Schmidt Ocean Institute
Schmidt Ocean Institute is a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that operates two global-class research vessels and provides complimentary ship time and ROV access to scientists worldwide, enabling deep-sea species discovery, eDNA biodiversity studies, and satellite validation for partners including NASA, JAMSTEC, CSIRO, and Stanford.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schmidt Ocean Institute does
Schmidt Ocean Institute is a private nonprofit oceanographic research organization founded in 2010 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt and headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The institute operates two global-class research vessels — R/V Falkor and R/V Falkor (too) — and provides complimentary ship time, ROV access, and technical support to qualified scientific teams worldwide through a proposal-based allocation system. The organization is not commercial: it funds ocean exploration through philanthropy (notably the Schmidts' personal foundation) and reinvests scientific output into open-access publications and data infrastructure.
Core technical capabilities revolve around advanced non-invasive marine imaging and deep-sea sampling. The institute operates ROV SuBastian, equipped with imaging systems developed in collaboration with MBARI, JAMSTEC, Stanford, and the University of Western Australia. It has deployed Stanford's 'Squid' spinning-wheel confocal microscope — the first system capable of 3D imaging of internal cellular structures of a living organism at sea — alongside deep-sea pressure simulation 'gravity machines' and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling technology used for biodiversity detection, including the first in-situ filming of a juvenile colossal squid and detection of giant squid via water samples.
The institute's business model is philanthropy-funded grant-making and platform provision rather than commercial revenue generation. Scientists and institutions apply for vessel time at no cost; discovery outputs (new species, bathymetric data, imagery) are released through the NOVA open-access data platform and peer-reviewed publications. End users comprise academic and government research institutions, space agency science teams (notably NASA for PACE satellite validation), and international ocean conservation bodies that rely on Schmidt expedition data to inform marine conservation policy such as the High Seas Treaty and post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Operational scale spans 11–50 staff coordinating 24-scientist expedition teams across 100+ countries and major ocean basins.
Schmidt Ocean Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schmidt Ocean Institute
- Legal name
- Schmidt Ocean Institute
- Website
- https://schmidtocean.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Schmidt Ocean Institute is a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that operates two global-class research vessels and provides complimentary ship time and ROV access to scientists worldwide, enabling deep-sea species discovery, eDNA biodiversity studies, and satellite validation for partners including NASA, JAMSTEC, CSIRO, and Stanford.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schmidt Ocean Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Oceanographic Research Services
- NAICS
- Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (48839), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support) (TLAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where Schmidt Ocean Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Schmidt Ocean Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Schmidt Ocean Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Schmidt Ocean Institute operates two oceanographic research vessels (R/V Falkor and R/V Falkor (too)) along with the ROV SuBastian remotely operated vehicle, providing no-cost ship time, advanced non-invasive imaging capabilities, and technical crew support to qualified scientific teams worldwide. The institute enables deep-sea biodiversity research, species discovery, environmental DNA sampling, ocean-floor mapping, and satellite validation through competitive proposal-based allocation of expedition resources.
Product overview
Schmidt Ocean Institute is a nonprofit organization that operates research vessels (R/V Falkor and R/V Falkor (too)) and provides ocean research infrastructure and expedition support for the scientific community. The organization does not offer commercial software products or services; instead, it provides ship time, remotely operated vehicles (such as ROV SuBastian), and technical equipment to scientists conducting oceanographic research. Schmidt Ocean Institute's work focuses on marine biodiversity discovery, ocean mapping, and environmental monitoring through partnerships with research institutions worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- R/V Falkor Schmidt Ocean Institute's original state-of-the-art oceanographic research vessel providing deep-sea exploration capability and ship time to qualified scientific teams worldwide at no cost through a proposal-based allocation system.
- R/V Falkor (too) Second state-of-the-art oceanographic research vessel operated by Schmidt Ocean Institute, used for deep-sea expeditions including NASA satellite validation campaigns conducted off Uruguay.
- ROV SuBastian Remotely operated vehicle deployed on Schmidt Ocean Institute expeditions, equipped with advanced non-invasive imaging technologies developed in collaboration with MBARI, JAMSTEC, Stanford University, and the University of Western Australia.
- Research Vessel Access Program Competitive proposal-based program awarding no-cost ship time on R/V Falkor and R/V Falkor (too), including ROV operations, advanced imaging equipment, and full technical crew support, to qualified scientific teams worldwide.
- NOVA Open-Access Data Platform Open-access platform used by Schmidt Ocean Institute to catalogue and share marine species discoveries from its expeditions, supporting international research and conservation policy.
Companies that use Schmidt Ocean Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Schmidt Ocean Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Schmidt Ocean Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean CensuscoreFlagship partnership for the Ocean Census initiative discovering 1,121 new marine species through 13 expeditions. Schmidt Ocean Institute provides research vessel access and operational support for expeditions across remote ocean regions, with discoveries catalogued on the open-access NOVA platform to support international marine conservation policy.
- JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology)coreCollaboration with JAMSTEC on deep-sea exploration technology and expeditions. JAMSTEC contributed advanced technologies to ROV SuBastian operations, and Schmidt Ocean Institute participated in JAMSTEC-led expeditions including Nazca and Salas y Gómez ridge research.
- CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)coreAustralian national science agency partnership for Ocean Census expeditions. CSIRO contributes expertise and technology to deep-sea exploration efforts in Australian waters and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
- Stanford UniversitycoreStanford University developed the 'Squid' spinning-wheel confocal microscope enabling first-ever 3D imaging of internal cellular structures of a living organism at sea. This novel technology was deployed during Schmidt Ocean Institute expeditions for non-invasive deep-sea organism study.
- MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)coreMBARI contributed advanced non-invasive imaging technologies to ROV SuBastian. MBARI develops state-of-the-art underwater robotics and imaging systems deployed on Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessels.
- University of Western Australia - Minderoo OceanOmics CentrecoreLed giant squid detection research using environmental DNA technology. The expedition collected over 1,000 samples identifying 226 species including the first recording of giant squid in the area in over 25 years.
- NASAcoreNASA PACE satellite validation partnership conducted off Uruguay coast. Oregon State University researchers used Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (too) to collect ocean biology measurements and validate PACE satellite data, with datasets submitted to NASA's data repository.
- University of Buenos AirescoreArgentine-led deep-sea expeditions documenting rare species including giant phantom jellyfish. Dr. María Emilia Bravo led the expedition that documented only the 118th recorded sighting of the species in 110 years, also discovering active cold seeps and coral reefs.
- University of EssexcoreLed the groundbreaking 35-day expedition that filmed a juvenile colossal squid in its natural habitat for the first time. The discovery on March 5, 2025, near South Sandwich Islands, provided the first in-situ footage of a juvenile of this species.
- Seabed 2030 Project (The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO)majorCollaborative initiative to map the entire ocean floor by 2030. Seabed 2030 has increased global ocean floor mapping from 6% to 26.1%, with Schmidt Ocean Institute contributing data from research vessel expeditions.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Schmidt Ocean Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): Largest private nonprofit oceanographic research institution in the US, operating multiple research vessels and deep-submergence vehicles (Alvin, Jason) globally — directly comparable to Schmidt's research-vessel-and-ROV operating model.
- Ocean Exploration Trust: Nonprofit that operates E/V Nautilus for deep-sea exploration and live-streamed expeditions; functionally comparable to Schmidt's R/V Falkor fleet in mission, funding model, and use of telepresence/ROV technology.
- REV Ocean: Norwegian nonprofit foundation operating the superyacht-sized research vessel REV Ocean for global deep-sea and ocean health expeditions — near-identical philanthropic-funder, free-ship-time model with overlapping deep-sea mission.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI): Nonprofit oceanographic research institute operating advanced ROVs and deep-sea imaging systems. MBARI is both a direct collaboration partner (ROV SuBastian imaging suite) and a like-for-like operating model for sustained deep-sea research.
Broad incumbents
- JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology): Government-backed oceanographic agency operating deep-sea vessels (Kaimei, Yokosuka, Mirai) and contributing imaging/ROV tech to ROV SuBastian; overlaps as a deep-sea research platform and a key collaboration partner.
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography: University-affiliated oceanographic institution with one of the largest academic research fleets and broad expedition portfolio — comparable in scale and mission to Schmidt but with longer institutional history and federal grant base.
- NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research: US federal program operating Okeanos Explorer and partner vessels for deep-sea exploration and open data — comparable expedition output and open-data philosophy at much larger institutional scale.
Emerging players
- The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census: Flagship philanthropic initiative to discover 100,000+ marine species; Schmidt Ocean Institute is the operational vessel partner, but Nekton itself is the most strategically adjacent emerging program with shared open-data ethos.
- Minderoo OceanOmics Centre (University of Western Australia): Philanthropy-backed eDNA and marine genomics program; Schmidt partnership on giant squid eDNA detection makes it an emerging peer in molecular biodiversity discovery on the deep sea.
Others
- Inkfish: Private marine research and expedition operator providing vessels and technical services to science; commercial adjacent to Schmidt's philanthropic research-vessel model, useful as a commercial benchmark.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Schmidt Ocean Institute social profiles
Digital presenceSchmidt Ocean Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schmidt Ocean Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Schmidt Ocean Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schmidt Ocean Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schmidt Ocean Institute
What does Schmidt Ocean Institute do?
Schmidt Ocean Institute operates two oceanographic research vessels (R/V Falkor and R/V Falkor (too)) along with the ROV SuBastian remotely operated vehicle, providing no-cost ship time, advanced non-invasive imaging capabilities, and technical crew support to qualified scientific teams worldwide. The institute enables deep-sea biodiversity research, species discovery, environmental DNA sampling, ocean-floor mapping, and satellite validation through competitive proposal-based allocation of expedition resources.
Is Schmidt Ocean Institute a public or private company?
Schmidt Ocean Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Schmidt Ocean Institute founded?
Schmidt Ocean Institute was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Schmidt Ocean Institute based?
Schmidt Ocean Institute is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Schmidt Ocean Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Ocean Exploration Trust, REV Ocean and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Broad incumbents are JAMSTEC (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology), Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. Emerging players are The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census and Minderoo OceanOmics Centre (University of Western Australia). Inkfish is listed as an others.
Does Schmidt Ocean Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schmidt Ocean Institute.
What industry is Schmidt Ocean Institute in?
Schmidt Ocean Institute's product category is Oceanographic Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHAJAI, Marine Service Provider Coordination (Diving, Inspection, Class/Survey Support). Its NAICS code is 48839 and its SIC code is 8731.