Schmidt Ocean Institute - Research Vessel & Grant Program

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Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 22:05

Provides free ship time aboard RV Falkor (too) plus technical support for ocean research. Ocean Exploration & Discovery Grant (with NatGeo) offers up to USD 20,000 for early career scientists. Ocean Biogeochemistry Virtual Institute supports 5 global projects.

Source: https://schmidtocean.org/apply/

Funding Details

Funder: Schmidt Ocean Institute
Funding Goal: Provide free ship time aboard R/V Falkor (too) to scientific research teams conducting multidisciplinary ocean research, including seafloor mapping, biodiversity, ocean health, climate, and technology development. Limited supplementary support also available for instrumentation and publication costs.
Funding Amount: Free ship time (value ~USD 35,000/day); up to USD 20K supplementary grants for instrumentation/publication; investigators self-fund salaries, travel, and analysis (up to 20.000 €)
Deadline: Rolling basis (Rolling)
How to Apply: Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) via email to proposals@schmidtocean.org. EOIs accepted in written (3-page max) or video (10-minute max) format. Rolling review twice per year. Accepted EOIs advance to full proposal stage.
Target Region: Global — R/V Falkor (too) operates across multiple ocean regions; 2026-2028 expeditions planned globally
Contact: proposals@schmidtocean.org
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 12:59

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Investigators must self-fund salaries, travel, shipping, and post-cruise analysis

Project Scope

Research must align with one of SOI's seven Strategic Framework thematic areas
Collaboration with communities in operating regions is strongly encouraged

Required Documents

EOI must be submitted in English (written 3-page max or video 10-minute max)
Must identify specific geographic region and year of proposed operations

Constraints

Teams must commit to open sharing of all data collected aboard R/V Falkor (too)
Diplomatic authorization required for research in EEZs/territorial seas of non-US nations

Summary

The Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) provides free ship time aboard its research vessel R/V Falkor (too) to scientific teams worldwide. The programme supports multidisciplinary, collaborative oceanographic research aligned with SOI's Strategic Framework, which covers seven thematic areas: seafloor mapping, biodiversity frontiers, ocean health stability, power of nature (physical processes), deep-sea exploration, future technologies, and human effects on the ocean (including marine pollution, microplastics, and climate mitigation). Eligible activities include at-sea scientific expeditions, instrument deployment, ROV and AUV operations, and technology testing. The geographic scope is global, with R/V Falkor (too) operating across multiple ocean basins; preferred research sites must be identified at the EOI stage, and diplomatic authorization from relevant nations may be required. Eligible applicants are researchers and scientific teams from any country and institution — including universities, research institutes, NGOs, and private sector entities — who can demonstrate scientific merit, alignment with SOI priorities, and open data-sharing commitments. Investigator teams must be self-funded for personnel, travel, and analysis costs; SOI covers ship operations, onboard equipment, and communications. Limited supplementary support (up to approximately USD 20,000) may be available for robotic platforms, sensors, instrumentation, high-performance computing, and open-access publication. Co-funding or matching funds are not required. The application process operates on a rolling basis through Expressions of Interest submitted to proposals@schmidtocean.org, reviewed twice per year. The programme emphasizes open data sharing as a core condition and encourages community engagement, particularly with populations in regions where the vessel operates.

Historical Context

Schmidt Ocean Institute was founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. The research vessel R/V Falkor (too) replaced the original R/V Falkor (donated to Italy's CNR in 2025). The institute operates on a rolling EOI process with reviews twice per year. Proposals for 2028 operations were welcome through March 31, 2026.

Why it was added

Major ocean research funder providing vessel access and grants for marine monitoring and exploration

Sources

https://schmidtocean.org/apply/

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