Who are we?
Pure Ocean is an endowment fund created in 2017 in Marseille, France. Its main mission is to support innovative applied research projects worldwide, contributing to the protection of fragile marine ecosystems and biodiversity. In addition to funding research projects, Pure Ocean organizes conferences and promotes races and sporting challenges to raise awareness of the Ocean’s critical situation.
4 major themes: the Pure Ocean Challenges
(based on the 10 United Nations Ocean Decade Challenges)
🟠 Understand marine pollution and tackle it at the source
🟢 Protect biodiversity and restore degraded marine ecosystems
🟡 Build resilience and adaptation to climate change
🔵 Improve our understanding of the ocean system
2027 FOCUS
This year, only projects based in mainland France or its overseas territories will be eligible:
• French Atlantic coast, and overseas territories in the Atlantic
• Mediterranean
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands
• Overseas Territories in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.
Are you an international or French ocean researcher, with a project based in France? We welcome your proposal!
Scientific Committee
Bruno David
Former President of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle
Anna Zivian
Research Associate at Ocean Nexus
Kartik Shanker
Research Lecturer at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Flávia Lucena Fredou
Coordinator of LMI TAPIOCA
Abdelmalek Faraj
Doctor, General Director of INRH in Morocco
Eligibility
- The project must address one (or more) Pure Ocean Challenges
- This year, we will support projects based exclusively in mainland France and its overseas territories.
- There is no age limit, but candidates in the early stages of their career are particularly encouraged to apply.
- Only non-profit organizations (universities, research institutes and NGOs) can apply and receive funding. The project can however include a collaboration with organizations from the private sector (companies, startups, etc.).
Exclusion conditions:
- The funding may not be used exclusively for awareness-raising, clean-up initiatives, events, art, advocacy or training projects.
- For-profit (such as startups), promotional, or advertising projects are outside the scope of this Call
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated according to one main criterion: impact, i.e. the tangible and lasting benefit provided by the project’s implementation, in the context of one or more of the Pure Ocean Challenges.
The Scientific Committee will grade and rank the proposals based on 5 equally-weighted criteria:
- Innovation – The project proposes an innovative approach. We typically distinguish four types of innovation : technological, social, nature-based/biomimetic or exploratory innovation.
- Relevance – The project specifically targets one or more Pure Ocean Challenges
- Consistency -The specific objectives of the project and the means to achieve them are clearly defined and achievable within the agreed timeframe.
- Collaboration – The project involves the active participation and collaboration of several players, and encourages inter/transdisciplinarity.
- Multiplication – The project includes a plan for disseminating the results, adapted to the various target audiences, as well as the actions required to engage them
2027 Schedule
This year, Pure Ocean’s call for projects is organized in two selection phases:
1️⃣ Phase 1 is open to all applications meeting the eligibility requirements. It involves completing a short online form describing the general outline of the project, presentation of the leader and organisation, a graphical abstract and keywords.
2️⃣ Phase 2 20 selected applicants will advance to Phase 2 and be invited to submit their full proposal.
The completion of the full online form will allow for an in-depth evaluation of the project’s context, objectives, methods, expected impacts and outreach.
Amount Granted
Selected projects will receive up to €40,000/year for a duration of one to two years, at the discretion of our Scientific Committee. A two-year project can therefore receive a maximum of €80,000 and support for certain projects can be renewed.
How to Apply?
The application form is available online:
Please fill in the form in English only; incomplete applications will be disqualified.
For any question, contact our scientific coordinator Charlie at science@pure-ocean.org
Key dates
• Call for projects opens on September 21st.
• Phase 1 closes on October 19th, 23:59 CET.
• Phase 2 opens on November 2nd, 2026. Qualified applicants will be notified at the latest on October 30th.
• The Call closes on December 7th, 23:59 CET.
• 10 finalists will be contacted by mid-February, 2027, and grantees will be announced on March 21st, 2027
