NRF and Ocean Quest Strengthen Global Ocean Research

In a significant step toward strengthening global ocean research and cooperation, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and OceanQuest, a newly launched philanthropic organisation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during a high-level event in Nice, France on 10 June 2025. The non-binding MoU represents a shared commitment to advancing ocean exploration, deep-sea research, technological innovation, and global knowledge sharing – particularly in the often under-explored seamount and deep-ocean regions of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Held aboard the OceanXplorer vessel anchored off the coast of Nice, the event took place on the sidelines of the third United Nations Ocean Conference co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in Nice from 09 to 13 June 2025. The overarching theme of the Conference is Accelerating Action and Mobilising all Actors to Conserve and Sustainably use the Ocean.

Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director-General: Research Development and Support at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and Prof Juliet Hermes of NRF-SAEON, represented the NRF at the signing of the MoU with Dr Martin Visbek, CEO of OceanQuest.

The event also served as the official launch of OceanQuest, a not-for-profit foundation that aims to explore the deep oceans’ secrets for the benefit of humanity. The Saudi Arabia-based organisation is not a stranger to the NRF, having partnered with the South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) for the Around Africa Expedition in January 2025. NRF-SAEON and OceanQuest collaborated with OceanX, a nonprofit ocean exploration initiative, for a journey to explore the vast, understudied oceans surrounding the African continent.

The evening also featured two compelling panel discussions focused on the future of ocean research, biodiversity conservation, and youth engagement in marine science. Dr Lara Atkinson, offshore node scientist at NRF-SAEON Egagasini Node and the lead scientists of the first leg of the around Africa expedition; and Ms Sinothando Shibe, a marine biologist from South African National Parks, joined one panel alongside Vincent Peribone, CEO of OceanX.

Among the distinguished guests who delivered messages of support at the launch event were Mr Vidar Helgesen, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO; Minister Jorge Santos from the Republic of Cabo Verde’s Ministry of the Sea; Dr Maryam Ficociello, Chief Governance Officer of Red Sea Global; Dr Margaret Leinen, Director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Vice Chancellor at the University of California; and Janice Trotte-Duhá, Director of Infrastructure and Operations at Brazil’s Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Oceanicas.