Ocean Knowledge Action Network

What Ocean Knowledge Action Network does

The Ocean Knowledge Action Network (Ocean KAN) is a trust-based, decentralized global network founded in 2021 to enable knowledge sharing and collaboration in ocean science for sustainable development. It serves ocean scientists, marine researchers, policy makers, conservation practitioners, and other stakeholders across multiple cultures, languages, sectors, and disciplines, with a self-organizing governance model in which all members have an equal voice. The network operates through regular meetings, learning circles, and community-led governance supported by a 15+ member Steering Committee and a Global Coordinator (Linwood Pendleton).

Its core offering is the Ocean KAN Network Platform — a Google Sites-hosted website backed by Google Drive for document management — which functions primarily as a coordination and resource-sharing hub rather than a commercial product. Complementary resources include the Scientific Narrative Toolkit (PDF), a Video Storytelling Toolkit, a Storyboard Template, and the Western Indian Ocean Conservation Stories Collection, which together support researchers and practitioners in communicating ocean science through narrative formats. The technology stack is deliberately low-friction and community-accessible rather than proprietary.

Ocean KAN is a non-profit that does not generate commercial revenue; member participation and partner-supported collaboration are provided free of charge. Its growth model is community-led, expanding through word-of-mouth, partner referrals, and invitations to other networks, anchored by founding partners SCOR, WCRP, and IOC-UNESCO and embedded in the Future Earth Network alongside 50+ additional partner organizations spanning universities, research institutes, NGOs, and intergovernmental bodies.

Name

Ocean Knowledge Action Network

Website

https://oceankan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ocean Knowledge Action Network (Ocean KAN) is a non-profit, trust-based global network founded in 2021 that enables knowledge sharing and collaboration among ocean scientists, researchers, policy makers, and conservation practitioners across cultures, languages, sectors, and disciplines to support ocean action for sustainable development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ocean Science Collaboration Network

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Ocean knowledge network
• Marine science collaboration
• Ocean sustainability research
• Scientific storytelling resources
• Interdisciplinary ocean action

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Network Membership and Collaboration: As a non-profit trust-based network, Ocean KAN operates through member participation and partnerships rather than commercial revenue generation. The network provides knowledge-sharing and collaboration services to members at no cost.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ocean KAN is a trust-based, global, self-organizing, and decentralized network that facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration across cultures, languages, sectors, and disciplines to support ocean action and sustainable development. The network operates through community membership, regular meetings, learning circles, and partner organization engagement, and provides supplementary storytelling resources and toolkits for ocean researchers and conservation professionals.

Product overview

Ocean Knowledge Action Network (Ocean KAN) is a global networking platform and community for ocean science collaboration. The core offering is the Ocean KAN Network Platform, which enables knowledge sharing across cultures, languages, sectors, and disciplines. Complementing this platform, Ocean KAN provides educational resources including the Scientific Narrative Toolkit (PDF), Video Storytelling Toolkit (step-by-step guide for video production), Storyboard Template, and the Western Indian Ocean Conservation Stories Collection. These resources support researchers and conservation professionals in communicating ocean science through storytelling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean KAN Network Platform A trust-based, global, self-organizing, and decentralized network platform that enables knowledge sharing and fosters collaboration across cultures, languages, sectors, and disciplines to support ocean action. All members have an equal voice in day-to-day networking and governance.
• Scientific Narrative Toolkit A PDF toolkit designed to help researchers and conservation professionals share their work through storytelling, part of a special session organized at the WIOMSA Symposium in October 2022.
• Video Storytelling Toolkit A step-by-step guide developed by Melissa Cervantes for the Global Sustainability Scholar program, covering storyboard development, filming, and editing techniques to help scientists communicate their research through video narratives.
• Storyboard Template A downloadable template to help users plan and structure their video narratives for scientific storytelling.
• Western Indian Ocean Conservation Stories Collection A collection of video stories featuring four Western Indian Ocean early-career professionals sharing their conservation narratives, including stories from Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, and Seychelles.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Future EarthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean KAN is a member of the Future Earth Network, the global research platform for sustainability. This membership provides access to a broader network of sustainability researchers and institutions worldwide.
• SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCOR helped create and support the Ocean KAN as one of its founding partners, providing scientific expertise and international research coordination.
• WCRP (World Climate Research Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWCRP helped create and support the Ocean KAN as one of its founding partners, contributing expertise in climate and ocean research coordination.
• IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOC helped create and support the Ocean KAN as one of its founding partners, contributing to ocean science coordination and policy alignment.
• UN Ocean Decade / ECOP DecadecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development through the ECOP (Early Career Ocean Professionals) network.
• IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational marine research initiative focused on understanding marine biogeochemistry and ecosystem dynamics.
• Blue Economy Research Institute, University of SeychellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the Ocean KAN Seychelles, organizing collaborative events such as the WIOMSA Symposium special session on storytelling in science.
• Western Indian Ocean Early-Career Scientists Network (WIO ECSN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of early-career ocean professionals in the Western Indian Ocean region, collaborating on scientific storytelling initiatives.
• Ocean ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization focused on ocean conservation, working to protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable ocean policies.
• Middlebury Center for Blue EconomyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch center focused on the blue economy, sustainable ocean business, and marine industry development.
• Ocean LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of oceanographic institutions working to advance ocean research and education in the United States.
• SOLAS (Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research initiative studying the exchange of gases, particles, and heat at the ocean-atmosphere interface.
• Future Earth CoastsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal research platform focusing on coastal systems, sustainability, and the interface between land and sea.
• Ocean VisionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork focused on ocean solutions and innovation, supporting collaborative approaches to ocean challenges.
• Academia Sinica (Taiwan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier research institution in Taiwan with oceanographic research programs, represented on the Steering Committee.
• Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI), University of TokyominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese research institute focused on atmosphere and ocean research, contributing to international ocean science collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Major ocean-focused non-profit and partner organization of Ocean KAN. Operates a comparable member- and partner-driven ocean conservation mission combining science, advocacy and community engagement.
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO): UN body coordinating ocean science and the lead UN agency for the Ocean Decade; founding partner of Ocean KAN. Operates as a global network of national oceanographic institutions addressing the same ocean sustainability agenda.
• Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR): Founding partner of Ocean KAN and one of the largest international bodies coordinating ocean science. Directly comparable as an international ocean-research coordination network serving the same scientific community.
• World Climate Research Programme (WCRP): Founding partner of Ocean KAN coordinating climate research internationally. Comparable as a trust-based, member-driven international science network spanning disciplines and regions.
• Future Earth: Global sustainability research platform of which Ocean KAN is a member network. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening organization spanning research, policy and practice across sustainability themes, of which ocean is one.

Direct peers

• Ocean Visions: Partner organization of Ocean KAN and a network focused on collaborative ocean solutions and innovation. Directly comparable as a trust-based multi-stakeholder network advancing ocean action through partnership rather than commercial products.
• SOLAS (Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study): Partner organization of Ocean KAN and an international research initiative. Directly comparable as a globally distributed, member-driven network coordinating interdisciplinary ocean-atmosphere science.
• Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research (IMBER): Partner of Ocean KAN and an international research initiative fostering collaboration on marine biogeochemistry and ecosystem research. Closely comparable as an international, network-driven ocean science coordination body.
• UN Ocean Decade / ECOP Decade: The UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021–2030 and its Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) program — a global network and convening platform directly aligned with Ocean KAN's mission of cross-regional, cross-disciplinary ocean collaboration.

Regional players

• Middlebury Center for Blue Economy: Partner of Ocean KAN focused on blue economy, sustainable ocean business, and marine industry development. Comparable as a research-and-network center advancing ocean sustainability through cross-sector collaboration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ocean Knowledge Action Network