The Rescue Project Association

What The Rescue Project Association does

The Rescue Project Association (Scuola di Formazione e Soccorso - Rescue Project) is an Italian nonprofit training school founded in 1999 and formally organized in 2005, headquartered in Dimaro, Trentino, with a legal seat in Trento. It operates as the first National Training School for River and Flood Rescue in Italy, delivering ISO 9001:2015-certified instruction across swiftwater/flood rescue, first aid (BLS, BLS-D, PHTC), workplace safety pursuant to D.Lgs 81/08, commercial guide and instructor certification, psychology of emergency, and school/youth safety programs. Its curriculum integrates standards from Rescue3 International, FIRAFT, the Italian Canoe and Kayak Federation, the Italian Hydrospeed Federation, Società Nazionale di Salvamento Genova, and the Italian Fire Brigade.

The school distributes courses through a branded network of nine regional training centers across Italy (Trentino, Lombardia, Liguria, Lazio, Veneto, Toscana, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Umbria, Molise) and an online calendar/booking system at rescueproject.it. Revenue is generated primarily through course fees for individual learners and contracted on-site training for institutional clients including Vigili del Fuoco, Marina Militare, Aeronautica Militare, Special Forces, Protezione Civile, ARPA environmental agencies, Università Tor Vergata, and commercial rafting/hydrospeed/canoe operators. It is closely associated with Trentino Wild, a commercial outdoor operator sharing founders and infrastructure, and operates sub-brands including Safety Network for school outreach.

The business model is professional services / training delivery, with mixed direct-to-consumer (individual course registration) and B2G/B2B (institutional training contracts) go-to-market. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; courses are structured by duration and complexity. The organization is founder-led, privately held, with no disclosed external funding, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity.

Name

The Rescue Project Association

Legal name

Rescue Project Association

Website

https://rescueproject.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Rescue Project Association is an Italian nonprofit operating Italy's first National Training School for River and Flood Rescue, delivering ISO 9001:2015-certified instruction in swiftwater rescue, first aid, workplace safety, and commercial guide certification across nine regional centers to military, fire services, civil protection, and individual learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Safety and Rescue Training Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Search & Rescue (SAR) & Technical Rescue Training (EDAOAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training (EDAOAMAJ), Emergency Medical Services (EMT/Paramedic) Training (EDAOAMAC), Emergency Response, Fire Safety & Evacuation (EDABAEAE)

Keywords

• Swiftwater rescue training
• River flood rescue certification
• Workplace safety training
• First aid BLS courses
• Commercial river guide certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Dimaro

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Courses: Revenue generated from structured training courses for rescue professionals, guides, and organizations. Courses range from basic to advanced levels, with certifications awarded upon completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Rescue Project Association operates a national training school delivering certified courses in swiftwater and flood rescue, first aid (BLS, BLS-D, PHTC), workplace safety pursuant to Italian D.Lgs 81/08, commercial river guide certification (rafting, hydrospeed, kayak, packraft, canyoning), emergency psychology, and school-based safety education. Courses are delivered at nine regional training centers across Italy and through on-site corporate training, with an integrated online booking and calendar system.

Product overview

Rescue Project is the first National Training School for River and Flood Rescue (Scuola Nazionale di Formazione per il Soccorso Fluviale ed Alluvionale), offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized training courses. The core offerings include Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Courses (Whitewater Technician Rescuer 1 and 2, Flood & Rescue Professional, S.A.R., Rescue Raft Leading), First Aid Courses (BLS, BLS-D, PHTC, OXYGEN administration, First Aid in Hostile Environment), Safety on Workplace Courses pursuant to D.Lgs 81/08, and Courses for Commercial Guides and Instructors (rafting, hydrospeed, kayak, packraft, canyoning). Supporting offerings include Psychology of Emergency training, Safety in Schools programs through the Safety Network Project, and Advanced Specialization Courses including survival training, hypothermia management, avalanche safety, and military personnel courses. The school operates as a multi-location training network across Italy, with its main headquarters in Trentino and accredited centers in Lazio, Liguria, Veneto, Lombardy, Tuscany, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Umbria, and Molise. An online booking system enables course registration and scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Safety Network: A project dedicated to safety awareness among schools and school groups, summer camps, and young people through outdoor educational experiences.
• Trentino Wild

Products and services

• Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Courses Comprehensive river and flood rescue training programs including Whitewater Technician Rescuer levels 1 and 2, Flood and Rescue Professional, S.A.R. Search and Rescue, Rescue Raft Leading, and specialized courses for canoeists and cynophile units, designed for emergency services professionals and skilled river users.
• First Aid Courses First aid training including BLS, BLS-D, oxygen administration, PHTC (Pre-Hospital Trauma Care), and First Aid in Hostile Environment, specifically adapted for swiftwater and outdoor rescue contexts for emergency personnel and professionals.
• Safety on Workplace Courses Workplace safety training pursuant to Italian Legislative Decree 81/08, including Risk of Falling in Water management courses (8, 16, and 32 hours), Correct Use of PPE III Category, Work with Ropes, and Safety at Construction Sites and Sport Events, for workers and employers with water-exposure risk.
• Courses for Guides and Instructors Professional commercial guide training including Rafting Guide (IRF), Hydrospeed Guide, Kayak/Canoe Instructor, Packraft Guide, Canyoning Guide, Safety Kayak, River Rescuer Instructor, and Lifeguard with Rafting Specialization courses for individuals pursuing commercial outdoor credentials.
• Psychology of Emergency Courses Psychological training for rescue personnel covering stress management, anxiety and panic control, leadership, teamwork and communication during emergency interventions, targeted at emergency responders.
• Safety in Schools Programs Safety awareness and prevention education programs for schools and school groups, including Safety Network Project and BLS-D courses for students, introducing young people to outdoor safety culture.
• Advanced Specialization Courses Advanced training including Rescue WAVE Program, Vehicle Rescue in River, Swimming Technique in Current, Hypothermia Management, Avalanche Safety, Survival Courses (Summer and Winter), Climbing, Canyon Activities, and Military and Special Forces courses.
• Whitewater Technician Rescuer 1 for Cynophile Specialized 30-hour course for cynophile rescue units working in rivers, covering whitewater approach, flood rescue scenarios, and dog management in aquatic emergency situations.
• ATP and Rescue Waterbike Three-day training on waterbike use in river rescue contexts, covering self-rescue in river and flood conditions, waterbike navigation techniques, and rescue applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO 9001:2015 certification achieved and maintained annually through accredited body verification

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trentino WildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrentino Wild is the closely associated commercial entity that shares founders and philosophy with Rescue Project. They provide the professional outdoor operations infrastructure while Rescue Project provides the training school. Together they form the unified 'Rescue Project School' branded training operation.
• Rescue3 InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational rescue standards organization whose procedures and guidelines are integrated into Rescue Project's training curriculum and operational standards.
• Italian Rafting Federation (FIRAFT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation whose standards for rafting guide certification are incorporated into Rescue Project's guide training programs.
• Italian Canoe and Kayak FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation whose canoe and kayak instructor standards are integrated into Rescue Project's instructor training curriculum.
• Italian Hydrospeed FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational federation whose hydrospeed guide standards are incorporated into Rescue Project's guide training programs.
• Società Nazionale di Salvamento GenovacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational rescue society with formal agreement recognizing Rescue Project's training courses and swimming skills certifications.
• Italian Fire BrigadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fire service whose rescue procedures and operational guidelines are incorporated into Rescue Project's training standards.
• Università Tor VergataminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for IARR Master Team Leader program, providing academic recognition for Rescue Project's rescue leadership training.
• Regional Training Centers NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of 9 independently operated rafting and outdoor centers across Italy (Trentino, Lazio, Liguria, Veneto, Lombardy, Tuscany, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Umbria, Molise) that serve as branded training locations for Rescue Project courses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sierra Rescue International: US-based swiftwater and rope rescue training provider offering comparable Whitewater Rescue Technician certifications. Direct peer because it sells similar tiered rescuer certification programs to fire, rescue, and guide professionals using parallel instructional standards.
• Rescue3 International: Global swiftwater and technical rescue training and standards organization. Directly comparable because Rescue Project integrates Rescue3's curriculum and certifies through its standards, and both compete for the same institutional rescue training customers worldwide.
• Rescue 3 Canada: Canadian arm of Rescue3 International offering swiftwater/flood rescue training. Comparable because it delivers the same Rescue3 curriculum Rescue Project integrates and competes for institutional water-rescue training contracts in North America and beyond.
• Whitewater Rescue Institute: Specialized swiftwater rescue training provider offering comparable tiered technician courses. Direct peer because it sells parallel Whitewater Rescue Technician certifications to fire agencies, guides, and rescue professionals in a similar instructional format.

Broad incumbents

• Federazione Italiana Canoa Kayak (FICK): Italian national federation for canoeing and kayaking, including instructor certification pathways. Comparable because Rescue Project integrates FICK instructor standards into its curriculum while FICK also directly certifies canoe/kayak instructors competing for the same student base.
• International Rafting Federation (IRF): Global governing body for rafting including guide certification standards. Comparable because Rescue Project's rafting guide training (IRF-aligned) sits within IRF's broader certification ecosystem, and IRF sets the upstream standards Rescue Project delivers.

Regional players

• Società Nazionale di Salvamento: Italian National Salvation Society providing lifesaving and water rescue certifications. Comparable because Rescue Project is formally recognized by SNS to deliver BLS/BLS-D courses, and SNS issues competing water rescue certifications in the same Italian market.
• Federazione Italiana Rafting (FIRAFT): Italian national federation for rafting whose standards Rescue Project incorporates into its commercial guide training. Comparable as both a partner and a structural competitor setting the certification rules Italian rafting guides must follow.

Others

• Corpo Nazionale Vigili del Fuoco (Italian Fire Brigade): Italian national fire service and rescue operator that is both a major customer and standards source for Rescue Project. Comparable as the dominant institutional buyer of swiftwater rescue training whose internal procedures shape Rescue Project's curriculum.
• Università Tor Vergata – IARR Master Program: Academic partner providing the IARR Master Team Leader program that Rescue Project integrates. Comparable as an enabling/ecosystem partner that lends academic credibility to Rescue Project's leadership training rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=W3vaknRMW90

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Rescue Project Association