International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)

The global program for scientific drilling on land and in lakes.

The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) brings together scientists from 24 nations to investigate Earth’s continental crust and its geological archives. By drilling into rocks and sediments on land and in lakes, researchers gain unique access to the history and dynamics of our planet—spanning climate change, tectonics, natural hazards, and deep biosphere processes.

Continental drilling is complex and costly, often requiring operations in remote regions and highly specialized infrastructure. By pooling resources and expertise internationally, ICDP enables research projects that no single country could accomplish alone.

What is ICDP?

Scientific Themes of ICDP

ICDP projects address key challenges of Earth and society through four overarching themes:

Natural Hazards

From earthquake faults to volcanic systems, understanding risk chains

Geodynamic Processes

How has our planet evolved and what forces shape it?

Environmental Change

Sediment archives reveal Earth’s climate and ecosystem history

Geo-resources

Investigating underground reservoirs of energy, water, and materials

Environmental Change

Sediment archives reveal Earth’s climate and ecosystem history

Natural Hazards

From earthquake faults to volcanic systems, understanding risk chains

Geodynamic Processes

How has our planet evolved and what forces shape it?

Geo-resources

Investigating underground reservoirs of energy, water, and materials

Swiss Participation

Switzerland became a full member of ICDP in 2008. Membership is coordinated by SwissDrilling, which provides Swiss-based researchers access to:

Propose and lead new drilling projects
Join international drilling expeditions
Access samples and data from ICDP projects
Receive support for workshops, training, and outreach activities

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) funds Switzerland’s membership, granting Swiss scientists a voice in ICDP’s decision-making bodies and influence over funding priorities and scientific strategy.

ICDP Projects with Swiss Participation

Swiss scientists have contributed to numerous ICDP drilling projects across the globe, from deep African lakes to European mountain belts. These projects provide valuable insights into tectonics, climate evolution, natural hazards, and subsurface life.