The Marine Protected Area (MPA) Monitoring and Enforcement Innovation challenge is designed to support and encourage the development of advanced technologies and strategies for the effective monitoring and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 

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Total Funding

$75,000

Submission Deadline

Jan 10, 2025

About This Grant

This challenge is dedicated to finding and funding innovative solutions that address the critical need for improved monitoring and enforcement in Marine Protected Areas. We seek proposals that leverage technology, data analysis, and community engagement to enhance the effectiveness of MPAs. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, remote sensing technologies, AI and machine learning for data analysis, unmanned surveillance systems, and community-based monitoring initiatives.

Proposals should clearly outline the approach, the innovation involved, the expected outcomes, and how the project will contribute to the advancement of MPA monitoring and enforcement. We welcome submissions from academic researchers, technology developers, NGOs, government agencies, and independent scientists.

We are especially interested in projects that demonstrate practicality, potential for scalability, and a clear understanding of the challenges involved in MPA management.

Grant Officers


How It Works

ROLLING SUBMISSIONS:  The goal of this small, fast grant program is to get these projects off the ground quickly. If selected, the grant (up to $10,000 with the average Science Engine grant being $4,000) towards an ongoing or new Experiment.com project. Project leads are encouraged to try to raise additional support from the crowdfunding process, as granted amounts may only cover part of the project funds. The sooner you fill out a project application the better (use the "start a project" link below). In addition to funding, we hope to stay engaged with the projects as mentors and supporters, helping to make the experiments a success. This grant program is open to non-profits and individuals, and is not able to support for-profit companies or activities. 

The project submission deadline has been extended to Jan 10, 2025.

Funded Projects

1

How is a unique Colombian blue carbon project involving and impacting coastal communities?

Carbon-rich mangroves are being deforested globally, but a rare project has 'successfully' conserved and...

Submitted Projects

1

A biogeochemical profile of the seafloor

There is a huge gap in knowledge of deep seafloor habitats. Current methods of studying the deep seafloor...