Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure

What Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure does

Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS) is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) that operates a distributed, pan-European platform for atmospheric observation of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, and legally established by the European Commission in 2023, ACTRIS serves academic researchers, operational agencies (meteorological and air quality services), and instrument manufacturers. The infrastructure combines in-situ and remote sensing measurement techniques, including lidar, FTIR spectrometers, UVVIS spectrometers, ozone dial lidars, microwave radiometers, and precipitation gauges, deployed across a network of National Facilities in more than ten European countries.

ACTRIS's core technology stack is organised around seven Central Facilities / Topical Centres (CAIS, CARS, CIS, CCRES, CiGas, CREGARS, and the Data Centre) that provide centralised processing, calibration, and quality assurance, supported by labelled National Facilities that meet ACTRIS measurement and data standards. The ACTRIS Data Portal (dc.actris.nilu.no) serves as the single entry point for accessing harmonised atmospheric data products, visualisation tools, and tutorials. The Transnational Access (TNA) program, managed by the Access Management Unit (SAMU) at CNR-IMAA in Italy, provides free-of-charge access to facilities for eligible international researchers through open calls, while the ACTRIS National Facility Label programme formalises and gatekeeps infrastructure standards across the network.

ACTRIS operates as a publicly funded, non-commercial research infrastructure under EU law. Funding flows from national contributions of more than twenty member countries and EU grants including ACTRIS-IMP, ACTRIS-NEXT, and various Horizon Europe projects (ATMO-ACCESS, RI-URBANS, ENVRINNOV, IRISCC, POLARIN, CARGO-ACT). Services are provided free of charge to eligible users rather than through commercial pricing. Governance is exercised through a General Assembly of member country representatives, chaired by Jean-Marie Flaud, with Eija Juurola serving as Director General since May 2024. International collaboration agreements with NDACC, PGN, ESA, NASA, and JAXA extend ACTRIS's reach into satellite validation and global atmospheric monitoring networks.

Name

Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure

Legal name

ACTRIS ERIC (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure)

Website

https://actris.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACTRIS is a European Research Infrastructure Consortium delivering standardised atmospheric observation of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. It serves academic researchers, public agencies, and industry through national facilities, topical centres, and a centralised Data Centre spanning 20+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atmospheric Research Infrastructure

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

GHG Monitoring Plans & Sampling Design (Field Protocols, QA/QC) (EUABACAE), Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF), Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

Keywords

• Atmospheric research infrastructure
• Aerosol measurement services
• Trace gas monitoring
• Cloud remote sensing
• Environmental data services

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Infrastructure Funding: ACTRIS operates as a publicly funded European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). Funding comes from national contributions, EU projects (ACTRIS-IMP, ACTRIS-NEXT, ATMO-ACCESS, RI-URBANS, ENVRINNOV, IRISCC, POLARIN, CARGO-ACT), and member country contributions. Services are provided free of charge to eligible users through TNA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ACTRIS is a distributed European research infrastructure providing observational and data services on atmospheric aerosols, clouds, and trace gases via a network of National Facilities and seven Central Facilities/Topical Centres (CAIS, CARS, CIS, CCRES, CiGas, CREGARS, and the Data Centre). It offers researchers, public agencies, and industry free transnational access to instrumentation, calibration services, central data processing, and a unified Data Portal delivering standardised atmospheric data products for scientific, operational, and policy applications.

Product overview

ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure) is a European research infrastructure consisting of a unified portfolio of products and services. The core offering comprises the Data Portal (single entry point for high-quality atmospheric data), the Catalogue of Services (describing access opportunities), and seven Central Facilities: CAIS (aerosol in-situ), CARS (aerosol remote sensing), CIS (cloud in-situ), CCRES (cloud remote sensing), CiGas (trace gases in-situ), CREGARS (trace gases remote sensing), and the Data Centre. These are supported by National Facilities across Europe (observational platforms that have received or are pursuing the ACTRIS label) and an Intranet platform for community collaboration. Together, these products provide comprehensive access to atmospheric measurement data, calibration services, and transnationally available research infrastructure for scientists and policymakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ACTRIS Data Portal A single entry point to access high-quality atmospheric data, tutorials, visualisation tools, and integrated digital data products for research and applications in atmospheric composition, aerosols, clouds, and trace gases.
• Catalogue of Services An online catalogue describing ACTRIS services available to users, including access to facilities, specialised instrumentation, expert support, and Transnational Access opportunities.
• Centre for Aerosol In Situ (CAIS) Central facility providing in-situ aerosol measurements, calibration services, and Cluster Calibration Centre (CCC) functions for ACTRIS National Facilities, hosted by the University of Helsinki.
• Centre for Aerosol Remote Sensing (CARS) Central facility supporting aerosol remote sensing activities including lidar measurements and standardised data processing for ACTRIS.
• Centre for Cloud In Situ (CIS) Central facility for cloud in-situ measurements, including intercomparison campaigns for liquid water content instrumentation and cloud droplet characterisation.
• Centre for Cloud Remote Sensing (CCRES) Central facility for cloud remote sensing operations, providing microwave radiometer, cloud radar, and related services for ACTRIS National Facilities.
• Centre for Trace Gases In Situ (CiGas) Central facility for trace gas in-situ measurements, offering QA/QC workshops and central data processing for VOC and NOx measurements across ACTRIS National Facilities.
• Centre for Trace Gases Remote Sensing (CREGARS) Central facility providing ground-based remote sensing for trace gases using FTIR, UVVIS spectrometers, and Ozone Dial lidars, with central data processing, training, calibration, and operational support for National Facilities.
• ACTRIS Data Centre Central facility managing the central processing, quality assurance, and dissemination of ACTRIS atmospheric data, serving as the operational hub of the data portal.
• Transnational Access (TNA) Program Free-of-charge access program enabling eligible international researchers to use specific services at 11 ACTRIS facilities across 10 European countries, managed through open calls and the SAMU Access Management Unit.
• National Facilities European network of observational and exploratory platforms providing atmospheric measurements of aerosols, clouds, and trace gases, meeting ACTRIS quality standards through a formal labelling process (e.g., Barcelona Aerosol Supersite, Pallas, SMEAR II Hyytiälä, AGORA, JOYCE, Meteorological Observatory Lindenberg, SIRTA).

Quantifiable outcome

• Seven National Facilities received ACTRIS Label, harmonising long-term atmospheric observations across Europe.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NDACC (Memorandum of Understanding)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ACTRIS and NDACC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration in atmospheric monitoring.
• NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Changes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDACC is a global international network of more than 70 ground-based, remote-sensing research stations with over 160 active instruments. ACTRIS CREGARS maintains close ties with NDACC, ensuring ACTRIS products meet NDACC criteria and state-of-the-art guidelines. Each NDACC instrument type features dedicated working groups establishing measurement protocols.
• Pandonia Global Network (PGN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPGN operates more than 100 Pandora instruments deployed globally, operated jointly by NASA and ESA as part of their Joint Program Planning Group Subgroup on calibration and validation. ACTRIS CREGARS collaborates with PGN on UVVIS instruments and harmonisation of standards.
• Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIRA-IASB hosts the CREGARS-FTIR cluster (quality assurance and central processing chain) and manages the CREGARS-UVVIS cluster (MAX-DOAS instruments). Also handles general management of CREGARS.
• University of BremencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Bremen is responsible for all training aspects within CREGARS-FTIR as well as its cell measurement calibration services.
• University of LiègecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Liège contributes to the development of standard operating procedures for the retrieval of ACTRIS trace gas compounds within the CREGARS-FTIR cluster.
• CNRS (Centre National de Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS hosts two CREGARS units: one responsible for SAOZ instruments within CREGARS-UVVIS cluster, and one responsible for O3DIAL instruments.
• Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNMI is responsible for UVVIS field calibration campaigns in Cabauw as part of CREGARS.
• Medical University Innsbruck (MUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMUI is responsible for all aspects related to Pandora UVVIS instruments within CREGARS.
• CNR-IMAA (L'Istituto di Metodologie per l'Analisi Ambientale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNR-IMAA hosts the Access Management Unit (SAMU) of ACTRIS ERIC and collects/processes data on behalf of ACTRIS ERIC.
• IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAGOS European Research Infrastructure coordinator Andreas Petzold presented at ACTRIS-D annual meeting, exploring synergies between atmospheric research infrastructures for FAIR data and collaborative tools.
• ERIC ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTRIS joined the ERIC Forum, a collaborative body for European Research Infrastructure Consortia.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA collaborates with ACTRIS on satellite calibration/validation campaigns including Aeolus and EarthCARE missions. ACTRIS provides ground-based reference measurements for satellite validation.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA collaborates with ACTRIS through Pandonia Global Network and participates in joint validation activities for satellite missions including EarthCARE.
• JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJAXA collaborates with ACTRIS on the EarthCARE mission, a joint ESA-JAXA satellite for cloud and aerosol research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pandonia Global Network (PGN): PGN operates more than 100 Pandora UVVIS spectrometers globally under a joint NASA-ESA programme. ACTRIS CREGARS collaborates with PGN specifically on UVVIS instruments and harmonisation of trace-gas standards, making it a near-twin ground-based atmospheric measurement network.
• EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar Network): EARLINET is the European lidar network for aerosol profiling that historically preceded and now feeds into ACTRIS's CARS aerosol remote sensing centre. It is the most direct technical peer for ACTRIS's aerosol-lidar measurement programme.
• ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System): ICOS is the European Research Infrastructure Consortium for integrated carbon observation, measuring greenhouse gases and ecosystem-level fluxes. ACTRIS and ICOS are sister ERICs — both European landmark atmospheric research infrastructures delivering standardised observational data and free transnational access.
• IAGOS (In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System): IAGOS uses commercial aircraft to measure atmospheric composition globally, complementing ACTRIS's ground-based network. Both are EU research infrastructures that have signed memoranda of cooperation and serve overlapping research and policy stakeholders.
• NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Changes): NDACC is a global network of more than 70 ground-based remote-sensing stations with over 160 instruments measuring atmospheric composition. ACTRIS CREGARS maintains formal ties with NDACC, and the two share the same measurement protocols and target trace-gas species.
• WMO Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW): GAW is the WMO's global atmospheric composition monitoring programme, coordinating long-term observations of aerosols, greenhouse gases, and reactive gases. ACTRIS functions as a major European regional contribution to GAW with overlapping data-quality and standardisation goals.

Broad incumbents

• EUMETSAT: EUMETSAT operates the European operational satellite meteorological system, providing atmospheric data products at scale. ACTRIS provides ground-based reference measurements that calibrate/validate EUMETSAT and partner agency missions, making EUMETSAT both a customer and an adjacent atmospheric data infrastructure.
• Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS): CAMS, operated by ECMWF, delivers operational European air-quality and atmospheric composition forecasts and analyses. CAMS consumes satellite and ground-based reference data — including data shaped by ACTRIS-style observations — for model validation and assimilation.
• ESA Earth Observation Programmes: ESA's Earth Observation directorate runs Copernicus Sentinel missions and dedicated atmospheric explorers such as EarthCARE and Aeolus. ACTRIS is a formal collaboration partner providing ground-truth validation for these satellite missions.

Others

• NILU (Norwegian Institute for Air Research): NILU hosts the ACTRIS Data Centre (dc.actris.nilu.no) and is a long-standing Norwegian research institute in atmospheric measurement. NILU is the infrastructure operator and key technical enabler of ACTRIS's data distribution layer rather than a competing observational network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/actris-ri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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