SCHWEIZERISCHES FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUER HOCHGEBIRGSKLIMA UND MEDIZIN IN DAVOS

Their core work

The Swiss Research Institute for High Altitude Climate and Medicine in Davos (PMOD/WRC) operates at the intersection of atmospheric science, solar radiation monitoring, and Earth observation. Based at high altitude in Davos, they contribute specialized climate measurement expertise to large European Earth observation initiatives, particularly around GEOSS and Copernicus services. Their work spans from ground-based radiation monitoring to supporting the uptake and interoperability of satellite-derived environmental data for climate adaptation. Unusually, they also maintain a medical research dimension, contributing to health studies related to high-altitude environments and respiratory conditions.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

The institute's early H2020 involvement (2016–2018) was split between regional Earth observation coordination (GEO-CRADLE in North Africa/Middle East) and medical research (CURE on asthma therapy), suggesting a broad mandate matching their dual climate-and-medicine identity. From 2019 onward, their focus sharpened decisively toward GEOSS-centered Earth observation — e-shape, EXCELSIOR, and EIFFEL all revolve around Copernicus services, EuroGEO showcases, and climate data for policy frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework. The recent projects also show growing engagement with AI and spatiotemporal data processing, signaling a move from pure observation toward intelligent climate analytics.

Moving toward AI-enhanced Earth observation for climate policy, tightly aligned with EuroGEO and Copernicus — expect future work on intelligent environmental monitoring and SDG tracking.

How they like to work

PMOD/WRC consistently joins projects as a specialist participant rather than leading consortia — zero coordinator roles across all five projects. They operate in large, diverse consortia (123 unique partners across 36 countries), which indicates they are a sought-after niche contributor rather than a project driver. Their role pattern suggests they bring specific measurement expertise or data assets to broader initiatives, making them a reliable, low-friction partner for consortium builders who need atmospheric or radiation science capabilities.

Remarkably broad network for a small institute: 123 unique partners across 36 countries, spanning Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. This geographic spread reflects their involvement in region-bridging Earth observation programs rather than a narrow national cluster.

What sets them apart

PMOD/WRC occupies a rare niche: a high-altitude Swiss research institute that combines atmospheric radiation science with medical research, housed in one of Europe's most storied climate observation sites. Their dual mandate means they can contribute to both environmental monitoring and health-climate interaction studies — a combination almost no other partner offers. For consortium builders, they bring Swiss precision in measurement science plus direct involvement in the GEOSS/Copernicus ecosystem, with an unusually wide international network for an SME-sized institute.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CURE
  Their largest funded project (EUR 287,500) and a surprising departure into asthma therapy — reveals the medical side of this climate-and-medicine institute.
• EIFFEL
  Directly links GEOSS to Paris Agreement and UN SDG tracking, and introduces AI/spatiotemporal analytics — represents their most forward-looking work.
• e-shape
  Part of the flagship EuroGEO Showcases initiative, positioning them at the center of Europe's Earth observation application ecosystem.