Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken der Universität Bern

What Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken der Universität Bern does

The Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken is a joint research initiative between the University of Bern's Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) and La Mobilière, Switzerland's largest insurance cooperative. Founded in 2013 and based in Bern, the lab focuses on natural hazards — specifically hail, flooding, and storms — and the processes and damage they cause. Its work sits at the intersection of climate science and practical application, with outputs aimed at benefiting the general public, civil protection authorities, and the insurance sector.

Its core technology base consists of a unique observational infrastructure and a suite of integrated web tools. The Swiss Hail Measurement Network (Schweizer Hagelmessnetz), operational since 2018, consists of automatic sensors measuring hail impact energy, grain size distribution, and strike timing, with over 14,600 impacts recorded. The lab operates the 'Forschungsinitiative Hochwasserrisiko' platform, comprising the Hochwasserdynamik flood dynamics tool, Schadensimulator damage simulator, Schadenpotenzial flood damage potential tool, Überschwemmungsgedächtnis flood memory platform (4,000+ georeferenced historical images integrated into the federal StorMe database), and the Risikosensitivität risk sensitivity tool. A new impact-oriented early warning system for camping sites was launched in 2025, integrating MeteoSchweiz numerical weather forecasts with automated SMS alerts.

The lab does not operate a commercial business model. It is funded through academic research budgets, La Mobilière's corporate social responsibility commitments, and national research grants including the NCCR CLIM+ program. Co-led by professors Andreas Zischg and Olivia Romppainen, the lab maintains a small core team of approximately 7 staff and serves Swiss cantonal and federal authorities, civil protection organizations, the insurance industry, secondary schools through educational modules, and the general public through free publicly accessible tools.

Name

Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken der Universität Bern

Legal name

Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken der Universität Bern

Website

https://mobiliarlab.unibe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken is a joint research initiative between the University of Bern's Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research and La Mobilière, operating the Swiss Hail Measurement Network and a suite of public web tools for flood and hail risk analysis in Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Hazard Research and Climate Risk Analysis

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Flood Risk Modeling, Mapping & Forecasting (Hydrology/Hydraulics, Digital Twins) (EUANAEAH)

Keywords

• Natural hazard research
• Flood risk modeling
• Hail measurement network
• Climate impact assessment
• Surface runoff analysis

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Mobiliar Lab develops and operates a portfolio of publicly accessible, interactive web-based tools, sensor networks and research platforms for natural hazard analysis in Switzerland, focused on hail, flooding and storms. Its core deliverables include the Swiss Hail Measurement Network, several flood simulation and damage potential tools (Hochwasserdynamik, Schadensimulator, Schadenpotenzial, Risikosensitivität), a citizen science flood image database (Überschwemmungsgedächtnis), an information and education platform (Hagelforschung.ch), and educational learning modules. Outputs are funded and distributed as a public good under a university-research model.

Product overview

The Mobiliar Lab für Naturrisiken is a research initiative that operates primarily as a research organization offering a suite of web-based tools and platforms focused on natural risk analysis. The portfolio is structured as an integrated ecosystem called 'Forschungsinitiative Hochwasserrisiko' (Flood Risk Research Initiative) that combines flood damage simulation tools (Schadensimulator, Schadenpotenzial, Risikosensitivität), flood visualization tools (Hochwasserdynamik), and a citizen science platform (Überschwemmungsgedächtnis). This is complemented by the hail research program with the Swiss Hail Measurement Network and the Hagelforschung.ch information platform. All tools share common data infrastructure and integrate with federal platforms like StorMe, enabling both research and public education outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hochwasserdynamik (Flood Dynamics Tool) Interactive web-based tool for visualizing and simulating extreme flood scenarios across Switzerland, showing the progression of floods from precipitation through river flooding to impacts on people, buildings, and infrastructure with hourly time-lapse animation. Targeted at cantonal and federal authorities, civil protection organisations and professionals.
• Schadensimulator (Damage Simulator) Online tool visualizing current and future potential flood damages on a Swiss map, allowing users to simulate how damage potential might change under scenarios such as building zone development or object protection measures. Now includes data for the Principality of Liechtenstein.
• Schadenpotenzial Hochwasser (Flood Damage Potential) Interactive tool showing flood damage potential for each municipality in Switzerland, displaying affected buildings, building values, residential population, and employees at risk based on hazard maps.
• Überschwemmungsgedächtnis (Flood Memory) Citizen science platform collecting and displaying georeferenced pictures of historical flooding events from Switzerland, integrated into the official StorMe database, now containing over 4,000 entries spanning seven centuries.
• Risikosensitivität (Risk Sensitivity Tool) Online tool showing how building damages increase when flood discharges rise due to climate change, identifying flow thresholds where impacts increase dramatically.
• Schweizer Hagelmessnetz (Swiss Hail Measurement Network) Network of automatic sensors measuring hail impact energy, hailstone size distribution, and timing of hail strikes. Continuously operated since 2018 with ongoing data collection; over 14,600 impacts recorded. Network continued past 2025.
• Hagelforschung.ch Information platform about hail research featuring learning modules, current knowledge about hail, and research highlights from ten years of Mobiliar Lab research.
• Schadenpotenzial Oberflächenabfluss (Surface Runoff Damage Potential) Analysis tool showing potential damage from surface runoff hazards for each municipality in Switzerland, based on surface runoff hazard maps.
• Learning Modules (Hagel and Hochwasser) Educational modules for secondary school level covering hail risk and flood risk topics, available in German and French, connecting to geography curricula.
• Impact-Oriented Early Warning System for Camping Sites Pilot project providing personalized early warnings for surface runoff at camping sites, based on location-specific precipitation thresholds evaluated against ensemble numerical weather forecasts from MeteoSchweiz ICON-CH1-EPS, with automated SMS alerts and API-based data access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Climate change at +3°C increases building damage risk from hail in Switzerland by approximately 42%
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• WSL - Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research: Switzerland's federal research institute studying natural hazards including snow, avalanches, floods, and forest risks. Directly comparable as a publicly funded Swiss research organization producing risk data and tools for civil protection and insurance applications.
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): German climate research institute producing impact-focused analysis on extreme weather, hydrology, and climate-related risk. Comparable in academic rigor and in producing climate-impact data and tools that inform insurance, government, and infrastructure adaptation decisions.
• CEDIM - Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology: KIT Karlsruhe-based interdisciplinary center researching natural hazard risk and disaster management. Comparable in academic mandate to combine hazard modeling, vulnerability analysis, and risk communication into practitioner-ready outputs for civil protection and insurance.
• Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): German research center studying environmental systems including flood events, climate impacts, and integrated environmental assessment. Comparable as a large-scale applied research institute combining field measurement, modeling, and tools for environmental risk and policy stakeholders.
• Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology: Swiss federal research institute focused on water bodies, hydrology, and water-related hazards. Comparable as a publicly funded research entity operating measurement networks and producing tools for water-related risk management in Switzerland.
• IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: International research organization based in Austria conducting systems analysis on climate, energy, and natural risk. Comparable as a non-university research entity that bridges academic modeling with policy and risk-management applications for public and private stakeholders.
• ETH Zurich Climate, Extremes, and Mountain Environments Research: Major Swiss academic center conducting climate extremes and natural hazards research at global scale. Directly comparable in academic standing, methodology, and integration of climate science with practical hazard assessment for insurance and government partners.
• SLF - WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research: Part of WSL specializing in alpine natural hazards including snow, avalanches, and permafrost. Comparable as a Swiss applied research institute that operates measurement networks and produces public-facing hazard tools for practitioners and the public.

Broad incumbents

• Swiss Re Institute: Reinsurer's research arm producing natural catastrophe models, climate risk analytics, and Sigma reports. Comparable as a Swiss-rooted risk research function that combines proprietary catastrophe modeling with public-interest publications on flood, hail, and storm exposure in Switzerland and globally.

Emerging players

• Risklayer GmbH: Karlsruhe-based company spun out of CEDIM providing catastrophe risk analytics and open natural hazard data products. Comparable as a hybrid research-to-applied entity producing natural hazard risk models and tools, with closer commercial orientation than the Mobiliar Lab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mobiliar-lab-fuer-naturrisiken

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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