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ith almost 40 years of experience in physical oceanography and ocean sciences, and having participated in and led over 20 major ocean expeditions and numerous international research projects, Dr. Martin Visbeck is no stranger to the untapped potential the earth's water bodies hold. Indeed, multiple reports show that, even in 2025, only about 20% of the oceans have been mapped, while the areas that have actually been explored make up a paltry 5%. “Over my career as an ocean scientist, I’ve seen firsthand how little we know about the deep ocean and how vital it is for sustaining ocean biodiversity, climate regulation, as a resource for sustainable use and in general our human and planet’s future,” Dr. Visbeck says. “That experience
↓ OceanQuest’s mission is to accelerate ocean discovery, drive innovation in the field,
support global cooperation, and excite the public.
“ Science can also be a bridge for diplomacy. When
nations collaborate, share data, and train earlycareer researchers together, it builds trust and shared stewardship. This is especially vital for the Global South, where talent often outpaces access to tools or funding.”
reinforced my belief that there is so much opportunity for a new kind of institution: one that combines cutting-edge technology, open collaboration, and inclusive participation to accelerate deep ocean discovery. That vision is what OceanQuest represents.” Headquartered within Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Dr. Visbeck thus founded OceanQuest in April 2025 as a not-for-profit foundation with the mission to to accelerate ocean discovery, drive innovation in the field, support global cooperation, and engage the public. “The scientific focus is on
seamounts —undersea volcanoes that are biodiversity hotspots, harbor unexplored genetic material, influence ocean mixing, and may even serve as carbon sinks critical to our climate— and their unexplored deep ocean ecosystems,” he explains. “Our work is focused on the dark ocean, the vast depths beyond 200 meters, which represent one of the most exciting and least understood frontiers of our planet. Our work also uses robotics and AI to gather data that, via digital twins, can inform conservation, sustainable use and global ocean governance. Being hosted at KAUST has been critical in turning this mission into reality. KAUST provides the research excellence, facilities, and academic environment
that ground OceanQuest in scientific rigor, while our partnership brings new tools, international collaborations, and deep sea expedition capabilities to KAUST’s marine science portfolio. Together, we’re not only advancing knowledge but also training the next generation of ocean leaders through early-career programs and global expeditions.” In thus fulfilling its vision “to explore the ocean’s secrets for the benefit of humanity,” OceanQuest is banking on the power of two main factors: technology, and effective collaborations. The first step in realizing the latter came when, in June 2025, OceanQuest marked its formal international debut at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in France. “Our presence at UNOC alongside leading institutions such as OceanX, MBARI, Scripps, and Schmidt Ocean Institute established us as a credible new voice,” Dr. Visbeck says. “Therefore, the priority now is to move from vision to delivery. That means, first and foremost, focusing on seamounts. Through advanced deep October 15, 2025 / E N T R E P R E N E U R . C O M / 49