OceanX at UNOC 2025: Driving Action Through Science and Education for a Sustainable Ocean

OceanX at UNOC 2025: Driving Action Through Science and Education for a Sustainable Ocean  

Nice, France – June 17, 2025 - OceanX, a nonprofit organization focused on unlocking the ocean’s sustainable potential through science and education, concluded a mission-driven week at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), held in Nice from June 9 to 13, 2025.  

As a central convener of global ocean leaders, OceanX hosted multiple high-level events aboard the OceanXplorer, including announcing a new ocean technology pilot with Katapult Ocean to accelerate breakthrough solutions; co-hosting the launch of OceanQuest, a nonprofit advancing deep-sea exploration and education; and sharing a landmark commitment from the Indonesian government to support multi-year OceanX missions advancing marine science, media, and education across the archipelago. Throughout the week, OceanX drove forward partnerships, scientific collaboration, and public engagement to strengthen the global push for a healthy and resilient ocean. 

"We are thrilled to have brought together science, knowledge through education, and action during the United Nations Ocean Conference. The fight for a sustainable ocean is a fight for all. Thanks to the new partnerships created and the action-oriented discussions held this week in Nice, we leave with new missions to conduct, where collected data will directly inform more practical solutions for sustainable ocean governance," explained Vincent Pieribone, co-CEO and chief science officer, OceanX.  

OceanX Showcases Science-Driven Ocean Exploration  

In the UNOC3 Blue Zone, Pieribone also served as a panelist in the official Ocean Action Panel 2 on “Increasing ocean-related scientific cooperation, knowledge, capacity-building, marine technology, and education to strengthen the science-policy interface for ocean health.” Co-chaired by the Governments of Portugal and Panama, the session brought together global ocean leaders to explore how data, technology, and education can drive more inclusive and impactful ocean policy. Pieribone emphasized the need for practical systems that democratize access to ocean knowledge, highlighting OceanX’s mission-driven work in Malaysia, Cape Verde, and the Red Sea. His remarks reflected the panel’s broader consensus: sustainable ocean governance demands more than research alone. It requires reliable data, shared tools, inclusive partnerships, and equitable access to marine science. 

Later in the week, Pieribone led a public session titled No Limit Ocean at the UNOC Green Zone’s Neptune Agora. Through immersive footage and narrative, he challenged audiences to rethink the value of the ocean, showing how deep-sea discoveries are reshaping what we know about life on Earth and beyond. Aligned with UNOC’s focus on science and innovation, his message was clear: ocean exploration is not only about conservation, but about safeguarding the future of knowledge. OceanX also led a collaborative effort with other ocean research organizations to develop the immersive Deep Blue pavilion, showing visitors the extraordinary creatures and environments that exist in the open ocean.  

OceanX Advances Innovation and Global Partnerships for Ocean Sustainability  

The OceanXplorer, docked at the Port of Nice, served as a central hub for high-level dialogue and collaboration throughout the week. As the most advanced vessel ever built for ocean exploration, scientific research, and media production, it hosted a series of events convening global leaders, scientists, and partners. These included the launch of the International Platform for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS), co-hosted with the French Government, where new funding and urgent calls were made to turn ocean knowledge into policy action. The vessel also welcomed the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative and Together for the Ocean for the unveiling of their Ocean Protection Gap Report, which revealed that just 2.7 percent of the ocean is effectively protected and called for a tenfold increase in funding to meet global 30x30 targets. 

OceanX advanced its commitment to innovation through the announcement of a planned ocean technology pilot with Katapult Ocean, designed to support early-stage ocean sustainability startups by enabling access to real-world testing conditions aboard the OceanXplorer. Through this pilot initiative, select companies will deploy and refine their technologies in the field, helping accelerate development of tools for marine conservation, exploration, and monitoring. The pilot was announced during a breakfast on June 9, where Katapult Ocean and OceanX featured five exciting ocean technology startups whose technology holds great promise to drive ocean sustainability progress.  

“A thriving ocean economy depends on the strength, diversity, and collaboration of its ecosystem. Partnerships, like this one with OceanX, play a key role by bringing together leading research capabilities and early-stage innovation to accelerate meaningful impact, said Jonas Skattum Svegaarden, CEO, Katapult Ocean. 

The week also marked the launch of OceanQuest, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to advancing deep sea discovery, exploration technology, and ocean literacy. The event spotlighted outcomes from the recent Around Africa Expedition, where OceanX and OceanQuest partnered with regional scientists to drive biodiversity research, oceanographic mapping, and hands-on training for early-career professionals across multiple African nations. 

OceanX Expands Regional Impact Through Southeast Asia Education and Missions  

Focusing on Southeast Asia, OceanX convened regional leaders, scientists, and partners aboard the OceanXplorer to reflect on shared progress in scientific research and education, as well as cemented future commitments to drive long-term ocean stewardship. 

In a major development, OceanX announced a multi-year partnership with the Government of Indonesia to support recurring scientific missions that advance marine research, capacity building, and education across the archipelago. The agreement, endorsed by President Prabowo Subianto, builds on a national expedition in 2024 and underscores Indonesia’s growing leadership on global ocean action. Indonesia has ratified the Global Ocean Treaty (BBNJ) and pioneered new ocean finance models including the World Bank Indonesia Coral Reef Bond, the world’s first outcome-based bond for corals. 

Speakers at the session included HRH Crown Prince Hassanal of Pahang, Ruth Yeoh, Head of Sustainability at YTL Corporation, Shaun Seow, CEO of the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, Clarissa Arida, Senior Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Programmes Department, and Nathaniel Khng of the Singapore Mission to the United Nations. They emphasized the urgency of accelerating ocean action and highlighted the importance of coupling science with education. They also called for increased attention to regions like Southeast Asia that are vital to global ocean health but often underrepresented. 

“Southeast Asia holds some of the planet’s most vital and vulnerable marine ecosystems. OceanX is committed to being here for the long haul, building partnerships, sharing knowledge and tools, and expanding access to science and education. Because when we protect these waters, we are not just safeguarding biodiversity. We are investing in the future of communities, economies, and our shared planet,” said Mark Dalio, Founder and Co-CEO, OceanX. 

OceanX also announced a new partnership with Ant International, a Singapore-based global fintech company, to advance ocean literacy and capacity building through regional student engagement and digital platforms. 

At the event, Carrie Suen, Head of Global Affairs and Strategic Development, Ant International, said that: “We’re proud to partner with OceanX to scale our joint innovation to support ocean conservation, bringing together our open collaboration and tech-driven approach. Together, we’ll leverage tech and digital tools to broaden access to ocean science, support emerging talent and accelerate solutions that can have the greatest impact.” 

Looking ahead, OceanX will continue its global work in Cape Verde and Mayotte. After that, OceanX will embark on a deep-sea biodiversity mission with the National University of Singapore, set for October 2025 in the eastern Indian Ocean. It will unite regional scientists and small island state researchers to generate critical baselines for conservation and deepen understanding of one of Southeast Asia’s least explored marine ecosystems.  

In 2026, it will return to Pahang, Malaysia for a collaborative expedition in partnership with Enggang, a long-term initiative developing conservation landscapes that deliver tangible benefits for biodiversity and climate.  

About OceanX   

OceanX is a nonprofit working to unlock the ocean’s sustainable potential. Through a dual focus on science and education, we’re building a new paradigm where humanity and the ocean mutually thrive. Our approach is fueled by exploration, leveraging advanced research, multimedia educational programs, cross-sector partnerships, and advanced technology to help transform how people understand and value the ocean. Our work strives to fortify biodiversity and increase the sustainable use of ocean resources to help ensure the ocean remains a foundation for human wellbeing and potential. OceanX is a nonprofit operating program of Dalio Philanthropies. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.