Ocean Exchange Awards
Enriched accelerator · Found: 2026-03-10 22:06
Three USD 100,000 non-dilutive awards for ocean innovation: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Orcelle Award, two Neptune Awards, plus Ocean Enterprise Award. Also two USD 10,000 Collegiate Awards. Annual event in October.
Source: https://www.oceanexchange.org/awards/
Funding Details
- Funder
- Ocean Exchange
- Funding Goal
- Recognize and financially reward innovative solutions that advance the understanding of the ocean and minimize human impact on marine resources while supporting a sustainable Blue Economy. Awards target companies developing technologies or solutions for ocean health, marine biodiversity, and coastal resilience.
- Funding Amount
- Three Neptune Awards of USD 100,000 each (non-dilutive); Collegiate Awards of USD 10,000 each for student innovators (100.000 € – 100.000 €)
- Deadline
- 2026-07-10 (periodic)
- How to Apply
- Submit via regional F6S portals: Asia & Oceania deadline June 12, Europe/Middle East/Africa deadline July 10, Americas deadline (separate). Top 50 semi-finalists narrowed to 15 finalists who present in person at the Ocean Exchange event in Fort Lauderdale, FL (October 25-27, 2026). Winners selected by delegates.
- Target Region
- Global — separate application tracks for Asia/Oceania, Europe/Middle East/Africa, and Americas
- Contact
- millicent.pitts@oceanexchange.org | +1 912 257 0209 | 221 SW 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
- Official Page
- https://www.oceanexchange.org/register/
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-15 13:00
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
Ocean Exchange is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that annually awards non-dilutive cash prizes to innovative solutions addressing ocean health and the sustainable Blue Economy. The Neptune Awards — three prizes of USD 100,000 each — are the flagship awards, evaluated on innovation, impact, and execution. A Collegiate track (USD 10,000 each) targets university students at earlier stages of solution development. The programme also includes the Guy Harvey Foundation Collegiate Award. Applications are open globally with region-specific deadlines: Asia and Oceania (June 12), Europe, Middle East and Africa (July 10), and the Americas (separate deadline). Eligible solutions must meet a minimum Technology Readiness Level and span ocean-related technology sectors including marine data and monitoring, biodiversity, ocean health, sustainable fisheries, waste and pollution mitigation, circular materials, coastal protection, and Blue Economy services. The programme accepts applications from startups, companies, and university-led innovations — profit and non-profit solutions appear eligible, though the programme has historically focused on commercial and technology startups. Up to 50 semi-finalists are selected, narrowed to 15 finalists who present in person at the Ocean Exchange event in Fort Lauderdale (October 25-27, 2026). Winners are chosen by a delegate body representing business, academia, government, and non-profits. Past winners have included companies in plastic-to-nanomaterial conversion, AI-based ocean monitoring, and sustainable aquaculture. The awards are non-dilutive — no equity is taken.
Historical Context
Annual awards program running since 2011. In 2023, 175+ nominations received from countries worldwide. In 2025, Ocean Exchange awarded $330,000 in total prizes to Blue Economy startups. The programme runs each year with spring opening and summer/fall deadlines, culminating in an in-person event in Fort Lauderdale, FL in October.
Why it was added
Non-dilutive ocean innovation awards supporting sustainable blue economy solutions and ocean data
Sources
- https://www.oceanexchange.org/awards/
- https://www.oceanexchange.org/winner-selection-process/
- https://www.oceanexchange.org/register/