SISKA / Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies

Name

SISKA / Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies

Legal name

Institut Suisse de Spéléologie et de Karstologie (SISKA)

Website

https://isska.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geoscience Research & Environmental Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG), Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers) (IMAFAOAH), Environmental Data Integration, ETL & Interoperability (APIs, Standards, Data Pipelines) (EUAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Karst hydrogeology consulting
• Speleology research services
• Groundwater modeling
• Cave mapping services
• Karst hazard assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

La Chaux-de-Fonds

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publication Sales: Sale of excursion guides (9 CHF each), brochures (some free, some at 9 CHF), educational kits (750 CHF), and books on karst and caves through the ISSKA shop.
2. Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for water resources, karst hazards, civil engineering projects, wind turbines, geothermy, impact studies, and environmental assessments for cantons, municipalities, federal offices, and private clients.
3. Excursion Fees: Fees charged for public excursions (e.g., 20 CHF for June 2026 excursions), some organized in collaboration with natural parks.
4. Research Grants (SNF/FNS): Funding from Swiss National Science Foundation for specific research projects such as ThermoKarst (2020-2024) and CaveSeds (2024-2028).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SISKA is a Swiss research institute providing scientific consulting, applied methods, and educational products specialized in karst and cave environments. Its core offerings include 3D groundwater modeling via the proprietary KARSYS/VisualKARSYS methodology, karst hazard assessment via KarstALEA, water vulnerability assessment via EPIK, hydrogeological tracer testing through Labo Fluo, LiDAR and photogrammetry cave mapping, environmental impact assessments for construction projects, and site sanitation/remediation of polluted caves and sinkholes. The institute also delivers SNF-funded research projects (ThermoKarst, CaveSeds) and publishes excursion guides, brochures, a teaching kit, and educational video content.

Product overview

The Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies (SISKA / ISSKA) is a research institute offering a portfolio of scientific consulting services, applied methods, and educational products focused on karst environments. The core offerings include: (1) consulting and analysis services — hydrogeological monitoring, 3D underground mapping (LiDAR/photogrammetry), groundwater modeling via KARSYS and VisualKARSYS, and karst hazard assessment via KarstALEA; (2) specialized laboratory services through Labo Fluo for tracer testing and fluorescence analysis; (3) research projects such as ThermoKarst (underground climate, 2020–2024) and CaveSeds (glacial sediment dating, 2024–2028); and (4) education offerings including excursion guides, the Didaktischer Koffer teaching kit, educational brochures, and YouTube video series. The institute also operates the Archaeozoology and Biospeleology platforms for fossil identification and subterranean fauna research. Services are provided in French, German, and English, with publications available in multiple languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KARSYS A deductive four-step methodology for groundwater modeling in karst environments, producing 3D geological models, hydrogeological models, and flow-system delineations. Used by cantons, federal offices, and engineering firms for water resource management and protection zone definition.
• VisualKARSYS A free online platform accessible at visualkarsys.com for building and viewing KARSYS 3D groundwater models in karst environments. Functionality is continuously improved and recent developments aim to integrate KARSYS results into the Swiss Confederation's data model.
• KarstALEA A practical method for assessing karstification and predicting instabilities and collapses in karst environments, originally developed for tunneling projects and extended to predict instabilities in limestone massifs. Used by engineering firms and public authorities for construction risk assessment.
• KarstMOD Hydrological and hydraulic models used to simulate groundwater dynamics and quantitatively assess recharge (effective infiltration), storage, and discharge from karst outlets. Used by cantons and federal agencies for water resource planning.
• EPIK Method A method for assessing the vulnerability of water catchments to pollution in karst environments, including protocols for mapping soil thickness and water infiltration. Updated at the request of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) and used for national groundwater protection.
• Consulting Services (Karst Hazards & Water Resources) Professional consulting services covering water resource management, karst hazard assessment, civil engineering project support, wind turbine installations, geothermy, impact studies, and environmental assessments for cantons, municipalities, federal offices, and private clients.
• Labo Fluo (Tracer Testing & Fluorescence Analysis Laboratory) Hydrogeological tracer testing laboratory that injects non-toxic, generally coloring substances into the environment and uses field fluorometers, automatic samplers, and fluorescence sensors to identify and characterize connections between injection points and springs, with sensitivity below μg/l. Used by water authorities and research projects.
• LiDAR and Photogrammetry Cave Mapping Underground cavity measurement and mapping service using LiDAR and photogrammetry, with development of mapping, data management, and archiving techniques. Used by engineering firms, research projects, and heritage conservation programs.
• 3D Underground Flow Modeling 3D analysis of subterranean layers to assess flow rates and basins feeding springs, using software including SWMM5 and RS Minerva for groundwater behavior simulation. Used by cantons, municipalities, and engineering firms for water resource and impact assessments.
• Impact Assessment Studies Studies assessing impacts of construction and human activities (tunnels, roads, wind turbines, geothermal, grey water infiltration) on groundwater, underground fauna, underground climate, and karst landscapes. Used by engineering firms, cantons, and federal offices to inform project approvals.
• Sanitation Services (Cave and Sinkhole Remediation) Inventory and remediation of polluted caves and sinkholes, including site description, cavity mapping, photo documentation, waste volume and type assessment, and remediation budgeting in coordination with authorities. Over 200 sites have been remediated across cantons VD, NE, VS, JU, and BE in the past 20 years.
• Archaeozoology Platform A platform for speleologists and canton specialist services that facilitates identification of bone remains discovered in caves, ensures long-term conservation, and enhances discoveries through radiocarbon dating, specialized studies, and scientific publications. Publishes a triennial newsletter (most recent 8th issue in 2026).
• Biospeleology Platform A relay platform connecting speleologists interested in subterranean fauna with specialists, enabling transfer of discoveries to researchers and serving as a link to canton services and geotope protection managers.
• ThermoKarst Research Project SNF-funded research project (2020-2024) investigating the thermal response of karst systems to climate change, focusing on ventilation dynamics, heat transfer in carbonate rocks, and underground climate. Produced two PhD theses and multiple peer-reviewed publications. Funded with 5.2 million CHF by SNF/FNS.
• CaveSeds Research Project SNF-funded research project (2024-2028) using glacial sediments trapped in Jura caves to add spatiotemporal constraints to major Alpine glaciations, employing 10Be/26Al burial dating, OSL dating, and U/Th dating methodologies. Collaborates with ETH Zurich (Susan Ivy-Ochs) for cosmogenic nuclide dating expertise.
• Excursion Guides A series of six printed excursion guides priced at 9 CHF each, exploring karst landscapes, underground water flows, geology, and cave environments across Swiss regions including the Doubs, Areuse Gorges, Orbe, Locle Valley, Taubenloch, and La Chaux-de-Fonds. Available in French and German.
• Didaktischer Koffer (Teaching Kit / Valise didactique) A ready-to-use educational kit titled 'Unterirdisches Wasser, Karst und Höhlen' (Underground Water, Karst and Caves) priced at 750 CHF (discounted) plus VAT and shipping. Designed for school levels from 5th grade HarMoS (ages 8-9) and above. Contains PowerPoint presentations, games, and experiments on groundwater, karst, and caving topics.
• Brochures (Educational Publications) Published brochures on karst and caving topics including wind turbines in karstic regions, sinkholes, underground mills, safe caving practices, cave conservation, and karst landscape introduction. Available in French and German; some priced at 9 CHF plus shipping, others free plus shipping.
• Public Excursions Group excursions to karst landscapes, caves, and underground sites, organized directly or in collaboration with regional natural parks including Parc Naturel Régional du Doubs and Parc Naturel Régional Jura Vaudois. Priced at 20 CHF per person (June 2026 excursions).

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ sites remediated in 20 years across Swiss cantons
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Neuchâtel (CHYN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre of Hydrogeology and Geothermy provides academic collaboration for PhD programs and joint research on karst hydrogeology.
• University of Paris-Sud (FAST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFluid Mechanics Laboratory provides expertise in heat and mass transfer for the ThermoKarst project, complementing ISSKA's karst system monitoring capabilities.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CaveSeds project with Susan Ivy-Ochs providing cosmogenic nuclide dating expertise.
• Parc Naturel Régional du DoubsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint organization of public excursions including the June 13, 2026 'paysage en évolution au Col-de-Roches' event.
• Parc Naturel Régional Jura VaudoisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint organization of public excursions including speleology introduction activities.
• Spéléo-Club Vallée de JouxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for speleology initiation programs as section of the Swiss Speleological Society.
• Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN/BAFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the EPIK method update for water catchment vulnerability assessment. Part of national program for speleological and karst heritage conservation.
• Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences (scnat)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific Speleology Commission supports archaeozoology and biospeleology platform activities as part of national heritage conservation program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INRAE (France): France's national research institute for agriculture, food, and environment; relevant peer for SISKA's environmental research and groundwater contamination work, though at vastly larger scale.
• WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research): Swiss federal research institute covering environmental and landscape research with overlapping hydrogeology and alpine ecosystem scope; a broader incumbent in Swiss environmental research.
• Geological Survey of Austria (GBA): Austrian national geological survey providing hydrogeological and geotechnical services with comparable methodologies; serves as a European analog for SISKA's public-sector applied research model.
• Swisstopo (Swiss Geological Survey): Switzerland's federal geospatial and geological authority and a listed SISKA partner; operates broadly across national geological data and infrastructure, intersecting with SISKA's geocomputing work.
• Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): Germany's large-scale environmental research center covering hydrogeology, soil, and groundwater contamination — comparable in applied environmental research orientation though much larger.

Direct peers

• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières): France's public geological survey, a named SISKA partner, with overlapping capabilities in hydrogeology, environmental consulting, and applied geological research — though at much larger scale.
• Karst Research Institute (ZRC SAZU): Slovenia-based institute dedicated to karst and speleology research; the most direct international peer to SISKA in terms of pure karst focus, methodologies, and academic-style research output.
• Crealp: Swiss research center focused on alpine environment, terrain planning, and spatial data — a listed SISKA partner with comparable scope in alpine environmental consulting and data analysis.

Others

• University of Neuchâtel CHYN (Centre of Hydrogeology and Geothermy): Academic partner and host of SISKA's PhD program; comparable in hydrogeology and karst research methodology but operates as an academic department rather than a consulting institute.

Emerging players

• CEREGE: European research center on environment and geo-science (France) with overlapping hydrogeology, geochemistry, and environmental research capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/isska-siska

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SISKA / Swiss Institute for Speleology and Karst Studies