The philanthropic initiative of VLIZ, The Sea as a Good Cause, supports marine researchers who dare to think outside the box. Each year, we do this by awarding Brilliant Marine Research Idea grants worth €5,000 each. The Dr Edouard Delcroix Research Grant (€10,000) is also part of this initiative, thanks to the support of Hydro vzw.
Brilliant Marine Research Ideas:
With the Brilliant Marine Research Idea (BMRI) grant, we aim to inspire and support young scientists in developing an original and brilliant idea within their marine research. These grants are unique in Flanders, standing out for their emphasis on creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
The thematic focus of this call includes, but is not limited to, climate change (the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus), ocean health, and the connection between ocean and human health, complemented by horizontal themes such as exploration, marine observations, and technological innovation.
Each grant, worth up to EUR 5000, is intended to support early-career marine scientists in their laboratory or fieldwork, data collection and analysis, visits to other institutes for specialized facilities, or the purchase of equipment and software essential to their research.
Deadline for proposal submission: 18 January 2027.
> More information about the call and application form
Dr. Edouard Delcroix / Ocean & Human Health:
Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause award this prestigious Research Grant and Incentive Award to scientists working in the broader field of ocean and human health interactions.
The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Incentive Award (worth 2500 EUR) is presented to a promising scientist at the start of his or her research career. The Dr. Edouard Delcroix Research Grant (worth 10.000 EUR) is specifically intended to support the conduct of scientific research.
Both the award and the research grant are established in honour of Dr. Edouard Delcroix (1891-1973), a Belgian orthopaedic surgeon and pioneer in hydrotherapy.
The purpose of the research grant and the incentive award is to promote fundamental and applied scientific research that makes a significant contribution to:
- hydrotherapy and functional rehabilitation in seawater or at the seaside
- the positive effects of marine-based nutrition
- the exploration of bioactive molecules derived from seawater, sea air, marine food sources, or the marine environment
- the importance of the sea’s influence on our mental and physical health (e.g. the Blue Gym effect, as well as the biogenic or immunoregulatory hypothesis)
- solutions for human disorders caused by negative influences of the marine environment, such as harmful algal blooms and other biogenic toxins, eutrophication, transmission of pathogens and chemicals, and the impact of human activities at sea, such as aquaculture.
Proposals for the 2026 Dr. Edouard Delcroix Research Grant and the Incentive Award must be submitted no later than 18 January 2027.
Full details on how to apply for the research grant are available in the call for proposals, which can be found alongside the application form at https://vliz.be/en/support-us/realisations/dr-edouard-delcroix-research-grant.
The detailed regulations for the Incentive Award can be read here. Applicants can submit the required documents to filantropie@vliz.be.
For sponsoring companies:
Because marine research is a field where science and industry strengthen each other, The Sea as a Good Cause invites companies to sponsor this grant scheme. In consultation, we ensure appropriate visibility for the sponsor, while VLIZ takes care of all organizational and administrative follow-up.
The sponsorship contribution for one BMRI grant is EUR 6000 (excluding VAT).
If your company is interested in supporting marine research, please contact us at filantropie@vliz.be.
