EurOcean member Ifremer has established the Neptune endowment fund to support Mission Neptune, an international initiative launched during the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference to advance ocean exploration, observation and scientific understanding.

Published in France's Official Journal in July 2026, the fund aims to mobilise private and philanthropic funding for international ocean exploration and observation expeditions, scientific programmes supporting early career researchers, deep ocean technologies and infrastructure, and international research collaborations.

Mission Neptune brings together scientific institutions, foundations, philanthropic organisations and private partners, with a focus on strengthening international cooperation and sharing ocean knowledge to support its protection, sustainable management and governance.

Read the press release: here.