The HX Foundation, the dedicated charity of expedition brand HX Expeditions, has awarded more than €222,754 to global community, conservation and polar-focused wildlife projects, in its first round of grant funding for 2025.
Of the 222k total funding, €63,154 was awarded to seven different single-year impactful projects which were selected by the charity’s board from over 20 different entries submitted. The seven initiatives were chosen for their alignment with the Foundation’s mission to advance science and conservation or to support community wellbeing in ocean and polar regions where the HX brand sails and explores.
“This second round of standalone grants continues our dedication to fostering practical scientific solutions and cross-sector partnerships in polar and oceanic regions,” said Henrik A Lund, managing director of the HX Foundation.
“We’re proud to support both new applicants and returning partners, as they carry out meaningful work on the ground, in communities, and at sea. Having seen some countries scaling back funding for climate and science initiatives recently, this makes us even more determined that the money we raise is more critical than ever before!”
The funded projects span disciplines from underwater wildlife monitoring, sustainable trail maintenance through to supporting science communication and public health in wildlife rehabilitation.
The seven 2025 grant recipients are:
Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (Argentina)
Acoustic Behaviour of Franciscana Dolphins Around Gillnets: Assessing the Impact of Mitigation Measures. This project investigates the interactions between gillnets and heavily endangered Franciscana dolphins to evaluate the effectiveness of acoustic deterrents.
Helmholtz Innovation Platform SOOP – Shaping an Ocean of Possibilities (Germany)
Science and Outreach Support on HX Vessels 2025. The continued collaboration with HX vessels to facilitate scientific data collection and onboard outreach activities for the coming 25/26 season.
The SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary (Iceland)
Building a brand-new avian flu sterile testing area.
Establishing a sterile environment to ensure health and safety during the treatment and rehabilitation of seabirds affected by avian flu including local puffins, baby ‘Pufflings’, guillemots and other local birds.
Sitka Trail Works (US)
Sustaining Local Capacity for Trail Maintenance in the Tongass National Forest.
Supporting local teams in maintaining critical hiking infrastructure and trail accessibility in one of the world’s largest temperate rainforests.
National University of Córdoba (Argentina)
Exploring the Unseen: Scientifically Rigorous and Tourist-Engaging Underwater Monitoring of the West Antarctic Peninsula.
A novel underwater monitoring programme that engages tourists in citizen science while collecting valuable environmental data.
Arctic Storm AS / Maria Philippa Rossi (Norway)
Arctic Mysteries: Warm Ice and Cold Fact – Science in Svalbard.
A science communication initiative focused on demystifying Arctic science for wider audiences in particular families/children. HX Foundation will also explore opportunities to distribute the book onboard their HX ships.
Oxford Brookes University – Penguin Watch (UK)
Exploring the Data Gaps in the Falklands/Malvinas and South Georgia.
Supporting research that helps fill critical knowledge gaps in penguin populations in remote South Atlantic regions.
As well as the seven new grant recipients, the HX Foundation has confirmed it will continue to support funding of several multiyear projects. More than €107,500 will be awarded in 2025 as well as more than €52,500 already committed for 2026. All grants covered by these commitments align with key geographies relevant to HX operations, and several involve longstanding strategic partners of HX including:
The Association of Greenlandic Children – a long-term partner of the Foundation which supports children in need of care across the whole of Greenland.
University of California – Measuring the impacts of climate change of Humpback whales, with particular focus in Antarctica.
The Norwegian Rescue Dogs Svalbard (NRS) – a volunteer organisation that plays a vital role in search and rescue (SAR) operations in Svalbard, Norway. Established following the devasting 2015 Longyearbyen avalanche, NRS is now an integral part of the region’s emergency preparedness which supports both residents and tourists.
RSPB – Saving Orkney’s Native Wildlife project in Scotland, created to support the rare birds and their nesting areas in Orkney.
Ben Hugely from the Sitka Trail in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska said: “We are incredibly grateful to the HX Foundation for their support in funding a local trail crew. This grant not only creates jobs within our community but also supports stewardship and continued access to the public lands that underpin Sitka’s visitor economy.”
