Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences

What Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences does

CEMarin (Corporación Centro de Excelencia en Ciencias Marinas) is a non-profit academic consortium headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, that advances marine sciences research, training, and innovation through a network of 10 member institutions — 9 Colombian universities plus Germany's Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), with Justus Liebig University Giessen as an additional German academic partner. Founded with support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany, the organization connects 256 interdisciplinary researchers across its member institutions and runs an integrated portfolio of services: postgraduate academic program coordination, paid training courses and workshops, the biennial International Conference on Marine Science (ICMS) and regional conferences (CLAMA 2026 in Cartagena), webinars, scientific expeditions (including the 2025 Maria S Merian Magdalena River expedition), and publications such as Sonar Magazine and a podcast series. CEMarin's revenue mechanics combine institutional grants (primarily DAAD and government/foundation funding such as Fundación Grupo Argos and Fundación Santo Domingo), course and training fees, event registration fees processed through its own payments portal (integrated with PlacetoPay), small museum entry fees at the Museo del Mar, and a newly introduced participatory crowdfunding mechanism.

The consortium's go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: members and participants are acquired through academic calls, scholarships, calls for proposals, conferences, and webinars, while researchers join via formal affiliation with member universities. Engagement is sustained through thematic networks such as the Red de Jóvenes Investigadores (Young Researchers Network) and the Colombian Ocean Energy Network, plus outreach via newsletter (CEMarin Blue News), YouTube, social media, and the Sonar Magazine. Underlying infrastructure is light and operational rather than technological: the payments portal, bilingual website (cemarin.org), podcast distribution, and YouTube channel constitute the main digital surface, with no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities described. The organization is governed as a Colombian civil corporation (non-profit), with an Executive Director (Dr. Andrés Osorio) leading coral reef rehabilitation and climate adaptation priorities, and is overseen by institutional partners rather than equity holders.

Name

Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences

Legal name

Corporación Centro de Excelencia en Ciencias Marinas

Website

https://cemarin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CEMarin is a Colombian non-profit academic consortium connecting 10 member universities and 256 researchers across Colombia and Germany to advance marine sciences research, postgraduate training, conferences (ICMS, CLAMA), and conservation projects, primarily funded by the German DAAD program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Sciences Research and Academic Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)

Keywords

• Marine sciences research
• Academic consortium services
• Marine conservation training
• Ocean science education
• Coastal ecosystem research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: CEMarin receives funding from international academic exchange programs, particularly the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany. Additional funding comes from government grants and project-based research contracts.
2. Course and Training Fees: The organization generates revenue through paid academic courses, workshops, and training programs. Examples include the aquatic mammals identification course and the pre-COP16 course 'Estrategias Verdes para Ecosistemas Azules' with associated fees.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue is generated from event registrations including conferences like CLAMA 2026 and ICMS events, as well as paid webinars and workshops.
4. Venue and Museum Access: Revenue from museum entry fees (e.g., Museo del Mar entry at $5,000 COP individual, $3,000 COP for groups of 5+).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CEMarin is an academic consortium that conducts marine sciences research, delivers postgraduate scientific training, and organizes conferences and courses across a network of 10 Colombian and German universities. It sells access to specialized marine science courses, paid conference registrations (ICMS, CLAMA), research project collaboration, and venue/museum experiences. The organization is supported by DAAD funding and operates as a non-profit civil corporation.

Product overview

CEMarin is an academic consortium that functions as a platform-plus-services organization rather than a single commercial product. The core offerings consist of ICMS international conferences (biannual marine science events), a payments portal for event registrations and crowdfunding, Sonar Magazine publication, marine science courses and webinars, an academic programs network across 10 Colombian and international universities, and various research projects. These services collectively support scientific research, technology development, innovation, training, and entrepreneurship in marine sciences for Colombian and regional environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICMS (International Conference on Marine Science) Biannual international conference providing an interdisciplinary forum for discussing environmental change, ecosystem impacts, sustainable use of marine resources, and technological innovation in marine sciences. Targeted at researchers, graduate students, and academic institutions.
• Marine Sciences Courses Educational offerings including workshops, training programs, and specialized courses on marine science topics such as aquatic mammal identification, green strategies for blue ecosystems, and project management for scientific collaboration. Certification is provided from partner universities for 32-hour courses.
• Research Projects Interdisciplinary research initiatives spanning coral reef restoration, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, marine ecosystems monitoring, and blue economy development across Colombian marine territories, executed through 13 regional projects across 4 research themes.
• CLAMA – XIII Congreso Latinamericano de Malacología Latin American Malacology Congress scheduled for August 2026 in Cartagena, Colombia, focusing on diversity, sustainability, and resilience of mollusks in the region.
• Payments Portal Online payment platform for event registrations, course fees, and crowdfunding initiatives supporting marine science research, integrating PlacetoPay for payment processing with support for multiple international payment methods.
• Sonar Magazine Digital publication covering marine science topics, research findings, and conservation efforts in Colombian and regional marine environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16 years of operation advancing marine sciences in Colombia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZMT is a German member institution within the CEMarin network. The partnership enables international research collaboration, joint expeditions, and exchange programs between Colombian and German marine researchers. ZMT co-hosts events including the ICMS conference.
• Universidad de los AndescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember institution offering marine science academic programs. Contributes researchers and students to the CEMarin network for collaborative research projects and training.
• Universidad de AntioquiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember institution with the Institute of Marine Science (ICM) in Turbo. Hosts the 'Redes y Saberes' webinar series and contributes researchers including PhD. Lennin Florez Leiva.
• Universidad Nacional de ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey member institution with Caribbean campus. Hosts the Executive Directorate and provides institutional support. Contributes researchers and coordinates national research initiatives.
• Universidad del NortecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined CEMarin in 2024. Located in Barranquilla, it strengthens research capacity in the Caribbean region, particularly in marine physics, geociences, and coastal sustainability research.
• Universidad de CartagenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoined in September 2024 with the Observatory of Maritime and Port Activities. Hosts CLAMA 2026 conference venue and strengthens Caribbean marine research capacity.
• Universidad Jorge Tadeo LozanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for CEMarin headquarters. Offers marine science programs and houses the Museo del Mar (Sea Museum) used for outreach events.
• Universidad del MagdalenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember institution in the Colombian Caribbean region contributing to marine science research and training.
• Universidad del VallecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember institution contributing to the CEMarin academic network and offering marine science programs.
• Justus Liebig University GiessensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university partner in the CEMarin network, contributing to international academic exchange in marine sciences.
• Fundación Grupo ArgossupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in biodiversity conservation projects in the Caribbean Colombian islands, supporting coral reef and mangrove restoration initiatives through the Barú Island biodiversity baseline project.
• Fundación Santo DomingosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating foundation supporting conservation and blue economy initiatives in Caribbean Colombia, partnered on the Barú Island biodiversity project.
• German Embassy in ColombiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe German Embassy participated in field visits to observe CEMarin conservation projects, demonstrating continued German government support for Colombian marine biodiversity.
• National Natural Parks of ColombiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency collaborating on marine protected area conservation and management projects, including coral reef restoration in the Rosario Islands.
• Oceanario (Islas del Rosario)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in marine conservation and restoration efforts, hosting mangrove and coral reef restoration activities in the Rosario Islands National Natural Park.
• University of Kiel (Christian Winter research team)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university leading the Colombian-German Magdalena River research expedition aboard the Maria S Merian research vessel, exploring freshwater influence on the Caribbean Sea.
• Albrechts-Universität KielsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman university participating in the Colombian-German marine research expedition exploring the Magdalena River and Caribbean Sea interaction.
• Leibniz-Institut für Ostseeforschung (Warnemünde)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman research institute involved in the international marine research expedition studying sediment dynamics at the Magdalena River delta.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Charles Darwin Foundation: Marine and terrestrial research foundation in the Galápagos running long-term ecological research, postgraduate training, and outreach. Comparable to CEMarin in mission (tropical marine science, training, conservation-linked partnerships) and in operating a research station as a hub for an international research community.
• Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT): German marine research institute and a core CEMarin member. Comparable as an interdisciplinary tropical marine research center that runs postgraduate training, hosts international conferences, and operates scientific expeditions—mirroring CEMarin's bundled research, training, and convening activities.
• INVEMAR (Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras): Colombia's primary marine and coastal research institute, headquartered in Santa Marta. Directly comparable because it conducts applied marine science research, postgraduate training, and works with Colombian universities and government agencies on coastal ecosystems—the same core mission CEMarin pursues through its consortium model.
• Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI): Panama-based marine and tropical research institute with a postgraduate fellowship program, international research network, and a Latin American footprint. Directly comparable in combining tropical marine research, training, and convening across a regional network of partner institutions.

Emerging players

• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Independent U.S. ocean research institute focused on microbial oceanography, blue food, and ocean-climate work with a strong education and postdoctoral training program. Comparable as a smaller, education-heavy ocean research nonprofit operating outside a traditional university structure.

Broad incumbents

• Schmidt Ocean Institute: U.S. private operating foundation that funds open ocean research, hosts expeditions aboard its research vessel Falkor, and supports training and technology development. Comparable as a non-profit funder and convener of marine research, with a similar training/education mission and international convening events.
• National Oceanography Centre (NOC): UK-based marine science institution running graduate training, deep-sea and oceanographic research, and large-scale international expeditions. Overlaps with CEMarin on postgraduate training, expedition-based research, and international convening, but operates at substantially larger scale.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI): One of the largest independent oceanographic research and education institutions globally, with a joint graduate program with MIT and a global research expedition program. Comparable to CEMarin at much larger scale in conducting ocean research, training graduate students, and convening the international marine science community.

Others

• Conservation International - Center for Oceans: Global conservation NGO with significant marine biodiversity funding, partnerships with Latin American institutions, and blue economy programs. Adjacent to CEMarin as a large-scale funder and convener of marine conservation projects in the same Caribbean and Latin American geographies.

Regional players

• Universidad de Concepción - Centro COPAS Sur-Austral: Chilean marine and oceanographic research center running postgraduate programs and regional ocean monitoring. Comparable to CEMarin as a Latin American academic hub combining marine research, graduate training, and convening, but operating in the southeastern Pacific rather than the Caribbean.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDbDg6Pz8RKxZBDIcBMxmrQ
• Xx.com/CEMarin_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-of-excellence-in-marine-sciences---cemarin

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Corporation Center of Excellence in Marine Sciences