST.INI EU Interreg project (2021-2027) on permafrost degradation.

GEORESEARCH is funded primarily through publicly and privately financed research projects from entities such as the European Commission, Austrian Academy of Sciences, FFG, and private infrastructure operators including Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AG (anchor partner of OPAL) and Salzburg AG. It also generates revenue through training courses priced EUR 340-795 per participant. The institution collaborates with over 50 national and international partners — including TUM, ETH Zurich, TU Graz, University of Salzburg, Montanuniversität Leoben, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, ZAMG, and Nationalpark Hohe Tauern — and is governed by a Scientific Advisory Board drawn from these institutions. Leadership consists of Dr. Markus Keuschnig (Founder, Managing Director) and Dr. Ingo Hartmeyer (Managing Director, Geomorphologist), supported by a small core team of researchers and a UAS specialist.

Name

GEORESEARCH

Legal name

GEORESEARCH Forschungsgesellschaft mbH

Website

https://georesearch.ac.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit research institution conducting climate change impact studies on high-alpine regions through UAV monitoring, InSAR satellite analysis, terrestrial laser scanning, and applied geophysics, serving governmental agencies, infrastructure operators, and tourism businesses across DACH and selected international geographies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alpine Climate Research and Environmental Monitoring Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics) (EUAHAKAC), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Alpine climate research
• High-alpine monitoring
• Geomorphology services
• Remote sensing analysis
• InSAR ground monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Puch bei Hallein

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Project Funding: As a non-profit research institution, GEORESEARCH primarily generates revenue through publicly and privately funded research projects. Projects are funded by agencies such as the Austrian Academy of Sciences, European Commission, and private infrastructure operators.
2. Education and Training Courses: Knowledge transfer through regular courses and training programs covering UAV photogrammetry, satellite-based InSAR techniques, and GIS. Offers both in-person and online training modules for professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GEORESEARCH is a non-profit research institution delivering applied research, monitoring, and knowledge transfer focused on climate change impacts in high-alpine regions. Its core offerings include the Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn long-term research station, the InSAR Competence Center (with TRE ALTAMIRA) for satellite-based ground movement detection, and professional training programs in UAV photogrammetry and InSAR/GIS techniques. Services are grounded in geomorphology, geoinformatics, and remote sensing, supporting governmental institutions and private enterprises with natural hazard reduction and climate resilience.

Product overview

GEORESEARCH is a non-profit research institution (founded July 2016) focused on climate change impacts in high-alpine regions. The organization operates the Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn (OPAL) as its primary research infrastructure, combining field monitoring with satellite and UAV-based technologies. Key offerings include the InSAR Competence Center (satellite-based ground deformation monitoring), comprehensive UAV and InSAR training programs, and specialized research services using laser scanning, geophysics, and isotopic analysis. The product portfolio spans from physical monitoring infrastructure and sensors to data analysis services and professional training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• InSAR Competence Center: A center established together with partner TRE ALTAMIRA for satellite-based detection of ground movements using InSAR technology.
• Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn

Products and services

• InSAR Competence Center Satellite-based InSAR service for detecting and monitoring ground movements with millimeter precision. Jointly operated with TRE ALTAMIRA for infrastructure planning, building monitoring, and natural hazard detection in alpine regions; targets governmental institutions, infrastructure operators, and engineering consultancies.
• Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn (OPAL) High-alpine research station at 3,203 meters providing long-term monitoring of climate change effects on glaciers, permafrost, rock stability, and atmospheric processes since 2010. Used for collaborative research projects with academic, governmental, and private enterprise partners.
• Methods & Technologies Services Comprehensive suite of monitoring and analysis services covering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), hydrogeological methods, terrestrial laser scanning, remote sensing, applied geophysics (electrical resistivity tomography, ground-penetrating radar, seismic surveys), differential GPS, borehole temperature measurements, augmented reality visualization, and isotopic analysis using laser absorption spectrometry.
• UAV Training Program Five-module training program covering UAV pilot certification preparation (A1/A3 and A2 licenses), flight practice, photogrammetric data acquisition, and photogrammetric data evaluation using Pix4D software. Delivered in-person with online options; small groups of up to 8 participants.
• InSAR Training Program Two-module training on satellite-based radar interferometry covering technical fundamentals, data processing algorithms (StaMPS, SBAS, PSInSAR, SqueeSAR), and practical interpretation for geotechnical, geological, and hydrological applications. Mod 1: 4-5 hours in-person or online (340 EUR). Mod 2: 1 day in-person (735 EUR).

Quantifiable outcome

• Detected 900 rockfall events from 2011-2021 through terrestrial laser scanning
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• TRE ALTAMIRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld leader in satellite-based ground movement detection. Together with TRE ALTAMIRA, GEORESEARCH founded the InSAR Competence Center to develop innovative InSAR applications. TRE ALTAMIRA developed the industry standard for extracting displacement measurements from satellite data and has extensive experience with automatic processing infrastructure.
• Technical University MunichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on rock slope stability and landslide research. Prof. Dr. Michael Krautblatter serves on GEORESEARCH's Scientific Advisory Board. Joint research at Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn.
• TU GrazmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutes involved: Institute for Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering and Computational Geotechnics; Institute for Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems. Collaboration on geotechnical and measurement research.
• University of SalzburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Geography and Geology collaboration. Prof. Dr. Andreas Lang serves on Scientific Advisory Board. Z_GIS Department of Geoinformatics partnership.
• ETH ZurichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Department of Earth Sciences on alpine research and geomorphology.
• Montanuniversität LeobenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Dr. Robert Galler and Prof. Dr. Paul O'Leary serve on the Scientific Advisory Board. Research collaboration in geotechnical engineering.
• Gletscherbahnen Kaprun AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder and partner for Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn (2010-2025). Enables research at one of the most diverse mountains in the Alps combining nature conservation, energy production, and tourism.
• Salzburg AGmajorTechnology or IntegrationEnergy sector partner collaborating on environmental monitoring and infrastructure protection projects.
• Max Planck Institute for ChemistrymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration in Open-Air-Lab Kitzsteinhorn project, contributing expertise in atmospheric and environmental chemistry.
• ZAMG (Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian meteorological and geodynamic research institute providing climate monitoring data and expertise.
• Nationalpark Hohe TauerncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtected area management enabling research in one of Austria's most significant high-alpine national parks.
• Austrian Academy of SciencesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerÖAW-Doktoratsprojekt RIDGES and other research funding and collaboration programs.
• Geological Survey of Austria (GBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational geological survey institution providing expertise and data for geological research.
• alpS - Centre for Climate Change AdaptationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center focused on climate change adaptation strategies in alpine regions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam: German national geoscience research centre operating across geophysics, remote sensing, and natural hazards at significantly greater scale. Comparable in scientific domain (geodesy, InSAR, geohazards) but as a much larger public-sector incumbent rather than a focused specialist.
• Joanneum Research: Austrian non-profit research institution with multiple thematic institutes covering remote sensing and geoinformation. Comparable as a domestic Austrian research organization sharing funding ecosystem, but with broader scope across multiple application areas.
• e-GEOS (Telespazio): Italian Earth observation services company offering satellite-based monitoring, including InSAR-based ground movement solutions, for civil protection and infrastructure. Comparable offering with broader geographic and institutional footprint as a larger incumbent.

Direct peers

• TRE ALTAMIRA: World leader in satellite-based ground movement detection using InSAR and co-founder of GEORESEARCH's InSAR Competence Center. Operates the same core InSAR service technology with overlapping infrastructure-monitoring and natural hazard clients, and is simultaneously partner and closest direct peer.
• GAF AG: German provider of applied Earth observation and geospatial services covering satellite imagery, InSAR, environmental monitoring, and consulting to public authorities. Closely comparable service portfolio, customer mix (EU institutions, public agencies), and methodological approach.
• Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI): Norwegian applied research institute combining geotechnical engineering, geophysics, and natural hazard monitoring. Comparable in applying geophysics and remote sensing to slope stability, permafrost, and infrastructure risk — with overlapping client mix of public authorities and operators.
• WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF): Swiss federal research institute focused on snow, permafrost, avalanches, and alpine natural hazards with strong remote sensing and field monitoring capabilities. Directly comparable in alpine hazard and climate monitoring mission and methodology.
• GAMMA Remote Sensing: Swiss R&D firm specializing in SAR and InSAR processing, interferometry software, and consulting for geophysical and natural hazard applications. Highly comparable in methodological stack (InSAR, differential interferometry, persistent scatterer) and alpine-research clientele.
• sarmap SA: Swiss SAR/InSAR application company delivering operational Earth observation products for ground motion, mapping, and hazard monitoring. Comparable in delivering applied InSAR services to commercial and public clients, especially in alpine and mountainous regions.
• EURAC Research: Bolzano-based non-profit research center operating in the Alps with institutes covering alpine environment, climate change, and remote sensing. Closely comparable as an alpine-specialist research institution running EU-funded monitoring projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/georesearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/georesearch-forschungsgesellschaft-mbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/georesearch_austria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about GEORESEARCH