GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO

What GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO does

GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP) is a non-profit capacity development programme operating under the auspices of UNESCO as a Category 2 Centre, headquartered in Kópavogur, Iceland. Established in 1978-79 originally as the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP), the programme has trained 839 fellows from 68 countries in the six-month residential programme, with 219 women among graduates. It was rebranded into GRÓ Centre on 1 January 2020 alongside three sister programmes (Fisheries, Land Restoration, Gender Equality Studies) after separating from UNU in December 2019.

The core product is a six-month specialized residential training covering eight geothermal specialization fields: geological exploration, borehole geology, geophysical exploration, reservoir engineering, borehole geophysics, chemistry of thermal fluids, environmental science, geothermal utilization, and drilling technology. Supplementary offerings include MSc and PhD scholarships delivered through cooperation agreements with the University of Iceland (since 2000) and Reykjavík University (since 2013), 35 MDG/SDG-aligned short courses (1,765 participants since 2005), 46 tailored courses (1,021 participants since 2010), and an online course series (~700 participants since 2021). Hosted by Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR) since February 2021, the programme contracts 80-100 experts annually from ÍSOR, University of Iceland, and Reykjavík University.

The business model is government-funded international development cooperation rather than commercial revenue generation. Primary funding flows from Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs through public development cooperation appropriations, supplemented by counterpart contributions from partner institutions and grant funding. Training is delivered fully funded as scholarships to professionals from lower- to middle-income countries, with no tuition charged to participants. The programme has no venture capital, private equity, or public shareholders. UNESCO Category 2 Centre status was renewed until 2034, and a new GRÓ Governing Board assumed office for the 2026-2032 term.

Name

GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO

Legal name

GRÓ: the International Centre for Capacity Development – Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Societal Change

Website

https://grogtp.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GRÓ GTP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, non-profit capacity development programme training geothermal energy specialists from 68 lower- to middle-income countries via six-month residential training, MSc/PhD scholarships, and short courses, funded by Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geothermal Energy Capacity Development Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Geothermal Electric Power Generation (221116), Educational Support Services (61171), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

akta.pro primary industry

Geothermal Power Plant Development & IPP (Permitting, Financing, Project Development) (EUAMAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Finance Risk (EDABAJAO)

Keywords

• Geothermal energy training
• Capacity development programmes
• Renewable energy education
• MSc PhD scholarships
• Geothermal specialization courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Kópavogur, Capital Region

HQ country

Iceland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Development Cooperation Funding: Primary funding from Icelandic public development cooperation appropriations under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Operations are primarily financed by public contributions to Iceland's international development cooperation.
2. Counterpart Contributions: Additional funding acquired through counterpart contributions from partner institutions, grant funding, and participation in international projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GRÓ GTP delivers specialized residential and online training in eight fields of geothermal energy development for scientists and engineers from lower- to middle-income countries. Its core product is a six-month residential training programme at ÍSOR facilities in Iceland, accompanied by MSc and PhD scholarships at Icelandic universities, MDG/SDG-aligned short courses and workshops, and an online course series. Training is fully funded through Iceland's international development cooperation budget with no tuition charged to participants.

Product overview

GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme (GRÓ GTP) is a capacity development training programme that forms part of GRÓ: the International Centre for Capacity Development – Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Societal Change, operating under the auspices of UNESCO. The core offering is the Six Month Training Programme in geothermal energy, supplemented by MSc and PhD Scholarship programmes, Short Courses and Workshops, a Fellows network, and a Visiting Lecturers programme. The programme is hosted at Iceland GeoSurvey (ISOR) and collaborates with the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University for academic delivery. As of 2025, the programme has graduated 839 fellows from 68 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Six Month Training Programme Six-month specialized residential training in geothermal energy development covering eight specialization fields, delivered at ÍSOR facilities in Kópavogur, Iceland for scientists and engineers from lower- to middle-income countries.
• MSc and PhD Scholarship Programme Scholarship programmes enabling Fellows to pursue MSc and PhD degrees in geothermal energy at the University of Iceland and Reykjavík University under cooperation agreements with GRÓ GTP.
• Short Courses and Workshops Specialized short courses and workshops supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals, covering geothermal energy topics for professionals from partner countries; delivered in Iceland and in partner countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68 countries have been involved in the Six Month Training Programme
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerÍSOR is the host institute for GRÓ GTP, a self-financing state-owned non-profit institution under Iceland's Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources. GRÓ GTP annually hires services of experts at ÍSOR, and fellows have full access to ÍSOR's research facilities and multidisciplinary research environment. ÍSOR has been among the leading geothermal energy research institutions for over four decades.
• University of Iceland (UI)coreTechnology or IntegrationStaff members from UI's Science and Engineering Faculties serve as key lecturers and supervisors of Fellows since GTP's establishment. A cooperation agreement was signed in 2000 between GTP and UI on MSc studies in geothermal energy and PhD studies in 2008.
• Reykjavík University (RU)coreTechnology or IntegrationSimilar cooperation agreement made with Reykjavík University in 2013. Staff from RU's engineering faculties contribute as lecturers and supervisors for GRÓ GTP fellows.
• Government of Iceland Ministry for Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of GRÓ programmes through public development cooperation appropriations. The Ministry provides oversight and strategic direction through the GRÓ Governing Board.
• International Geothermal AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner organization on GRÓ GTP website footer, indicating collaboration in geothermal energy sector.
• United Nations University (UNU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÓ GTP operated under the UNU brand from 1979 to 31 December 2019 as UNU-GTP, a cooperation between UNU and the Government of Iceland. Partnership ended in 2019 when GTP joined GRÓ Centre.
• UNESCO (Category 2 Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÓ operates under the auspices of UNESCO as a Category 2 Centre. The status was renewed for eight years until 2034. GRÓ aims to strengthen capacities in lower- to middle-income countries working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), MalawicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÓ LRT alumni from LUANAR are now teaching and conducting research in environmental management and restoration ecology. GRÓ GEST and LUANAR have held short courses on gender and climate change. LUANAR's bachelor's degree in gender was developed based on a GRÓ GEST alumna's final project.
• National Commission of Malawi to UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting held with Malawi NATCOM to discuss GRÓ's work in Malawi and alignment with UNESCO priorities. GRÓ LRT 2025 alumna works at NATCOM and facilitates cooperation with UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserves Programme.
• Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÓ FTP welcomed Dr. Marc Williams, Executive Director of CRFM, to strengthen Caribbean partnership. CRFM is a key regional partner for fisheries training in the Caribbean.
• Iceland Ocean ClustercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRÓ FTP and Iceland Ocean Cluster signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 17 February 2026 to strengthen cooperation in innovation and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Dalian Ocean University, ChinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partners from Dalian Ocean University visited GRÓ FTP to discuss ongoing and future cooperation. Partnership includes visits and academic exchange.
• UN and UNESCO in MalawiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting held with UN Malawi (Senior Human Rights Advisor) and UNESCO Malawi (Project Officer, Education for Health and Wellbeing) to discuss GRÓ's work and network of alumni in the country.
• Ukraine Ministry of EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkrainian specialists participated in a weeklong Workshop on Geothermal Energy from 16-20 March. Participants included representatives from Ukrainian oil and gas companies, Ministry of Energy, and NGOs working in geothermal energy.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• ThinkGeoEnergy: A leading geothermal news and information portal that also publishes educational resources on geothermal technology. Comparable as an information and education ecosystem participant serving the same geothermal professional audience that GRÓ GTP targets.
• UNESCO Category 2 Centres Network: Other UNESCO Category 2 Centres and Institutes operating under the same auspices framework, several of which focus on water, energy, or natural resources. Comparable because they share GRÓ GTP's institutional status, governance norms, and reporting structures within UNESCO's capacity-development ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• International Geothermal Association (IGA): The global industry association for geothermal energy headquartered in Bochum, with strong partnerships including GRÓ GTP. Comparable because it serves the same geothermal professional community, runs education initiatives, and convenes the global geothermal workforce that GRÓ GTP trains.
• World Bank ESMAP (Energy Sector Management Assistance Program): A multi-donor trust fund administered by the World Bank that funds geothermal exploration and capacity building in developing countries. Comparable because it co-funds geothermal capacity development that GRÓ GTP alumni often lead, and serves as both a partner and a potential alternative funding source.
• IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency): The intergovernmental renewable energy organization headquartered in Abu Dhabi that runs global capacity-building programmes. Comparable because it provides training and policy support to lower- and middle-income countries pursuing renewable energy transitions, including geothermal.
• Geothermal Resources Council (GRC): A US-based professional association offering geothermal short courses, workshops, and continuing education. Comparable because it delivers continuing professional education and capacity building in the same geothermal technology domains, primarily to working industry professionals.

Emerging players

• Kenya Geothermal Development Company (GDC): A Kenyan state corporation developing geothermal resources and building local technical capacity. Comparable because it represents a recipient-country counterpart organization that increasingly develops its own training capacity, both complementing and potentially competing with GRÓ GTP's role.
• KenGen Geothermal Training Institute: Kenya Electricity Generating Company's geothermal training arm, focused on drilling and power plant operations in East Africa's Rift Valley. Comparable because it delivers specialized geothermal capacity building in a region where many GRÓ GTP alumni originate.

Direct peers

• Iceland School of Energy: A graduate school at Reykjavík University offering MSc programmes in Sustainable Energy with a strong geothermal specialization. Comparable because it shares Reykjavík University's lecturers with GRÓ GTP and trains geothermal professionals through a similar Iceland-based academic model.
• UNEP DTU Partnership (now UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre): A UN-hosted centre providing capacity development in energy and climate to developing countries, with a long-running partnership model funded by Nordic states. Comparable due to its similar Nordic-funded, UN-affiliated capacity-building mandate targeting energy transitions in emerging economies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gr%C3%B3-geothermal-training-programme

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 GRÓ Geothermal Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO