Ocean Hackathon®: 12 host cities worldwide in 2026!

A challenge is a question or a concrete problem related to the marine and maritime world. It is an idea that the proposer wishes to explore and assess for feasibility using marine data. It can also be a technological component or an exploratory solution connected to a more developed ongoing project.

Whether you are an individual (researcher, entrepreneur, engineer, student, or simply passionate about the ocean) or an organisation (company, laboratory, association, or local authority), you can propose a challenge!

What does Ocean Hackathon® offer to challenge proposers?

• The energy of a team with complementary skills dedicated to the challenge. The proposer is fully involved and shares their vision with the team throughout the 48 hours of the hackathon.
• Special access to curated datasets, with the data providers present to support the teams over the weekend.
• Dedicated coaches to guide the projects, offering expert advice and insights to help advance the solutions.
• A collaborative, creative, and supportive atmosphere guaranteed!
• The potential opportunity to pitch the project at the International Grand Finale in Brest.

Where to find examples of challenges?

The 2025 press kit lists and describes 54 projects developed from the challenges of the 9th edition of Ocean Hackathon®.

Banner for the “Call for Challenges” section of the Ocean Hackathon® 2026 event

How to Apply

A form must be completed before 30 May 2026.

Information Webinar

For those still hesitating to submit a challenge, a webinar will be held on 27 April. Sign up now!

The Ocean Hackathon® Community

The success of the event relies on the actors of the Campus Mondial de la Mer: sharing information worldwide, providing datasets (Cerema, Ifremer, Météo-France, Shom, etc.), coaching (Technopôle Brest-Iroise, ENIB, IMT Atlantique, Clairmont Novus, Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique, etc.), supporting the Grand Finale as ambassadors (Ifremer, Shom, OFB, etc.), and more.

Success also depends on national and international partners (EmodNet, Global Fishing Watch, EMBRC, Mercator Ocean International, Wekeo, International Hydrographic Organization, etc.), as well as alumni from previous editions.
The event is recognised as part of the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by the United Nations.

Key Dates 2026

• Submit your challenge for one of the local editions: 1 April – 30 May 2026
• Register for a local edition and join a team and a challenge: from September 2026
• Simultaneous local editions: 16–18 October 2026
• International Grand Finale: winning teams from each local edition will come to Brest (Océanopolis) to pitch their project. A 100% worldwide event: 10 December 2026

The Ocean Hackathon® Concept

Ocean Hackathon® is a 48-hour non-stop event where teams develop a prototype to tackle specific marine-related challenges. The prototype must be based on marine datasets provided by local, national, and international data providers.

Ocean Hackathon® is an initiative of the Campus Mondial de la Mer, promoting knowledge sharing, the use of new digital technologies, and entrepreneurship.
The concept was born in Brest in 2016, tested and optimised locally before being extended to other countries in 2019.

The event is organised with the support of Brest Métropole, the Brittany Region, and the European UPWELLING project, funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area programme.