Société Géologique de France

What Société Géologique de France does

Société Géologique de France (SGF) is a French learned society (association loi 1901) founded in 1830 and headquartered at 77 rue Claude Bernard, Paris. It is one of the oldest geological societies in the world and operates as a membership-based community of more than 1,500 professional geologists, researchers, educators, students, and amateur enthusiasts. Its core products are scientific publications, including the bimonthly peer-reviewed journal BSGF (with impact factor), the quarterly magazine Terre & Sciences (formed from the merger of Géochronique and Géologues), the monograph series Mémoires, and the digital webzine Géodiversité en France. The society also administers the Eurogéologue European professional certification on behalf of the European Federation of Geologists (FEG), maintains a specialized library and documentary portal undergoing renovation, and runs sections for young geologists, outreach (Géole), and stratigraphy.

SGF's revenue model is comprised of recurring membership dues (individual and institutional at €350/year for UFR members), journal and publication subscriptions, a €100 Eurogéologue certification processing fee, bookstore sales of guidebooks and monographs, and event registration fees. Distribution is primarily digital via the geosoc.fr website, with a self-serve online membership portal, an EDP Sciences–hosted manuscript submission platform, and an online bookstore. The society represents France at the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and FEG, and maintains core strategic partnerships with BRGM (co-publishing Géologie de la France), AVENIA (co-editing Géologues), EDP Sciences (publishing BSGF and Collection Géosphères), and SIM (October 2025 MOU for mining-sector collaboration). Corporate donor Total (TotalEnergies) supports the library restoration project. Marketing and outreach are conducted through the website, email newsletters (GéoInfos, GéoActus, Pangea Infos with ~1,000 subscribers, Terre & Sciences), social media (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube), and public events including the annual 'Géologie sur Le Tour de France' educational program and National Geology Days.

Name

Société Géologique de France

Legal name

Société Géologique de France

Website

https://geosoc.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1830

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Société Géologique de France is a 1830-founded Paris-based learned society that serves more than 1,500 French Earth Science professionals, researchers, students, and amateurs by publishing scientific journals (BSGF, Terre & Sciences), administering the Eurogéologue certification, and organizing geological conferences, outreach, and heritage activities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Earth Sciences Association and Scientific Publishing

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards Development & Publishing (SDOs, Technical Standards) (MPAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Earth sciences publishing
• Geological society membership
• Scientific journals
• Professional certification geology
• Geology conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues (Cotisations): Annual membership fees from individual members (ordinary members, young professionals, students, job seekers) and institutional members (UFR/university departments). Provides access to member-only content, reduced publication prices, and participation in society activities.
2. Scientific Publications: Sale of scientific journals (BSGF, Terre & Sciences, Géologues, Géochronique), monographs (Mémoires), and partnered collections. Both individual subscriptions and institutional/library subscriptions.
3. Bookstore Sales: Online sales of geology books, field guides (Collection balades géologiques en ville), and specialty publications (Collection Géosphères).
4. Eurogéologue Certification Fees: Application and processing fee of 100 euros for Eurogeologist title certification, managed through FEG (European Federation of Geologists).
5. Event Registrations: Fees for conferences, colloquia, and meetings organized by SGF and partners. Access to meeting downloads and event spaces for rent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Société Géologique de France (SGF) is a non-profit learned society that delivers earth sciences publishing, professional membership services, scientific events, and the Eurogéologue professional certification. It publishes peer-reviewed journals and magazines including BSGF, Terre & Sciences, Géologie de la France, and the Géodiversité en France webzine, and operates a member library, conference programs, and outreach initiatives for a community of 1,500+ geologists, researchers, students, and amateur enthusiasts.

Product overview

Société Géologique de France operates as a learned society offering a portfolio of scientific publications in earth sciences. The portfolio includes the BSGF bimonthly scientific journal with editorial committee and article submission system, the quarterly magazine Terre & Sciences (result of fusion between Géochronique and Géologues), the Mémoires monograph series, the free electronic journal Géologie de la France in partnership with BRGM, the webzine Géodiversité en France, the monthly newsletter Pangea Infos, and the partnership publication series Collection Géosphères with EDP Sciences. Additional offerings include geological guidebooks (Collection Balades Géologiques en Ville) and educational content (Géologie sur Le Tour de France).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BSGF (Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France) Bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering earth sciences research, with an editorial committee and online manuscript submission system via EDP Sciences, distributed to individual and institutional subscribers worldwide.
• Terre & Sciences Quarterly magazine for members and subscribers covering earth sciences topics, resulting from the merger of the former Géochronique and Géologues publications.
• Mémoires Monograph series published aperiodically in a new series and special hors série issues, offering in-depth geological research and reference works.
• Géologie de la France Free electronic journal operated by SGF in partnership with BRGM (France's geological survey), covering the geological mapping program of France.
• Géodiversité en France (Webzine) Digital webzine published by the Géole-SGF section, providing articles on the knowledge, protection, and enhancement of geological heritage in France.
• Pangea Infos Monthly newsletter created in 2018 and freely distributed by email to nearly 1,000 subscribers, covering geoscience news and SGF international activities.
• Collection Géosphères Publication collection co-edited by SGF and EDP Sciences, offering books on geological topics distributed via the SGF online bookstore.
• Collection Balades Géologiques en Ville Series of geological urban walk guidebooks for various French cities, sold through the SGF online bookstore.
• Géologie sur Le Tour de France Educational content series of story maps accompanying the Tour de France cycling race from 2018 through 2026, explaining the geology of regions crossed.
• SGF Membership (Individual and Institutional) Annual membership program with categories for ordinary members, young professionals, students, job seekers, and institutional UFR/university departments (350€ per year), granting access to member-only content, reduced publication prices, and participation in society activities.
• Eurogéologue Professional Certification Professional title certification administered by SGF on behalf of the European Federation of Geologists (FEG), with a 100€ first-year application and processing fee for individual practicing geologists.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Total (TotalEnergies)minorOthersTotal made a donation to the SGF library restoration project. The company has provided support for the library renovation as part of SGF's heritage preservation efforts.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRGM partners with SGF on Géologie de la France journal (free electronic publication), co-develops resources and shares geological data. BRGM is France's geological survey providing technical collaboration on geological mapping programs.
• AVENIA (Pôle de compétitivité)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVENIA competitiveness cluster dedicated to geosciences co-edits the Géologues journal with SGF. AVENIA represents industry, universities and administrations in subsurface industries.
• SIM (Société de l'Industrie Minérale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of understanding signed in October 2025 between SIM and SGF during RST Montpellier 2025. Collaboration on publications, events, and professional development in mining and geological industries.
• EDP SciencescoreTechnology or IntegrationSGF partners with EDP Sciences for publishing BSGF journal and the Collection Géosphères. EDP Sciences provides the article submission and hosting platform (articlestatus.edpsciences.org).
• FEG (European Federation of Geologists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGF is a member of FEG, representing French geologists in Europe. SGF administers the Eurogéologue certification (European title) for FEG members, charging a 100€ processing fee.
• IUGS (International Union of Geological Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSGF represents France at IUGS and facilitates French participation in international congresses. SGF awards travel grants for international geological congresses.
• GéolVal (Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGéolVal partners with SGF for outreach activities. Marc Blaizot from SGF participates in GéolVal's Forum des métiers events for career orientation.
• Réseau d'Excellence Mine et SociétéminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of excellence created in 2014 by ENSG Nancy, MINES Nancy, MINES Alès, MINES ParisTech with ARMINES to support mining project development.
• Association of Geological SocietiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with multiple French and international geological associations: Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie, Association des Sédimentologistes Français, COFRHIGEO, SGN, AFEQ CNF INQUA, AGAP, AGBP, AGSE, AGSO, CFGI.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE): EAGE is a broad European professional association for geoscientists and engineers, running conferences, publications, and training. It overlaps SGF's professional development and event offerings at a larger, industry-leaning scale.
• American Geophysical Union (AGU): AGU is the largest global geoscience society, publishing high-impact journals (JGR, Geophysical Research Letters) and convening major conferences. It is a broader incumbent operating internationally with overlapping journal, conference, and membership functions versus SGF's domestic scope.

Direct peers

• European Geosciences Union (EGU): EGU is a Europe-wide learned society for geosciences that publishes journals, organizes the annual General Assembly conference, and supports early-career scientists — comparable to SGF at a pan-European scale and explicitly linked via SGF President Laurent Jolivet's 2021 Arthur Holmes Medal from EGU.
• Geological Society of London: The Geological Society of London is the UK national learned society for geology, founded in 1807, and operates a directly comparable model: peer-reviewed journals, professional accreditation (Chartered Geologist), events, and member services for UK-based geologists.
• Geological Society of America (GSA): GSA is the US national geological society, publishing peer-reviewed journals (GSA Bulletin, Geology), running major conferences, and offering professional development for American geologists — closely paralleling SGF's role within France.
• Société de l'Industrie Minérale (SIM): SIM is the French society for the mining industry, recently signed an MOU with SGF (Oct 2025) covering publications, events, and professional development. SIM serves a closely related French industrial member base with overlapping publication and event functions.

Others

• International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS): IUGS is the global umbrella organization for geological sciences in which SGF holds the French national seat. IUGS provides international congress coordination and standards-setting that complements rather than competes with SGF's domestic activities.
• European Federation of Geologists (FEG): FEG is the umbrella body for national geological associations across Europe, including SGF. SGF administers Eurogéologue certification via FEG, making FEG both an enabler of one of SGF's revenue streams and an adjacent peer organization.

Regional players

• Geologische Vereinigung (GV): GV is the German national geological society, publishing journals and hosting conferences for German-speaking earth scientists. It is the closest regional peer to SGF and an obvious collaboration/co-publishing counterpart.

Emerging players

• Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM): BRGM is France's national geological survey and a strategic partner that co-publishes Géologie de la France with SGF. While primarily a public research agency rather than a membership society, it overlaps SGF in publishing, mapping programs, and French geoscience communication.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SGEOLFRANCE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9G%C3%A9ologiquedeFrance
• Facebookfacebook.com/SGEOLFRANCE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soci%C3%A9t%C3%A9-g%C3%A9ologique-de-france

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Société Géologique de France