LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics

What LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics does

LIAG-Institut für Angewandte Geophysik (LIAG) is a German non-profit applied geophysics research institute founded in 1948 and headquartered in Hannover, with a secondary facility in Grubenhagen/Einbeck. Operating as part of the Leibniz Association, LIAG is jointly funded by German federal and state governments and operates with approximately 59 employees. It does not generate commercial revenue; instead, it is financed through institutional funding and competitive third-party grants from sources including the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and EU programmes.

The institute's core technology portfolio spans seismic, electromagnetic, gravimetric, magnetic, and numerical methods for subsurface characterization. Its named products and tools include GeotIS (a national geothermal information system), the Semi-Airborne Electromagnetics method for deep groundwater exploration (transferred to industry partner terratec), the PoNHy open-source tool for natural hydrogen potential modeling (which underpinned a 2025 Nature Communications publication), and the SAMOS saltwater intrusion monitoring system. Research is organized into three departments — Geophysical Exploration, Geophysical Parameterization, and System Integration — with thematic focus on georeservoirs for energy and storage, groundwater systems, and geohazards.

LIAG serves government agencies (German federal and state geological surveys, environmental authorities), academic and research institutions (both domestic and international, including the SWAIS2C Antarctic project and collaborations with the China University of Geosciences), and industry partners in geothermal energy, mineral extraction, and groundwater management. The institute reaches its stakeholders through scientific publications, conference co-organization, policy advisory work, public outreach events such as IdeenExpo 2026, and direct technology transfer, rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics

Legal name

LIAG-Institut für Angewandte Geophysik

Website

https://leibniz-liag.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LIAG is a German non-profit Leibniz Institute conducting applied geophysics research in subsurface characterization for geothermal energy, groundwater, geohazards, and natural hydrogen, serving government agencies, academia, and industry via public funding and research grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Geophysics Research

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKAKAA

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Mining Services & Contracting (Exploration, Drilling, Blasting, Mine Operations)

SECONDARYIMAFAOAG

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Geotechnical & Foundation Engineering (Piling, Ground Improvement)

SECONDARYEUAHAFAE

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

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Site Assessment & Hydrogeology (Groundwater/Geotechnical)

SECONDARYIMAFAOAH

Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Construction & Civil Engineering/Geotechnical & Foundation Engineering (Piling, Ground Improvement)

SECONDARYEUAHAKAG

Groundwater & Contaminant Fate/Transport Modeling (MODFLOW/MT3D, Plume Modeling)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Environmental Data Management, Modeling & GIS/Remote Sensing

SECONDARYBPAHAIAB

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Engineering & Technical Consulting

Keywords

• Applied geophysics research
• Subsurface exploration services
• Geothermal information systems
• Geophysical survey methods
• Groundwater monitoring systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics is a publicly funded Leibniz research institute that conducts applied geophysics research and provides subsurface characterization services. It develops and applies seismic, electromagnetic, gravimetric, magnetic, and numerical methods to investigate geo-reservoirs, groundwater systems, and geological hazards. It also delivers specialized information systems (GeotIS), open-source tools (PoNHy), and monitoring systems (SAMOS) to support energy transition, groundwater management, and geohazard assessment.

Product overview

LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics is a research institute (part of the Leibniz Association) that does not operate as a traditional product company. Its offerings consist of geophysical research methodologies, information systems, and open-source tools. The primary product is GeotIS, a geothermal information system providing online services for geothermal data. The institute also develops specialized geophysical methods including Semi-Airborne-Elektromagnetik for groundwater exploration, the PoNHy open-source tool for natural hydrogen modeling, and the SAMOS saltwater monitoring system for coastal aquifer surveillance. Research outputs, publications, and knowledge transfer services complement the portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GeotIS (Geothermisches Informationssystem) An online geothermal information system that provides services for searching, analyzing, and accessing geothermal reservoir information across Germany, enabling data-driven geothermal resource assessment for researchers, agencies, and industry.
• SAMOS (Salzwasser-Monitoring-System) A saltwater intrusion monitoring system that uses geoelectrical methods to track groundwater salinization in coastal aquifers, supporting groundwater management and coastal protection stakeholders.
• PoNHy (Process-based Natural Hydrogen) An open-source software tool for process-based modeling of natural hydrogen generation in geological systems, enabling assessment of hydrogen potential in subsurface formations and transferability to other regions.
• Semi-Airborne-Elektromagnetik (Semi-Airborne Electromagnetics service) A geophysical exploration service combining airborne and ground-based electromagnetic measurement techniques for deep groundwater system investigation, with technology transfer to industrial partner terratec Geophysical Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• First process-based hydrogen production rates published in Nature Communications for Western Pyrenees and Northern California
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-location in Geozentrum Hannover with joint events including the 16th Georadar Round Table 2026. Ongoing collaboration on geophysical research and national research data infrastructure.
• Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie (LBEG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint participation in IdeenExpo 2026 and collaborative projects for raw materials exploration in German mining regions.
• terratec Geophysical ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology transfer partner for Semi-Airborne Electromagnetics method. LIAG transfers knowledge from measurement campaigns, data processing and evaluation to enable broader industrial use.
• University of MünstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DESMEX-MinD project for innovative exploration technologies for strategic raw materials in German mining regions (Erzgebirge and Oberharz).
• Freiberg University of Mining and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DESMEX-MinD project for mineral exploration technology development in German mining regions.
• Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (Leibniz-IPHT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in DESMEX-MinD project for raw materials exploration technology development.
• China University of GeosciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration in geosciences.
• NFDI4Earth ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIAG leads the IG Geologie & Geophysik working group within the National Research Data Infrastructure for Earth system sciences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liag-institute-for-applied-geophysics

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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