PURE OCEAN announces the opening of its 4th Call for Projects

As part of the 13th edition of Sea Tech Week®, the Pure Ocean endowment fund is launching its annual call for projects on Thursday, September 29 in Brest.

Pure Ocean’s core mission is to fund innovative applied research projects worldwide to protect marine biodiversity and ecosystems. This 4th international call for projects is open to universities, research institutes and NGOs.

In the face of the many environmental challenges we collectively face – collapse of biodiversity, global warming, marine pollution, overfishing and illegal fishing, etc. – Pure Ocean is convinced that scientists hold the keys. To better protect, we need to better understand. To develop viable and relevant solutions, we must encourage, and therefore fund, research. Thanks to its numerous sponsors, Pure Ocean financially supports each year a selection of innovative scientific projects contributing to a better knowledge of and an increased protection of the marine environment.

THE PURE OCEAN CALL FOR PROJECTS

This year, the call for projects focuses on four major themes, the “Pure Ocean Challenges”, in line with the “Ocean Decade Challenges” described by the United Nations:           

  • understanding and combating marine pollution
  • protecting biodiversity and restoring degraded marine ecosystems
  • strengthening the resilience of marine ecosystems and the people who depend on them in the face of climate change
  • improving our knowledge of the ocean system

Projects supported by Pure Ocean must incorporate an innovative dimension – technological, social, exploratory or inspired by nature.

PARTICULARITIES OF THE 2023 CALL

Particular attention will be given to projects based and/or carried out in Brittany/Atlantic, to those targeting polar ecosystems, to those addressing the issue of plastic pollution and, finally, to projects seeking to quantify the blue carbon potential of marine habitats.

ELIGIBILITY AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The project must address one or more of the four Pure Ocean Challenges and take place over a one or two year period. There is no age limit, but early career candidates are particularly encouraged to apply. While only non-profit organizations (NGOs, universities, research institutes) can apply and receive funding, projects may involve collaboration with private for-profit actors (companies, start-ups…).

Applications will be evaluated according to one main criterion: the impact, i.e. the tangible and sustainable benefit provided by the realization of the project within the framework of one or more of the Pure Ocean Challenges.

THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE AT THE HEART OF THE SELECTION OF PROJECTS TO BE SUPPORTED

The Scientific Committee, chaired by Françoise Gaill, is the central body for the selection of scientific projects supported by Pure Ocean. Composed of five world-renowned researchers on the ocean and climate, it validates the annual call for projects and evaluates the numerous candidate projects to establish the final shortlist of winners. In 2022, it named 5 winning projects out of 40 applications received for the 3rd call for proposals, which closed on October 31, 2021.

SEA TECH WEEK® IN BREST, THE FLAGSHIP EVENT OF THE WORLD SEA CAMPUS

The 13th edition of Sea Tech Week®, which takes place at the exhibition center in Brest from September 26 to 30, is sponsored by Crédit Mutuel Arkéa. Sea Tech Week® is the essential meeting place for the scientific community and companies that imagine the maritime innovations of tomorrow, thus contributing to the knowledge and preservation of the ocean. Crédit Mutuel Arkéa has a strong culture of innovation and has historically been involved with maritime professionals through several of its business lines and subsidiaries. It has structured its business line to support maritime players in their transition to a responsible blue economy. Crédit Mutuel Arkéa is pleased to welcome on its stand (Number 17), on Thursday 29/09 at 3:00 pm, the PURE OCEAN teams who will officially launch the call for projects 2023. It encourages all research institutes, universities or NGOs on the Brittany/Atlantic coast to apply for this call for projects.