Partners

The ALPS celebrates women, men, and the mountains—a story of surprises, courage, and diversity at the heart of contemporary issues. It serves as the "Ambassador of the Alps" in the Swiss capital, engaging the public with topics of interest: identity, mobility, tourism, tradition and innovation, culture, and nature. The ALPS provides insightful perspectives on complex issues. It questions, challenges, moves, irritates, and provokes.

The ALPS collaborates with scientists, artists, and the museum's visitors. Its aim is to offer a comprehensive vision that encompasses both cultural aspects and natural sciences. Its focus extends across the entire Alpine arc, from Slovenia to France.

Website : https://alps.museum/en/

Contact : Barbara Keller, Deputy Director

Founded in 2015 and based in Fang, this non-profit organization aims to support scientific research and its dissemination in the fields of history and archaeology in the Val d’Anniviers. The association originated from the archaeological project conducted in the medieval hamlet of Fang.

Website : https://www.archeologie-anniviers.ch/

Contact : Cédric Cramatte, Scientific Director

Founded in 1998, the ACVS seeks to promote studies and initiatives related to travel in Switzerland and the Alps, as well as research on tourism and the historical movements of the Swiss themselves. The association serves as a bridge between academia and society.

The ACVS employs various methods, including guided cultural tours, a traveling exhibition, an annual bulletin, and excursions focused on travel in Switzerland. It supports a publication series, "Le Voyage dans les Alpes", collaborates with the Viaticalpes project, and promotes academic research and other creative endeavors.

Website : https://www.levoyageensuisse.ch/

Contact : Daniela Vaj, Co-President

The RAMHA was established in October 2011 to support research on the "Hannibal Wall" and to promote its scientific appreciation within the framework of sustainable mountain tourism.

An interdisciplinary research group contributes to this project under the scientific supervision of the Valais Cantonal Archaeology Office and in collaboration with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and Activities of the Aosta Valley. Several municipalities, public and private organizations, and individual members support this initiative.

Website : www.ramha.ch

Contact : Romain Andenmatten, Head of the Scientific Group

The Foundation was established in 1967 through the joint efforts of the City of Geneva, the State of Neuchâtel, and Mr. Jean-Marcel Aubert. In 2008, the State of Valais and the Municipality of Orsières took over its management. The Alpine Center for Phytogeography (the Foundation’s scientific branch) was created in 1991 with support from the Canton of Valais and the Municipality of Orsières. In 2019, a collaboration agreement was signed between the Flore-Alpe Alpine Botanical Garden and the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne (UNIL).

Website : www.flore-alpe.ch/

Contact : Dr. Christophe Randin, Director, Flore-Alpe Garden & Alpine Center for Phytogeography

A non-profit foundation established by the City of Sion and the State of Valais, the CREALP (Center for Research on Alpine Environments) specializes in research mandates addressing natural hazards, natural resource management, environmental issues, and climate change.

CREALP acts as a key intermediary between the Canton and private engineering firms, facilitating the development of new investigative methods, standardizing data and products such as hazard maps and GIS tools.

Website : www.crealp.ch

Contact : Antonio Abellan, Director

CREPA is an association of 11 municipalities in the Valais region, funded by the Service des Hautes Écoles of the State of Valais. The center has a dual mission: advancing research and promoting socio-cultural engagement. Originating from the Historical Research Center, which focused on the genealogies of Val de Bagnes, CREPA's  genealogical database also covers the regions of St. Maurice, Saxon, and other valleys, containing data on 300,000 individuals. 

The center’s team includes historians, a socio-cultural coordinator, an archivist, a database manager, two associate researchers, and interns. CREPA collaborates with universities, research laboratories, and other institutions within the Alpine network to enhance its research initiatives. 

Website : https://www.crepa.ch/
Contact : Yann Decorzant, Director

Founded in 1999 by the State of Valais and the City of Sion, the FDDM is a non-profit foundation that supports and promotes projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for mountain communities, primarily in Valais. It assists cantonal and municipal administrations, businesses, and schools in advancing sustainability by fostering initiatives that bring together the fields of environment, economy, social issues, culture, and politics.

Website : http://www.fddm.ch/

Contact : Laurence Vuagniaux, Director

The Forschungsinstitut zur Geschichte des Alpenraums 

was founded on November 27, 1990, through an agreement between the Swiss Foundation for Stockalper Castle, the Canton and University of Fribourg, the Canton of Valais, and the Municipality of Brig.

The institute’s mission is to:

• Publish key documents from the Stockalper archives
• Conduct research on Alpine history
• Share knowledge through publications and events

Website : www.stockalperstiftung.ch
Contact : Dr. Marie-Claude Schöpfer, Director

Established in 1997, this federation unites 17 associations and 8 municipalities from the Vaud and Valais regions, with a mission to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Chablais area. In 2008, the federation set up its headquarters at the Château de la Porte du Scex in Vouvry, alongside the Chablais Museum, which is currently closed.

Website : http://musee-chablais.ch/site/index.php/federation

Contact : Elfrieda Walder, President

Founded in 2002, the Maison des Alpes Foundation aims to promote the cultural and natural heritage of the Alpine arc while creating a visitor center dedicated to geosciences, blending expertise with education.

In 2005, the foundation acquired the historic "De Ribaupierre" building (built in 1543) in La Fauchère (Evolène). In 2015, it took over the Geology and Glaciology Center, an exhibition space originally established in 1990 by the cultural association Evolèn’Art. Located in the former school building in Les Haudères (Evolène), the center is open from June to October for two afternoons a week and during winter by appointment. In 2018, the center welcomed approximately 200 visitors.

Website : www.lamaisondesalpes.ch

Contacts : Romaine Perraudin-Kalbermatter and Hans-Rudolf Pfeifer, Committee Members

At INSIT, territorial engineering is understood as the integration of techniques, knowledge, and expertise aimed at enhancing quality of life, improving environmental conditions, and increasing economic efficiency in the management of territories.

The institute focuses its expertise on two key challenges:

1. The relationship between territories and climate change
2. The digital transformation of territorial engineering professions

One strategic priority is the observation and modeling of natural hazards to track their evolution and impact under the influence of climate change.

Website : https://heig-vd.ch/rad/instituts/insit

Contact : Erika Prina Howald, Professor of Natural Hazards and Geotechnics

Founded in 2019, the "Kulturen der Alpen" Institute explores the full spectrum of themes related to the unique characteristics of the Alpine region—from prehistoric artifacts to specific traditions and contemporary challenges. The institute takes a focus on cultural and social sciences while embracing a transdisciplinary approach, fostering exchanges with natural sciences and the arts.

Operating as an independent institute affiliated with the University of Lucerne, it is headquartered in Uri. Beyond its research endeavors, the institute serves as a hub for mediation:

• Bridging the approaches of natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences
• Connecting scientific knowledge with empirical insights and artistic perspectives
• Fostering dialogue across academic, cultural, and political spheres

Website : https://www.kulturen-der-alpen.ch

Contact : Prof. Dr. Boris Previšić, Director

LabiSAlp was established as the natural continuation of the Istituto di Storia delle Alpi, founded in 2000 through an agreement between the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and the International Association for Alpine History (AIHA). Since 2006, LabiSAlp has been part of the Accademia di Architettura at USI, with its headquarters in Mendrisio.

The focus of LabiSAlp is on the Alpine region, considering its territorial, economic, social, cultural, demographic, and political aspects. These are explored within their historical context and in relation to interactions with the external world beyond the Alps.

Website : www.labisalp.arc.usi.ch

Contact : Prof. tit. Luigi Lorenzetti, Coordinator

The Binntal Nature Park is recognized as a "Regional Nature Park of National Importance." Located in Upper Valais within the Goms district, it spans 165 km² across the municipalities of Binn, Ernen, Grengiols, and Bister. The park is named after the Binn Valley, which has been under local protection since 1964 and was included in the Federal Inventory of Landscapes, Sites, and Natural Monuments of National Importance in 1977.

The park has two main objectives:

1. Preserve the pristine landscape and diverse natural environment.
2. Support and promote the regional economy.

Website : www.landschaftspark-binntal.ch

Contact : Moritz Clausen, Director

The Lötschental Museum serves as both the memory and cultural center of the valley. It is dedicated to preserving cultural assets, documenting heritage, sharing knowledge, and fostering connections and exchanges. The museum operates in line with the honor code of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and its definition of a museum, which states:
"A museum is a permanent, non-profit institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates, and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study, and enjoyment."

Website : www.loetschentalermuseum.ch

Contact : Thomas Antonietti, Curator

The Bagnes Museum preserves, manages, and showcases cultural assets linked to the Alpine world. It organizes thematic exhibitions and contemporary art displays while also conducting research projects that resonate with the unique heritage of the Val de Bagnes. Founded in 1976, the museum operates as a service of the municipal administration.

Website : www.museedebagnes.ch

Contact : Mélanie Hugon-Duc, Director 

Founded in 1966 by a group of enthusiasts, the Isérables Museum was relocated in 2003 by the Pro Aserablos Foundation to a new space. The museum explores the village of Isérables through three main themes: its steep terrain, the importance of wheat, and the symbol of the cradle. Additionally, a temporary exhibition space hosts one new exhibit each year.

Website : www.iserables.org

Contact : Narcisse Crettenand, President of the Pro Aserablos Foundation

Since July 2008, the Musée des Ormonts has been located in the historic village of Vers-L'Eglise. It was established by an association formed in 1989, which includes the municipalities of Ormont-Dessous and Ormont-Dessus (Vaud). The museum’s mission is to collect and preserve the heritage of the Ormonts region (including objects, documents, images, films, etc.) and to promote it through exhibitions, publications, conferences, and other activities.

Website : www.museeormonts.ch

Contact : Virginie Duquette, Curator

Founded in 2009, the museum settled in the Maison Peinte (Botyre) in 2012. The institution has three key roles related to the "bisses" heritage: preservation, transmission, and research. Since its opening, the museum has offered a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the bisses through the centuries, spread across ten rooms. Over the past ten years, the museum has created 14 temporary exhibitions, organized over 200 events, cataloged 280 bisses on its website, preserved more than 2,000 documents and 400 objects, and welcomed over 30,000 visitors to the Maison Peinte.

Website : https://bisses-valais.ch/

Contact : Gaëtan Morard, Director and Scientific Officer

The primary missions of the Cantonal Office of Archaeology (OCA) are to preserve, inventory, document, and promote the archaeological heritage across the entire Valais region.

Website : www.vs.ch/web/archeologie

Contact : Caroline Brunetti, Head of the Office ; Romain Andenmatten, Archaeologist

The Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Park spans 630 km² across 17 municipalities and three cantons (VD, FR, BE), between Montreux and Bulle, Gstaad and Gruyères. It is recognized as a regional nature park under the Federal Nature Protection Act (LPN). The association responsible for managing the park was established in 2006 and received the National Importance Park label (Regional Natural Park, RNP) from the Federal Office for the Environment for the 2012–2021 period. The renewal of the charter is currently underway for 2022–2031.

The mission of the Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Park includes preserving and enhancing the quality of nature and landscapes, supporting sustainable economic activities, promoting public awareness, educating about the environment, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Website : www.gruyerepaysdenhaut.ch

Contact : Bruno Clément, Co-Director

Located in central Valais, the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park stretches from Gampel to Sierre, encompassing 12 municipalities. In 2013, these communities were awarded the distinction of a Regional Nature Park of National Importance for their exceptional natural and scenic value. The park aims to sustain the region's development through regular initiatives and measures. A service agreement with the federal government and canton outlines the park's activities through specific projects. These initiatives focus on raising awareness and education, preservation and enhancement, as well as promotion and strengthening of local resources.

Website : https://www.pfyn-finges.ch

Contact: Evelyne Oberhummer, Head of Nature and Landscape Sector

The Parc Jura vaudois is a Regional Nature Park recognized as a site of national importance under the Federal Act on the Protection of Nature (LPN) in 2013. It spans from the summit of La Dôle to the historic town of Romainmôtier, passing through the Jura Foothills and the Vallée de Joux. Covering an area of 568 km² (20% of the Canton of Vaud), it is home to nearly 40,000 residents across 34 municipalities united by a shared vision. The park is managed by a non-profit association headquartered in Saint-George.

The Swiss Confederation has entrusted regional nature parks with five key missions:

• Preserving and enhancing the quality of nature and landscapes.
• Strengthening economic activities based on sustainable development.
• Raising public awareness and fostering education for sustainable development.
• Supporting research and fostering communication, partnerships, and territorial integrity.

Website : https://parcjuravaudois.ch/

Contact : Paolo Degiorgi, Director

The World Nature Forum (WNF) was inaugurated in September 2016 in Naters to promote awareness of the UNESCO World Heritage site Jungfrau-Aletsch. Among its goals, the permanent exhibition addresses pressing contemporary issues, such as, “How can Valaisan tourism adapt when there is no longer snow in winter?”

Through research and visitor engagement, the WNF strives to address, in its own capacity, the challenges posed by ongoing climate change and the risks it poses to the Alps.

Website: www.jungfraualetsch.ch

Contacts: Hans Christian Leiggener, President

Founded in 1967, the CEFP is dedicated to the research and promotion of the Francoprovençal language and Alpine culture. Under the patronage of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, the CEFP has long had an international vision, promoted by scholars such as Ernest Schüle, Gaston Tuaillon, and Corrado Grassi. The center aims to create a space for exchange and discussion on Francoprovençal studies.

Since its inception, the CEFP has spearheaded major initiatives like the Atlas des Patois Valdôtains and the Enquête toponymique. Over time, its activities and partnerships have expanded, with a team of experts in humanities and language sciences. The CEFP organizes an international annual conference (with published proceedings), a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to Francoprovençal studies, and interdisciplinary training weeks for students, researchers, and teachers, focused on Alpine culture and/or the Francoprovençal language.

Beyond its scholarly and editorial work, the CEFP engages the public with conferences, video capsules, and traveling exhibitions to stimulate dialogue and new ideas, in collaboration with educational institutions.

Examples of Projects:

Between 2017 and 2023, the CEFP conducted research at the crossroads of anthropology and linguistics to study spatial representations in the historically Francoprovençal-speaking regions of the Alps, spanning France, Italy, and Switzerland. The research focused on linguistic structures in everyday speech and how these reflect spatial expressions and movement in a mountainous landscape.

The project, based on the analysis of linguistic structures, has shown the richness and precision of spatial expression among these communities. It also highlighted the persistence of ancient absolute spatial reference systems in these linguistic groups.

The second phase of this project has expanded to explore the relationship between humans, language, and space across the broader Alpine region, seeking to understand these dynamics in similar cultural and physical environments.

Website : www.centre-etudes-francoprovencales.eu

Contact : Christiane Dunoyer, Scientific Director of CEFP

Founded in 2000 by the Swiss Academy of Sciences, the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) serves as an international and interdisciplinary platform focused on the evaluation, conservation, and sustainable use of biodiversity in mountain regions.

The GMBA supports mountain biodiversity research, enhances access to research findings for scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of mountain ecosystems, and fosters dialogue among diverse actors.

Website : http://www.gmba.unibe.ch

Contact : Davnah Urbach, Scientific Coordinator

The Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF) in Innsbruck is a research center of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). IGF investigates the manifestations and impacts of global change processes (climate change and globalization) in mountain regions worldwide. Using extensive databases and observation models, IGF studies the interaction between humans and the environment in mountain regions, focusing on various domains:

• Cryosphere: Glaciers and permafrost
• Lithosphere: Landslides
• Biosphere: Biodiversity
• Anthroposphere: Demographic and geographical processes, land use, land cover and cultural landscape changes, development of protected areas

This interdisciplinary approach helps deepen our understanding of how global changes affect mountain regions and the interconnections between natural and human systems in these fragile environments.

Contact : Margreth Keiler, Director 

Since 2019, the CIRM has been a member of the International Mountain Society (IMS). The IMS aims to advance knowledge and disseminate information about mountain research and development worldwide. Its mission is to promote sustainable development in mountain regions through enhanced communication among institutions and individuals, with a focus on mountain ecoregions in developing countries.

To achieve this goal, the IMS publishes a quarterly journal, Mountain Research and Development (MRD). This journal is dedicated to mountains and their surrounding lowlands—ecoregions of global importance where communities are often marginalized. MRD highlights the latest research and development approaches for global mountain systems. Articles, which are peer-reviewed, present findings on international and national issues related to mountains, mountain communities, and sustainable mountain development.

Emmanuel Reynard and Iago Otero are members of the journal's international editorial board.

Links :

• IMS website: https://www.mrd-journal.org/international-mountain-society/
• MRD website: https://www.mrd-journal.org/

Contact : Susanne Wymann von Dach

The Labex ITTEM brings together researchers from nine humanities and social sciences laboratories at the Université Grenoble Alpes, the Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, and the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE). With a comprehensive approach, it supports public action in mountain areas through projects co-designed with territorial stakeholders, aiming for sustainable development. Labex ITTEM explores territorial and environmental challenges from the dual perspective of innovation and transition, addressing socio-economic transformations and global environmental disruptions at a local scale.

Website : www.labexittem.fr

Contact : Kirsten Koop, Scientific Coordinator of Labex ITTEM

The Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) is an international network that fosters research on mountain regions across boundaries and disciplines through communication and collaboration, aiming to support sustainable development.

Through flagship activities, synthesis workshops, working groups, and online platforms, MRI brings together researchers and stakeholders from diverse fields. The organization collaborates with the research community and society at large to identify research priorities and opportunities for joint action, providing funding, coordination, and administrative support to facilitate collective efforts.

Website : www.mountainresearchinitiative.org

Contact : Dr. Carolina Adler, Executive Director

The Università della Montagna (UNIMONT), a hub of the Università degli Studi di Milano, is an innovative education and research center specializing in the complexities of mountain territories. Located in the heart of the Alps in Valle Camonica, Edolo, Brescia province—a small mountain town with fewer than 5,000 residents—UNIMONT operates across the three key university pillars: education, research, and community engagement. These elements synergize to promote sustainable development in mountain areas.

Academic Programs:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Valorisation and Protection of the Environment and Mountain Territory.
• International Master’s Degree (in English): Valorisation and Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas.
• Additional courses and a Master’s program in Mountain Project Management.

UNIMONT also hosts the Centro di Studi Applicati per la Gestione Sostenibile e la Difesa della Montagna, a research center integrating nine departments of the Università degli Studi di Milano.

Website : https://www.unimontagna.it/

Contact : Prof. Anna Giorgi, Director of Università della Montagna and Scientific Coordinator of the Centro di Studi Applicati per la Gestione Sostenibile e la Difesa della Montagna

Founded in 2017, NEMOR is a collaborative initiative bringing together 42 public and private institutions dedicated to advancing research and sustainable development in European mountain regions. Membership in NEMOR enables institutions to engage with Europe's largest mountain research community, participate in specialized working groups, and collaborate on research and innovation projects addressing the unique challenges faced by these areas.

NEMOR's expertise spans a wide range of topics related to mountain sustainability, including agrobiodiversity, ecology, tourism, energy, and climate. Its key objectives include promoting transdisciplinary research, setting research priorities aligned with Euromontana’s vision, and strengthening mountain networks and cross-border partnerships. NEMOR also plays a crucial role in advancing initiatives that align with the EU’s research and innovation priorities. Additionally, it highlights the vital role of mountains within the European ecosystem and serves as a bridge, connecting European mountain research with global initiatives.

Website : https://nemor.creaf.cat/

Contact : Dr. Bernat Claramunt, Coordinateur