What HUB Ocean does

HUB Ocean is an independent non-profit foundation established in 2020 through a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and the Aker Group, headquartered in Oslo, Norway. The organization operates the Ocean Data Platform (ODP), a cloud-based geospatial platform that aggregates ocean, climate, and biodiversity datasets from public sources (World Ocean Atlas, World Ocean Database, Copernicus Marine, GEBCO) and industrial partners into a unified, DOI-indexed catalog integrated with cloud-hosted Jupyter workspaces powered by scalable Dask compute. The platform enables private data collaboration with FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) governance and is being extended through an Ocean Sensitive Areas module co-developed with TotalEnergies EP Denmark. Notable technical work includes a published convolutional-neural-network model applied to 30,000+ hours of krill-fishery acoustic echosounder data for Antarctic predator and biodiversity mapping.

HUB Ocean serves a multi-stakeholder user base spanning scientific researchers, ocean industries (shipping, seafood, offshore energy, aquaculture, finance) that hold operational ocean data, ocean governance bodies advancing the global 30x30 marine-protection target, and citizen scientists. It leads the Ocean Data Action Coalition (ODAC) alongside Microsoft and Accenture, and is a founding member of the UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG) co-chaired by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and FUGRO. Its 27+ strategic partners include Aker BioMarine, TGS, TotalEnergies EP Denmark, Equinor, BP, Shell, Ørsted, Van Oord, FUGRO, Cognite, DNB, and Mercuria.

The organization's go-to-market is coalition-led and event-driven: it runs the annual Ocean Data Action Day, distributes example notebooks through GitHub (C4IROcean), publishes the Tides of Transparency report, and operates a Slack community for user engagement. As a non-profit foundation, HUB Ocean provides the platform free of charge and operates on grants, donations, and partner contributions rather than a commercial revenue model; there is no pricing surface, no sales motion, and no headcount or revenue disclosure publicly available.

Name

HUB Ocean

Legal name

HUB Ocean

Website

https://www.hubocean.earth/

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HUB Ocean is a non-profit foundation operating a cloud-based Ocean Data Platform that unifies public and industrial ocean datasets for scientific researchers, ocean industries, governance bodies, and citizen scientists, with no commercial revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Data and Analytics Platform

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI), Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Ocean data platform
• Marine data analytics
• Ocean biodiversity data
• Marine geospatial platform
• Ocean governance data

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Non-profit foundation model: HUB Ocean is an independent non-profit foundation dedicated to unlocking the power of data to protect and restore ocean health. The organization appears to operate on grants, donations, and partnership contributions rather than a commercial revenue model. The Ocean Data Platform is provided freely to users.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HUB Ocean is a non-profit foundation that operates the Ocean Data Platform, a cloud-based geospatial platform for ocean data accessible at app.hubocean.earth. The platform provides a unified ocean data catalog, Jupyter-based cloud workspaces with Dask distributed compute, and private data spaces for organizations to share and analyze ocean data. It serves scientists, ocean industries (shipping, seafood, offshore energy, aquaculture, finance), governments, and citizens with integrated public, scientific, and industrial ocean data, supported by FAIR data governance and DOI-based publishing.

Product overview

HUB Ocean operates the Ocean Data Platform as its primary offering, a cloud-based geospatial platform that provides scientists, experts, and organizations seamless access to fit-for-purpose ocean data from both public and private sources. The platform consists of several integrated components: an Open Data Catalog containing thousands of ocean, climate, and biodiversity datasets from public scientific databases (World Ocean Atlas, World Ocean Database, Copernicus Marine, GEBCO) and industrial partners; Cloud Workspace + Jupyter for integrated data analysis with scalable Dask compute; Private Data Space for secure collaboration and publishing with DOIs and FAIR data governance; and Ocean Sensitive Areas for ecosystem and habitat data. The platform is complemented by data-sharing initiatives including the Ocean Data Action Coalition and UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group, along with tools like the Tides of Transparency report and Data Sharing Toolkit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ocean Data Platform (ODP): A cloud-based geospatial and cloud workspace platform where companies can share, visualize, and analyze ocean data in line with FAIR principles.

Products and services

• Ocean Data Platform Cloud-based geospatial ocean data platform providing a unified catalog of public, scientific, and industrial ocean data, Jupyter-based cloud workspaces with Dask distributed compute, and private data spaces for organizational data sharing. Serves scientists, ocean industries (shipping, seafood, offshore energy, aquaculture, finance), governments, and citizens, with FAIR-compliant data governance and DOI-based data publishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Data shared by TGS doubled the volume of available biodiversity data compared to OBIS for the same data type and geographic area in Brazil
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.

• OceanPactstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025OceanPact and HUB Ocean formally launched a new pledge at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, inviting ocean-related industries to address critical ocean data gaps in Brazil and strengthen marine protection efforts supporting the 30x30 biodiversity target.
• Solstad OffshoreminorOthers · 1 December 2025One of the data-sharing partners in the Brazil ocean data pledge launched at COP30, committing to identify and responsibly share relevant ocean data.
• SLB OneSubseaminorOthers · 1 December 2025One of the data-sharing partners in the Brazil ocean data pledge launched at COP30.
• EquinorminorOthers · 1 December 2025Institutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group; data-sharing partner in Brazil ocean data pledge.
• AKOFS OffshoreminorOthers · 1 December 2025One of the data-sharing partners in the Brazil ocean data pledge launched at COP30.
• MercuriaminorOthers · 1 December 2025Listed among supporters and collaborators of the Brazil ocean data pledge at COP30.
• Minderoo FoundationminorOthers · 1 December 2025Collaborator and supporter of the Brazil ocean data pledge, contributing to national progress toward the global 30x30 biodiversity target.
• Accenture NordicsminorOthers · 1 December 2025Collaborator and supporter of the Brazil ocean data pledge.
• TotalEnergies EP DenmarkstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024TotalEnergies EP Denmark entered a co-development agreement with HUB Ocean in December 2024 to strengthen marine research and conservation efforts in the North Sea. The partnership builds on TotalEnergies' release of 4+ decades of marine data through the North Sea Environment Portal.
• TGSstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024TGS, a leader in geoscience data for the energy sector (merged with PGS in 2024), partnered with HUB Ocean in February 2024. TGS shared marine mammal and turtle sightings, CTD data, ocean current measurements, and sea state information collected 2008-2023, transformed to FAIR standards for public access.
• DHIstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024DHI collaborated with TotalEnergies EP Denmark and HUB Ocean to launch the North Sea Environment Portal in 2024, gathering comprehensive data on seabed conditions, biodiversity, and environmental impacts of oil and gas platforms.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft co-leads the Ocean Data Action Coalition (ODAC) with HUB Ocean and Accenture, contributing to the Ocean Panel's goal of achieving a sustainably managed ocean. Microsoft provides technical expertise and supports ODAC events. Lena Lundgreen, EMEA Lead, Public Sector, Microsoft, participates in Ocean Data Action Day.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccenture joined the Ocean Data Action Coalition (ODAC) in 2024, alongside HUB Ocean and Microsoft. Toby Siddall, Managing Director & Sustainability Lead, Accenture UK & Ireland, and Africa participates in Ocean Data Action Day discussions. Accenture brings consulting expertise to the coalition.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Economic Forum collaborated with the Aker Group to establish HUB Ocean (originally C4IR Ocean). The organization was born from this collaboration to address ocean data challenges globally.
• Aker GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAker Group collaborated with the World Economic Forum to establish HUB Ocean (originally C4IR Ocean). Øyvind Eriksen, Board Chairman of HUB Ocean and CEO & President of Aker ASA, provides leadership. Kjell Inge Røkke, Norwegian industry builder and Principal Owner of Aker ASA, serves as UN Ocean Decade Special Emissary for Industrial Ocean Data.
• Aker BioMarinestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAker BioMarine shares underwater acoustic data from krill fishing operations with HUB Ocean's Ocean Data Platform. The data is used by researchers to study predator-fishery interactions in the Antarctic.
• UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO's IOC co-chairs the UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG) with FUGRO. HUB Ocean is a founding member of the CDG. Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of IOC-UNESCO, advocates for industry data sharing and participated in Ocean Data Action Day.
• FUGROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFUGRO co-chairs the UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG) with UNESCO's IOC. HUB Ocean is a founding member of the CDG.
• UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHUB Ocean is a founding member of the CDG, a working group of action co-chaired by UNESCO's IOC and FUGRO. The CDG brings together companies, scientists, and data experts to unlock ocean data from ocean industries. Institutional members include Equinor, BP, Van Oord, TotalEnergies, Mainstream Renewable Power, Ava Ocean, Alcatel Submarine Networks, Ecowende, Shell, Ørsted, FUGRO, SBM Offshore, and HUB Ocean.
• EquinorminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• BPminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• ShellminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• TotalEnergiesminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• ØrstedminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• Van OordminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• FUGRO SBM OffshoreminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• Mainstream Renewable PowerminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• Ava OceanminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• Alcatel Submarine NetworksminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG).
• EcowendeminorOthersInstitutional member of UN Ocean Decade Corporate Data Group (CDG). Hermione Van Zutphen, Ecology Program Manager at Ecowende, participates in Ocean Data Action Day.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Saildrone: Autonomous ocean data collection company using wind- and solar-powered sailing drones. Adjacent in the ocean data value chain (Saildrone collects the data; HUB Ocean hosts and shares it) but commercial and hardware-focused rather than platform-focused.

Direct peers

• EMODnet: European Marine Observation and Data Network aggregating marine data across multiple themes (bathymetry, biology, chemistry, etc.) from public and contributed sources. Comparable in mission (unifying fragmented ocean data) and open-access model.
• SeaDataNet: Pan-European infrastructure for marine and ocean data management, providing standardized access to datasets from national oceanographic data centers. Comparable as a federated, FAIR-governed marine data network with strong institutional backing.
• OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System): Global open-access data and information system for marine biodiversity, hosting ~100M occurrence records. HUB Ocean's TGS Brazil results are benchmarked against OBIS, positioning it as the principal public biodiversity data repository HUB Ocean supplements with industrial data.
• Copernicus Marine Service: EU-funded operational oceanography service providing free open access to ocean state, climate, and biogeochemical data via a cloud platform. Directly comparable as a free, cloud-based ocean data catalog and analytics environment serving researchers and industries globally.
• IOOS (U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System): U.S. federal-regional partnership that integrates ocean observing data from federal and non-federal sources into a single national system. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder ocean data aggregation platform serving research, industry, and policy users.
• GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans): International initiative providing the most authoritative publicly available bathymetric data sets of the world's oceans. Already integrated into HUB Ocean's catalog and serves a similar function of democratizing access to ocean geospatial data.

Emerging players

• Mercator Ocean International: French non-profit providing operational ocean forecasting and digital ocean services, with cloud-based analytics offerings. Comparable as a non-profit ocean data and analytics provider with both scientific and industrial users.
• Pangaea: Data publisher for earth and environmental science with DOI assignment, FAIR data principles, and a long-running open repository. Comparable in DOI-publishing and FAIR data governance, though Pangaea spans all earth science rather than focusing on ocean.
• Blue-Cloud: EU-funded project delivering a virtual research environment for marine data with FAIR-compliant cloud-based analysis. Comparable as a cloud-based marine analytics platform with strong public-sector backing and overlap in user community.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/C4IROcean
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@oceandataplatform

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HUB Ocean