First announcement – Application process opens in September 2026

We are pleased to announce the 2027 ITOPF R&D Award and invite proposals for short-term research projects.

The ITOPF R&D Award provides financial support for projects aimed at enhancing our knowledge and understanding of issues related to accidental marine pollution from ships.

Up to £70,000 is available for short-term projects of one to two years. Applications are invited for short-term research projects only.

Please note that the PhD funding route will reopen for the 2028 Award.

By way of background, ITOPF is recognised and respected globally as a source of objective technical expertise in the area of accidental spills of oil, chemicals, and other cargoes and substances in the marine environment. ITOPF is maintained by the world’s shipowners and their insurers on a not-for-profit basis, with a mission to promote effective spill response worldwide.

This initiative aims to encourage and facilitate organisations worldwide to develop ideas that can potentially offer solutions to some of the challenges faced by the spill response community.

Since the Award was established in 2012, more than £700,000 has been distributed to 14 separate R&D projects worldwide.

For more information on the 2027 ITOPF R&D Award, please see the attached flyer and visit our website at:

https://www.itopf.org/in-action/r-d-award/

Key Dates:

• Application Process: Open from 1 September 2026 to 4 December 2026
• Award Announcement: April 2027

If you have any questions regarding the Award, or if you are unsure whether your project qualifies, please do not hesitate to contact us at rdaward@itopf.org