Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge 2026
By International University of Monaco
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
Monaco's ocean-impact business-plan competition for students and young startups; the 2026 startup winner received €7,000 (about ₹7.6 lakh) plus acceleration. The 2026 call closed in February.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 13 February 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by International University of Monaco. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge call is closed: sign-ups ended on 13 February 2026, the full project submission closed on 3 March 2026, and the Grand Final was held on 11 June 2026. The official site covers only the 2026 edition, and the organisers' final announcement says to watch for the next one without giving dates. It is open to students and young entrepreneurs worldwide, including India (India was among the nationalities of the 2026 finalists). Finalists pitch live in Monaco, so part of the competition is in person.
What the program offers
The challenge supports startups that can show a positive, measurable impact on ocean preservation in the short to medium term. At the 2026 final (the 9th edition), the Start-ups winner received a €7,000 cheque (about ₹7.6 lakh) plus an acceleration programme worth €12,000. The Business Concepts (students) winner received a €4,000 cheque plus mentoring worth €6,000. Special awards included the CFM Indosuez "Coup de Cœur" award and a "Spotlight on Africa" award. These prizes are examples from one edition and can change.
The organisers say a further aim is to help winners advance their projects through advice, contacts and knowledge from partner companies, particularly those that incubate, accelerate or finance start-ups. Some past winners were invited to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco. The organisers cover a large share of finalists' travel and accommodation.
Who can apply
There are two categories. The Students category (shown as Business Concepts at the final) is for undergraduate and graduate students of any discipline, or recent graduates, from business, engineering, science, design, art, communications and other schools. The Start-ups category is for entrepreneurs who create, or have created, their company after June 2022. In both, the project must show a positive and measurable impact on ocean preservation. The pages list no other conditions.
For an Indian applicant this means a student team or a young ocean-focused start-up, such as work on fisheries, cold chains, marine plastics or coastal livelihoods. A start-up founded before mid-2022, or a venture with no ocean angle, does not fit.
How to apply
The 2026 process had two steps. First, sign up on the competition website in the Students or Start-ups category before the sign-up deadline. Then teams develop a business plan between January and May and send the full project by the call for proposals deadline. The pages do not list the exact form fields or file formats, so check the site when the next call opens.
A practical tip: aim for a measurable ocean outcome in the first year, since the jury looks for impact that can be shown in the short to medium term.
How applications are judged and what happens next
A first jury of international experts, including marine specialists, entrepreneurs, investors and incubators, evaluates the applications. In 2026 this was a panel of 32 experts. After two rounds of selection, 10 finalist teams were invited to Monaco: four in Business Concepts, four in Start-ups and the two special award winners. Finalists presented and defended their projects orally before a final jury at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco.
The 2026 edition drew 215 projects from 58 countries, up from 135 projects in the previous edition.
About the organisers
The challenge is co-organised in Monaco by the International University of Monaco, the Oceanographic Institute (Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation), Monaco Impact and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Things to check before you apply
- Check the start-up creation date against the cut-off, which was June 2022 for the 2026 call.
- Plan for travel to Monaco if you reach the final; the organisers cover a large share but not necessarily all of it.
- Prizes include in-kind support such as acceleration and mentoring, not only cash.
- Cheque amounts are in euros; the rupee figure is an approximation.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
In the 2026 edition the Start-ups winner received a €7,000 cheque (about ₹7.6 lakh) from Monaco Impact and Dietsmann plus an acceleration programme worth €12,000 from C4C Business Valuation and Analysis. The Business Concepts (student) winner received a €4,000 cheque plus a mentorship programme worth €6,000. CFM Indosuez also gave a cheque to student winners, and special awards went to a Coup de Cœur project and an African startup. Finalists pitch in Monaco, with a large share of travel and accommodation paid by the organisers, and past winners have been invited to the Blue Economy and Finance Forum to meet investors.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
A first jury of international experts evaluates the applications. After two rounds of selection, finalists present and defend their projects orally before a final jury in Monaco, which names the winners in each category.
Application Process
- 1
Sign up
Register in the Students or Start-ups category.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge open now?
No. Sign-ups for the 2026 edition closed on 13 February 2026, the full submission closed on 3 March, and the Grand Final was on 11 June 2026. No dates are given for the next edition.
Who can enter?
Students and recent graduates of any discipline (Students category) and entrepreneurs who create or have created their startup after June 2022 (Start-ups category), with a project that has a positive and measurable impact on the ocean.
Can Indian students or startups apply?
Yes. The competition is international, and India was among the nationalities of the 2026 finalists. You must fit one of the two categories and have an ocean-positive project.
What did winners get in 2026?
The Start-ups winner received a €7,000 cheque (about ₹7.6 lakh) and a €12,000 acceleration programme. The Business Concepts winner received a €4,000 cheque and €6,000 of mentoring.
Do I have to travel to Monaco?
Only finalists are invited to pitch at the Grand Final in Monaco. The organisers cover a large share of their travel and accommodation.
How is the competition judged?
An international jury of marine specialists, entrepreneurs, investors and incubators evaluates the applications over two rounds. Finalists then pitch orally to a final jury in Monaco.
What is the timeline?
In 2026 teams worked on business plans from January to May, with a full submission deadline of 3 March and the final on 11 June. Check the site for the next edition's timetable.
Is it a grant or equity?
The prizes are cheques plus support programmes such as acceleration and mentoring. The pages do not mention equity.
Is it free to enter?
The pages we checked do not state an entry fee. Check the official site when the next call opens.
What documents do I need?
You need a business plan for an ocean-positive venture, submitted as a full project after sign-up. The pages do not list the exact format, so check the official site.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
