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Project overview

CAP OCEAN Call for Proposals

  • The KRESK 4 OCEANS Endowment Fund is partnering with the Sorbonne University Ocean Institute and the Sorbonne University Foundation to launch the CAP OCEAN program. This is a groundbreaking initiative designed to support young researchers from the Sorbonne University Alliance who are working on marine pollution, with a particular focus on the urgent issue of plastic pollution.

Project type

  • Supported by KRESK 4 OCEANS

Project category

  • Research at Sea

Duration

  • 2026 - 2027

Understanding and Protecting the Ocean: Plastics and Other Forms of Pollution

The pressure exerted by human activities on marine ecosystems calls for an unprecedented scientific effort. The CAP OCEAN initiative places particular emphasis on plastic pollution and related solutions, but its scientific scope extends beyond that. It also aims to study other forms of pollution (chemical, noise, light, and visual) to the extent that they affect marine biodiversity, as well as the oceanic and climatic dynamics that influence the spread of these threats.

Financial support and scientific recognition

This program is open to young researchers affiliated with a laboratory of the Sorbonne University Alliance who defended their dissertation less than 12 years ago.

Funding

Three to five winners will each receive a research grant of up to €15,000 to fund their impact studies and public policy proposals.

Excellence in Governance

The jury, composed of two representatives from Kresk 4 Oceans and two from the Institut de l’Océan, is chaired by Marina Lévy, a French oceanographer and research director at the CNRS. Her participation is a strong sign of scientific credibility.

Unprecedented Synergy

The program seamlessly integrates scientific recognition, funding, and networking—three essential drivers that are rarely combined in a single call for proposals.

Linking Research to Concrete Action

The uniqueness of the CAP OCEAN program lies in its commitment to going far beyond a simple scholarship. Its added value lies in the visibility and connections it generates. Recipients will receive significant exposure through two major events scheduled for 2027: an institutional awards ceremony, followed by a major scientific conference to present the findings. The conference will be open to private-sector stakeholders, civil society, and public policymakers to transform these discoveries into concrete actions for the protection of the ocean.

Timeline for the Call for Proposals

  • June 2026: Official launch of the call for applications.
  • October 2026: Deadline for submitting applications.
  • December 2026: Selection by the jury and public announcement of the winners.
  • January/February 2027: Institutional awards ceremony.
  • Late 2027: Conference on the Application of Research Findings.
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