Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern

What Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern does

The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is a strategic university research center at the University of Bern, Switzerland, founded in 2007 and named after climate science pioneer Hans Oeschger (1927-1998). It functions as an interdisciplinary hub aggregating approximately 330 researchers from 17 institutes across 5 faculties, with research spanning physics, geography, biology, chemistry, history, economics, political sciences, and philosophy. The center is recognized for its world-record ice-core reconstruction of greenhouse gas concentrations spanning 800,000 years and produces over 500 publications with approximately 35 PhD theses on climate change submitted annually.

OCCR's core products and services fall into four categories: educational programs (Graduate School of Climate Sciences offering MSc and PhD degrees, the annual Swiss Climate Summer School, Young Researchers Meetings, and teaching materials for secondary schools); specialized research services (the LARA laboratory's MICADAS radiocarbon dating facility and the 14C Analysis Service open to external users; the ClimeApp software for paleoclimatology); collaborative research platforms organized into six thematic Clusters and two technical Platforms (Modelling and Data Science); and corporate/government research partnerships, most notably the Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks co-created with Swiss Mobiliar insurance in 2013 to quantify climate-related hazards. Notable instrumentation includes the CRYOWARA radiometer for upper-atmosphere water vapor measurements.

The center is funded through a mix of competitive Swiss National Science Foundation grants (including co-leadership of NCCR Clim+ with ETH Zurich from May 2026), University of Bern institutional core funding, the corporate partnership with Swiss Mobiliar, and the Dr. Alfred Bretscher endowment. Research outputs are not commercially priced; the center's distribution channels are academic — peer-reviewed publications, policy advisory work, IPCC/IPBES assessment contributions, public events such as the Beat the Heat conference series, and educational programs — rather than commercial sales. OCCR is not a separately incorporated entity and operates as part of the public University of Bern.

Name

Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern

Legal name

Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR)

Website

https://oeschger.unibe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is an interdisciplinary strategic research center at the University of Bern, Switzerland, aggregating approximately 330 researchers across 17 institutes and 5 faculties to advance climate science, train graduate students, and deliver climate risk research for policymakers and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Climate Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Climate research
• Interdisciplinary science
• Paleoclimatology studies
• Climate modeling services
• Radiocarbon dating analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Funding: Core research funding through competitive SNSF grants including NCCR Clim+ (National Centre of Competence in Research), project grants, and infrastructure funding
2. Industry Partnership - Swiss Mobiliar: Partnership with Swiss Mobiliar insurance company funding the Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks, focusing on quantifying climate risks and natural hazards
3. University of Bern Core Funding: Base funding from University of Bern as a strategic center, including support for Graduate School of Climate Sciences operations
4. Dr. Alfred Bretscher Fund: Endowment fund supporting early-career researchers with focus on funding PhD projects in climate and air pollution research

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is an interdisciplinary strategic research center at the University of Bern that conducts fundamental and applied climate research across 17 institutes and 5 faculties. It delivers educational programs through the Graduate School of Climate Sciences, provides specialized research services including radiocarbon dating at the LARA laboratory and climate risk quantification through the Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks, and develops software tools such as ClimeApp for paleoclimate data analysis.

Product overview

The Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research (OCCR) is an interdisciplinary strategic research center at the University of Bern offering a portfolio of educational programs (Graduate School of Climate Sciences, Swiss Climate Summer School, Young Researchers Meeting), specialized research services (LARA Laboratory for radiocarbon dating, ClimeApp for paleoclimate analysis), collaborative research platforms (six thematic Clusters and two technical Platforms covering Earth System Processes, Climate Cities and Health, Climate Ethics, Justice and Law, Climate and Society, Extremes Risks and Solutions, Biodiversity, plus Modelling and Data Science), and support programs (Visiting Scientist Programme, conference funding, publication support, start-up grants). The Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks provides dedicated research on climate-related natural hazards in partnership with Swiss Mobiliar insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Graduate School of Climate Sciences: MSc and PhD programs in climate sciences offered by the OCCR
• Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks
• Swiss Climate Summer School
• ClimateAlumni
• 14C Analysis at LARA laboratory
• Bretscher Fonds

Products and services

• Graduate School of Climate Sciences Offers MSc and PhD programs in Climate Sciences with a tailor-made curriculum in an international research environment, contributing to the Sustainability focus of the University of Bern. Approximately 40 professors teach and conduct research; approximately 35 PhD theses are submitted each year.
• Swiss Climate Summer School Annual international summer school promoting cross-disciplinary education and networking for young researchers from Swiss and international institutions, held in scenic locations in Switzerland. The 2026 edition focuses on 'Climate Variability across Space and Time' and is limited to 70 participants.
• Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks Research institution created by the Oeschger Centre and Swiss Mobiliar insurance company in 2013, focusing on quantifying climate risks and natural hazards (wind, hail, water, mass wasting) with very high spatial resolution.
• LARA Laboratory - 14C Analysis Service State-of-the-art MICADAS (MIni CArbon DAting System) facility for radiocarbon dating of samples from research and private sector users, placing University of Bern at the forefront of 14C analysis technology.
• ClimeApp Mobile and desktop application developed by OCCR researchers for paleoclimatologists and historians to analyze and visualize climate data.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 publications in recent years from OCCR researchers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PAGES (Past Global Changes)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026OCCR researcher Prof. Frerk Pöppelmeier hosts the PAGES IMPACT working group (Investigating Modes of Past Abrupt Climate Change and Tipping Points). The inaugural workshop was held at University of Bern with international participants from Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
• ETH ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Jointly leading the NCCR Clim+ (National Centre of Competence in Research) with ETH Zurich. The center unites expertise from natural and social sciences to support Switzerland's transformation in the face of increasing climate extremes. Prof. Sonia I. Seneviratne from ETH Zurich co-directs CLIM+ with Karin Ingold.
• Swiss MobiliarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The Mobiliar Lab for Natural Risks is a research institution created by the Oeschger Centre and Swiss Mobiliar insurance company. The research concentrates on quantifying climate risks and natural hazards, particularly wind, hail, water and mass wasting with very high spatial resolution.
• EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Swiss H20 Hub research consortium with OCCR researcher Gunter Stober studying effects of Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption on global climate.
• MeteoSwissminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through Swiss H20 Hub research consortium with OCCR researcher Gunter Stober on water vapor concentration research.
• Swiss Universities (swissuniversities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university association supporting higher education collaboration in Switzerland.
• WTI (World Trade Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with WTI and University of Bern to jointly organize the International Bachelor Summer School for Climate Change Research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): German interdisciplinary climate research institute covering Earth system analysis, impacts, and policy. Direct peer to OCCR given similar mix of physical climate science, impact research, and policy advisory mandate in a European university-affiliated setting.
• ETH Zurich (Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science): Swiss university climate research group and joint co-lead of NCCR Clim+ with the OCCR. Direct peer given overlapping research areas (atmospheric dynamics, climate extremes) and shared Swiss funding and talent pool.
• National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): US-based atmospheric and climate science center providing modeling, observations, and community services. Direct comparable in scope (atmospheric physics, modeling, community model codes) and role as a hub serving a broad scientific community.
• Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI): German polar and climate research institute strong in ice cores, atmospheric observations, and paleoclimate. Comparable to OCCR's ice core and atmospheric measurement capabilities (e.g., CRYOWARA at Zimmerwald).
• Max Planck Institute for Meteorology: Hamburg-based institute focused on climate modeling and Earth system analysis. Comparable to OCCR's climate modeling, paleoclimate, and biogeochemical research, and a co-participant in international assessments and EU climate projects.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Swedish interdisciplinary research centre on sustainability and resilience at the science-policy interface. Comparable to OCCR's interdisciplinary clusters on climate and society, biodiversity, and climate ethics/governance.
• UK Met Office Hadley Centre: UK climate modeling centre producing IPCC-grade projections. Direct peer for OCCR's climate modeling, projections, and contribution to international climate assessments (IPCC, CMIP).

Broad incumbents

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Large US climate and atmospheric science institution with a long CO2 measurement record. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping strengths in atmospheric measurements, greenhouse gas reconstruction, and graduate training.
• NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS): NASA climate modeling and Earth observations institute. Overlaps with OCCR on climate modeling and contribution to global climate assessments, but as a much larger public-agency incumbent.

Emerging players

• Climate Central: US-based climate science communication and data organisation producing sea level, temperature, and risk visualizations. Adjacent peer given overlap with OCCR's public outreach, media relations, and climate risk visualization work.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oeschger-centre-for-climate-change-research-university-of-bern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern