International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

What International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics does

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) is a non-governmental, non-profit scientific union founded in 1919 that coordinates international collaboration across the geosciences. It operates as a federation of eight semi-autonomous disciplinary Associations covering cryospheric sciences (IACS), geodesy (IAG), geomagnetism and aeronomy (IAGA), hydrological sciences (IAHS), meteorology and atmospheric sciences (IAMAS), oceanographic sciences (IAPSO), seismology and physics of the Earth's interior (IASPEI), and volcanology and geochemistry of the Earth's interior (IAVCEI). IUGG is headquartered at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany, and functions under the auspices of the International Science Council.

IUGG's core "products" are scientific coordination outputs: quadrennial General Assemblies (most recently Berlin 2023; next in Incheon 2027), scientific publications, fellowship recognition, and shared geoscientific data services such as the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), INTERMAGNET, the IAG sea-level portal, and seawater standards. Its member base comprises 75 countries represented through National Adhering Bodies, supported by an 8-person secretariat and an elected bureau drawn from the global scientific community.

The business model is a non-profit dues-and-sponsorship structure. Revenue is generated primarily through National Adhering Body dues assessed at $2,460 per unit as of 2024 with category-based multipliers, supplemented by conference fees, publication royalties, and targeted sponsorships from institutional supporters including GFZ and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. IUGG does not pursue commercial monetization, equity funding, or acquisitions, and its scale is governed by member-country appetite and quadrennial assembly cycles rather than market expansion.

Name

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

Legal name

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

Website

https://iugg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) is a non-profit scientific union founded in 1919 that coordinates international collaboration in geodesy and geophysics across 75 member countries through eight semi-autonomous disciplinary Associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Country Dues: Income is derived mainly from annual contributions of member countries according to a scale of categories, determined in relation to their activities in geodesy and geophysics. Approximately half of the income is allocated to its Associations.
2. Sponsorships: Financial support from organizations such as GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and DFG (German Research Foundation).

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) is a non-governmental scientific union that coordinates international cooperation, standards, and large-scale research programs across geodesy, geophysics, and related Earth and Space Sciences disciplines. It operates as a federation of eight semi-autonomous Associations (IACS, IAG, IAGA, IAHS, IAMAS, IAPSO, IASPEI, IAVCEI) and is funded primarily through annual dues from 75 member countries. Its offerings include scientific assemblies, peer-reviewed publications, permanent data services (e.g., standard seawater, mean sea level, geomagnetic observations, geodetic reference frames), and grants for early career scientists.

Product overview

IUGG is a non-governmental international scientific organization (not a commercial product company) comprising eight semi-autonomous Associations focused on Earth and Space Sciences. The organization provides scientific publications (journals, proceedings), data services (seawater standards, magnetic field observations, mean sea level data), and organizes conferences and scientific assemblies. The Associations include IACS (Cryospheric Sciences), IAG (Geodesy), IAGA (Geomagnetism and Aeronomy), IAHS (Hydrological Sciences), IAMAS (Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences), IAPSO (Physical Sciences of the Oceans), IASPEI (Seismology and Physics of Earth's Interior), and IAVCEI (Volcanology and Chemistry of Earth's Interior). IUGG operates as a federation under the International Science Council (ISC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CCEC - Climatic and Environmental Changes Commission: Union Commission promoting advancement of scientific understanding of climatic and environmental change
• CMG - Mathematical Geophysics Commission
• GRC - Geophysical Risk and Sustainability Commission
• SEDI - Study of Earth's Deep Interior Commission
• UCPS - Planetary Sciences Commission

Products and services

• IUGG Electronic Journal Monthly electronic journal providing news, announcements, and scientific updates to IUGG members and the global geoscience community.
• Hydrological Sciences Journal Monthly peer-reviewed journal published by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) covering all aspects of hydrology.
• IAHS Red Book Series Proceedings publication series containing 8-12 symposium proceedings per year, published by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences.
• Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level IAPSO permanent data service providing basic data on mean sea level variations to the scientific and international communities.
• IAPSO Standard Seawater Service IAPSO service providing standard seawater reference materials for oceanographic research.
• INTERMAGNET IAGA service for modernizing and standardizing global observations of Earth's magnetic field.
• Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) IAG service providing consistent representation of Earth figure, rotation, gravity field, and temporal variations.
• IUGG General Assemblies Quadrennial scientific meetings (held every four years since 1963) that convene thousands of scientists from member countries to share research and govern the Union. Last held in Berlin, Germany (2023); next in Incheon, South Korea (2027).

Quantifiable outcome

• Coordinates large-scale international research programs including WCRP (1980-present), ILP (1981-present), UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030), IDSSD (2024-2033), and Decade of Action for Cryospheric Science (2025-2034)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

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, major and minor.

• GFZ Helmholtz Centre for GeosciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the IUGG Secretariat at its facilities in Potsdam, Germany. Provides administrative infrastructure and support for the Union's operations.
• International Science Council (ISC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG operates under the auspices of the ISC. Collaborates on international science policy, promotes science for society, and participates in ISC initiatives including the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (IDSSD, 2024-2033).
• World Climate Research Program (WCRP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG Community initiated and supports WCRP (1980-present), coordinating international research on climate science.
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG engages with UNDRR to promote science-based solutions to disaster risk reduction and supports scientific assessments.
• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG supports UN initiatives on outer space and contributes scientific expertise on Earth observation and planetary sciences.
• UNESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAHS maintains strong connections with UNESCO's International Hydrological Programme. Collaborates on water resources research and sustainable development.
• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAHS connects with WMO's Hydrology and Water Resources Programme. IAMAS leads the Alliance for Capacity Transfer (ACT) jointly with WMO and UCAR.
• UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAPSO collaborates closely with UNESCO's IOC and ISC's Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR).
• Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAPSO and ISC-SCOR collaborate on ocean research. Together with IAPSO, SCOR established working groups on oceanic issues.
• International Lithosphere Program (ILP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG coordinates ILP (1981-present), promoting interdisciplinary research on Earth's lithosphere.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG supports IPCC assessments and CCEC Chair serves as IUGG Liaison Officer to IPCC. Promotes integration of geoscientific insights into climate policy.
• United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG Community supports and contributes to this UN initiative on ocean science.
• Decade of Action for Cryospheric Science (2025-2034)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIUGG Community initiated and supports this decade focused on cryospheric research.
• Ocean University of ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCEC co-organizes forums on Blue Carbon and Sustainable Development with Ocean University of China, including BCSD2025 and BCSD2026.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=zgkPt7ZixP0
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-union-of-geodesy-and-geophysics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics