Brest, France is doubling down on it’s commitment to marine science and technology with a new strategic plan unveiled Wednesday, aiming to strengthen its position as a global innovation hub and build upon a decade of growth spurred by the Campus mondial de la mer. The city’s efforts come as demand increases for solutions to challenges facing our oceans and as Brittany seeks to showcase its expertise in this vital sector. This renewed focus centers on collaboration between researchers,businesses,and entrepreneurs,with initiatives like the annual Sea Tech Week and the popular Ocean Hackathon playing a crucial role.
Brest, France is positioning itself as a leading hub for marine science and technology, with a renewed strategic plan unveiled on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The city’s focus on ocean-related innovation is being driven by the Campus mondial de la mer, an organization dedicated to fostering collaboration between researchers and businesses in the maritime sector.
Established nearly a decade ago, the Campus mondial de la mer aims to accelerate projects and increase the visibility of Brittany’s expertise in marine science and technology both nationally and internationally. “Brest is the French capital of marine sciences and technologies!” stated Michel Gourtay, Vice-President of the Métropole, responsible for economic development. This concentrated effort reflects a growing global interest in leveraging ocean resources and addressing marine challenges through technological advancements.
Sea Tech Week and Ocean Hackathon
The Campus’s annual Sea Tech Week, a major event for the maritime industry, is scheduled to take place from October 6-8, 2026, at the Quartz venue. The organization also publishes the periodic review, Sonar.
The 10th Ocean Hackathon is also planned for October 16-18, 2026, building on the success of the most recent competition. A team from Brest recently secured third place (out of ten) at the 9th Ocean Hackathon with an artificial intelligence (AI) project focused on mapping coastal trails. The winning team hailed from Malaysia and developed an AI tool designed to optimize fish feeding in aquaculture.
The Ocean Hackathon serves as a prime example of the Campus mondial de la mer’s impact. The competition has already spurred the creation of new ventures, such as Vaiata, a startup founded following the 2023 Hackathon. Vaiata utilizes AI to expedite the processing of VHF distress calls. Françoise Duprat, Director of the technopôle Brest-Iroise, which oversees the Campus mondial de la mer, summarized the ongoing strategy: “to offer a better understanding, among the actors of the marine science and technology sector, to emerge projects,” and “to continue to increase the visibility of the Breton point on these subjects, at national and international levels.”
The renewed strategy, determined at the Campus’s general assembly held on December 3, 2025, at the Ensta engineering school, prioritizes continued collaboration and increased visibility for the region’s marine tech ecosystem. This focus on both networking and promotion is intended to solidify Brest’s position as a key player in the rapidly evolving field of ocean technology.
