Swiss Drilling
Linking Switzerland to
Global Scientific Drilling
Swiss Drilling serves as Switzerland’s gateway to the two leading global drilling programs: ICDP (continental) and IODP³ (marine).
We connect Swiss researchers to international expeditions, data archives, and scientific networks.
Our mission: to support discovery, collaboration, and innovation in Earth science.
What Is
Scientific Drilling?
Sediments and rocks beneath our feet - and under the ocean floor - preserve the memory of our planet.
Scientific drilling helps unlock this archive, offering direct insights into Earth’s deep history, active processes, and future risks.
Through participation in the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) and the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP³), Swiss researchers contribute to global efforts that advance Earth system science and address key challenges of the 21st century.
Scientific drilling helps us to understand:
Earthquakes and natural hazards
Climate history and future projections
Plate tectonics and Earth's evolution
The origin and sustainability of natural resources
Subsurface ecosystems and life
Our Programs
Swiss Drilling coordinates access to both continental and ocean drilling infrastructures through two global programs:
International Continental Scientific Drilling Program
The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program supports land-based and lake drilling to investigate Earth’s crust, geohazards, and climate history.
International Ocean Discovery Program
The International Ocean Discovery Program explores the seafloor to understand Earth's tectonics, climate evolution, and life beneath the ocean floor.
Latest News & Opportunities
Stay informed about upcoming workshops, funding calls, field campaigns, and international meetings related to scientific drilling in Switzerland and abroad.
