JPI Oceans

What JPI Oceans does

JPI Oceans (legal entity: JPI Oceans AISBL) is a transgovernmental research coordination platform founded in 2011 and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. It was established following the European Council's 2008 call for joint programming initiatives to strengthen the European Research Area, and it operates as an International Non-Profit Association (AISBL) under Belgian law. Its core function is to convene 13 European member countries — through their ministries and research funding agencies — around coordinated marine and maritime research agendas, enabling them to pool national budgets, share infrastructure, and avoid duplication on grand ocean challenges that no single country can address alone.

JPI Oceans delivers its mandate through three product lines: Joint Actions (transnational research programs on topics such as deep-sea mining, microplastics, underwater noise, blue carbon, and offshore freshened groundwater), Strategic Engagements (international partnerships including the European Ocean Observing System and the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance), and Knowledge Hubs (expert networks such as the Sea Level Rise hub with JPI Climate and the Munition in the Sea hub). It also facilitates joint funding calls — including ERA-NET Cofunds such as BlueBio — that have collectively mobilized tens of millions of euros and supported dozens of transnational projects. Operational tools include a Drupal-based public website, a SharePoint extranet for members, Mailchimp newsletters, and Eventbrite registration; IT services are hosted through the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).

The organization does not sell products or services commercially. Its revenue model is subscription-style member country contributions, with funding supplied by national research budgets, shared infrastructure (e.g., ship time), institutional contributions, and regional initiatives, allocated via variable geometry so each country decides its level of participation. The Secretariat is staffed by approximately 13 personnel seconded from member institutions including the Research Council Norway (RCN), the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM), and the Italian National Research Council (CNR). Governance rests with a Management Board of national representatives, with the European Commission participating as a non-voting member.

Name

JPI Oceans

Legal name

JPI Oceans AISBL

Website

https://jpi-oceans.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JPI Oceans is a Brussels-based transgovernmental AISBL that coordinates marine and maritime research across 13 European member countries via Joint Actions, Strategic Engagements, and Knowledge Hubs, funded by member-country contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Research Coordination Services

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

Keywords

• Marine research coordination
• Transnational research funding
• Joint programming initiatives
• Ocean science policy
• Blue economy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Country Contributions: The JPI Oceans AISBL is funded through contributions by the member countries. Resources for joint actions include national research budgets, shared infrastructure (e.g. ship time), institutional contributions, and regional initiatives. Participation is based on the principle of variable geometry, allowing member countries to decide whether to participate and how much to contribute according to national priorities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

JPI Oceans is a transgovernmental coordination platform that aligns and pools national marine and maritime research efforts of European member countries. It delivers its mandate through Joint Actions (transnational collaborative research programs), Strategic Engagements (international alliances such as EOOS and AAORIA), Knowledge Hubs (expert networks producing scientific assessments), and joint funding calls that combine national research budgets to support cross-border marine research projects.

Product overview

JPI Oceans is a transgovernmental platform for marine and maritime research and innovation, operating as a coordination body rather than a software product. Its portfolio consists of Joint Actions (transnational research coordination programs on topics like deep-sea mining, microplastics, underwater noise, and ocean carbon), Strategic Engagements (international partnerships including EOOS and AAORIA), and Knowledge Hubs (expert networks providing scientific assessments). The organization also facilitates funding opportunities through joint calls and provides publications, resources, news, and event information to the marine research community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Joint Actions

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The European Commission is a key partner in JPI Oceans. The European Council called on the Commission and Member States to explore Joint Programming in March 2008. The European Commission attends the JPI Oceans Management Board as a non-voting member. The EC has funded CSA Oceans and CSA Oceans 2 projects to facilitate JPI Oceans implementation.
• European Ocean Observing System (EOOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPI Oceans chairs the EOOS framework's Resource Forum and has initiated a process to create National Charts on Ocean Observing and Monitoring in Europe. EOOS aims to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of national observation efforts for ocean, seas and coastal waters.
• All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAORIA results from science diplomacy involving countries from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to enhance marine research and innovation cooperation. JPI Oceans leads the OKEANO CSA's communication, dissemination, exploitation efforts, ECOP capacity building, and R&I coordination support. The Alliance aims for healthy, resilient, clean, safe, transparent, predictable, productive oceans.
• Marine Institute (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Marine Institute coordinates the OKEANO CSA (2024-2027), the third EU-funded Coordination and Support Action supporting AAORIA. Hosted the 2025 OKEANO Consortium meeting in Dublin.
• JPI ClimatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPI Oceans collaborates with JPI Climate on the Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise and joint initiatives like the AMOC Scientific Assessment and CE2COAST project.
• All-Atlantic Partner CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAORIA partners include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, European Union, Ghana, Iceland, Morocco, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States. Each country has designated ministries or research councils as official representatives.
• EOOS Participating CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEOOS participating countries include Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, and United Kingdom, each represented by their respective funding agencies or ministries.
• OKEANO CSA Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe OKEANO CSA consortium includes 15 partner organisations from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Cabo Verde, France, Germany, Ireland, Morocco, Norway, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. Funded under Horizon Europe by the European Commission.
• Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVLIZ provides IT support and system administration for JPI Oceans' website and IT services. VLIZ second personnel to the JPI Oceans Secretariat through the Flanders department for Economy Science and Innovation.
• Research Council Norway (RCN)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRCN seconded personnel to the JPI Oceans Secretariat. National representative on the JPI Oceans Management Board.
• German Marine Research Consortium (KDM)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKDM seconded personnel to the JPI Oceans Secretariat. JPI Oceans co-led the All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors initiative alongside KDM under the AANChOR CSA.
• Italian National Research Council (CNR)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCNR seconded personnel to the JPI Oceans Secretariat. Hosted workshops and events related to JPI Oceans activities including munition in the sea.
• Other Joint Programming InitiativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine other JPIs exist: JPND (Neurodegenerative Diseases), FACCE (Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change), JPI HDHL (Healthy Diet), Cultural Heritage, JPI Urban Europe, JPI Climate, More Years Better Lives, JPIAMR (Antimicrobial Resistance), and Water JPI.
• AANChOR CSA (Past)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAANChOR CSA (2018-2023) was the preceding EU-funded CSA supporting the All-Atlantic Alliance. Coordinated by FCT Portugal. JPI Oceans co-led the All-Atlantic Ocean Youth Ambassadors initiative alongside KDM. Identified over 1000 initiatives and 56 gaps across the Atlantic.
• BlueBio ERA-NET CofundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlueBio ERA-NET Cofund consisted of 30 partners from 17 countries and launched four calls funding 49 projects to strengthen Europe's position in the blue bioeconomy.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JPI Urban Europe: Sister Joint Programming Initiative coordinating urban research across European member states. Operates under the same Council framework and coordination model as JPI Oceans.
• European Marine Board: Provides marine science-policy advice to European member states and acts as a strategic marine research coordination body in Europe. Highly comparable in mission (science-policy interface for marine research) and geography.
• Water JPI: Sister Joint Programming Initiative addressing water challenges across Europe, operating under the same Council-mandated framework and variable-geometry participation model as JPI Oceans.
• JPI Climate: A sister Joint Programming Initiative coordinating transnational climate research across European member states. Operates under the same European Council framework and variable-geometry model as JPI Oceans, and is an active co-implementation partner on the Sea Level Rise Knowledge Hub.
• JPI HDHL: Joint Programming Initiative on 'A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life' — sister JPI operating the same transgovernmental coordination, joint calls, and Knowledge Hub mechanisms as JPI Oceans.
• Belmont Forum: International consortium of research-funding organizations supporting transdisciplinary global change research through coordinated calls. Closely comparable in transgovernmental funding-coordination model and consortium-based governance.
• ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea): Intergovernmental marine science organization coordinating oceanographic research and advising member governments on marine policy. Comparable in member-state coordination, science-policy interface, and marine focus.
• IOC-UNESCO (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission): The UN body coordinating global marine science, capacity development, ocean observing, and tsunami warning systems. Closest international analog to JPI Oceans in coordinating ocean science across sovereign states.
• FACCE-JPI: Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change — a sister initiative operating the same transgovernmental coordination model and ERA-NET cofund structure as JPI Oceans.

Others

• EMODnet: European Marine Observation and Data Network — adjacent infrastructure provider making marine data openly accessible across European sea basins. JPI Oceans chairs the related EOOS Resource Forum, providing direct ecosystem linkage rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEBQ-g3ulZLnekGUHhL5NsA
• Facebookfacebook.com/jpioceans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jpi-oceans
• Instagraminstagram.com/jpioceans

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 JPI Oceans