1. Eligibility and entry
The competition is organized by Benchmark Genetics Norway AS (“Benchmark Genetics”). It is open to applicants (commercial companies, research institutes, academics, etc.) working with aquaculture species that meet the eligibility requirements published on the competition website. Species with an existing Benchmark Genetics genotyping array are excluded, as identified in the published species list found here.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, authorized to represent their project and able to obtain the necessary institutional and third-party permissions. Student and early career applicants must meet the published eligibility definition. Entry is free, with one application per project in one award category.
2. Application deadline
Complete applications must be received before midnight at the end of 15 November 2026, Norway time (00:00 CET on 15 November 2026). Submission does not guarantee eligibility or an award.
3. Awards and costs
The Emerging Species Award provides development support for up to 20,000 markers in total. The Student and Early Career Researcher Award provides development support for up to 5,000 markers in total. Each award may support one or more eligible projects, including multiple projects contributing to a shared array for the same species. These marker limits apply to each award category as a whole, rather than to each recipient.
Awards cover the agreed array development activities, including sample shipping, DNA extraction and whole-genome sequencing where required for development. Benchmark Genetics will cover these costs within the agreed project scope, with shipping and laboratory arrangements confirmed in a subsequent the Project Agreement (defined below).
Recipients of an award will be responsible for collecting and preparing samples and covering their own in-house sampling costs. Routine genotyping and any expressly excluded costs are payable separately and are not included in the award. No purchase or minimum genotyping commitment is required to enter or be selected. Awards cannot be exchanged for the cash equivalent value or for other Benchmark Genetics services.
4. Assessment and selection
Both the Emerging Species Award and the Student and Early Career Researcher Award will be selected by a judging array based on written applications. Applications will be assessed against published criteria covering project benefit, readiness and technical and logistical feasibility. Marker allocations will depend on the project’s requirements and feasibility and will be decided by Benchmark Genetics.
Existing customers and collaborators of Benchmark Genetics are welcome to participate and will be assessed against the same criteria as all other applicants. To ensure a fair and transparent selection process, the judging array’s final recommendations will be independently reviewed and validated by an impartial third party prior to the announcement of the winners.
Where several eligible applications concern the same species, the judging array may select more than one project to contribute to a shared array where their combined contributions would strengthen its development or usefulness. Selection will follow the published assessment criteria and take account of how the projects complement one another. Each selected applicant’s contribution and allocated development support will be confirmed before they accept the award.
If only one eligible application is received for an award, it will be assessed against the same criteria and may receive the award if it meets the published requirements. An award is not guaranteed solely because an application is the only entry. Benchmark Genetics may leave an award unallocated if no application meets those requirements.
No video is required to apply. Award recipients will be required to provide a short video about their project and the research supported by the award, as described in Section 6.
5. Acceptance, award conditions and project delivery
Benchmark Genetics will notify each selected applicant in writing by 30 November 2026 of the award category, proposed development scope, and marker allocation. Once the awards have been confirmed, the winners will be publicly announced through Benchmark Genetics’ official communication channels.
A selected applicant accepts the award by confirming in writing within five business days of notification. Acceptance is subject to Benchmark Genetics verifying the applicant’s eligibility, identity and authority to represent the project.
An applicant who accepts is a Recipient. By accepting, the Recipient agrees to the following conditions:
Benchmark Genetics and the Recipient will enter into a written Project Agreement within [15] business days of the award notice (the Signature Period). Where an institution, employer or funder controls the Recipient’s samples, data or rights, an authorized signatory of that institution must also sign. Benchmark Genetics will send a draft within [5] business days of acceptance of the award. Each party will negotiate in good faith. Benchmark Genetics is not obliged to agree changes to the principles in Sections 7, 8 and 9 (the Core Principles).
The Project Agreement will include the development scope and marker allocation, the Core Principles, sample and data delivery and storage, provenance and permissions, confidentiality, video and privacy arrangements consistent with Sections 6 and 10, and the responsibilities and costs described in Section 3.
The Recipient will not send samples, DNA or data, and Benchmark Genetics will not start development, until the project agreement is signed, unless Benchmark Genetics agrees otherwise in writing. Until then no licence or transfer of rights in samples, data or arrays takes effect under these Terms.
Benchmark Genetics may use application material only to assess applications and administer the competition.
Where samples are required, they must reach the designated Benchmark Genetics laboratory by 31 December 2026 or as otherwise specified in the Project Agreement. Development will be undertaken with reasonable skill and care; particular scientific or commercial outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
If the Project Agreement is not signed within the Signature Period (which Benchmark Genetics may extend in writing), the award lapses and may be offered to another eligible applicant. Neither party has further obligations except those on confidentiality and privacy. Benchmark Genetics will return or destroy any Recipient materials it holds.
6. Winner video and publication permissions
As a condition of accepting an award, each Recipient agrees to provide a short video of up to 90 seconds introducing their project, the species they work with, and how the award will help advance their research or breeding programme. The video should explain the intended benefits to a general audience. A simple phone recording is sufficient; professional production is not required. The delivery date and practical requirements will be agreed in the project agreement.
By providing the video, the Recipient grants Benchmark Genetics Norway AS and the Benchmark Genetics group companies described in Section 9 a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish, display and share it, in full or in excerpts, on its website, official social-media channels and competition-related communications. This permission covers winner announcements, promotion of the competition and showcasing the project and research supported by the award, for 36 months from the date the video is provided.
Benchmark Genetics may add captions, translations and reasonable edits for length or format, provided these do not materially misrepresent the content or people featured. Recipients retain ownership of their videos.
Recipients are responsible for ensuring that they own or control the necessary rights to the video and have obtained all permissions required for these uses. This includes informed consent from every identifiable person appearing or speaking in the video, any required permission from the relevant location or facility owner or operator to film on their premises, and permission to use any third-party music, images, footage or other content. Filming must comply with any restrictions imposed by the location or facility, including laboratories.
These permissions must cover publication by Benchmark Genetics Norway AS and the Benchmark Genetics group companies described in Section 9 for the purposes, channels and period described above.
Recipients must retain evidence of these permissions, provide it upon reasonable request and promptly notify Benchmark Genetics of any withdrawn consent, rights dispute or restriction affecting use of the video. Benchmark Genetics may withhold, edit or remove affected content as necessary. Nothing in this clause overrides applicable privacy rights.
Confidential information or unpublished results do not need to be disclosed. Recipients may use project footage, graphics or captions without appearing personally on camera.
7. Array ownership, access and intellectual property
Arrays developed through the competition will be owned by Benchmark Genetics Norway AS and made available on an open-access, non-exclusive basis to the winning project and other users through Benchmark Genetics’ paid genotyping services. This applies whether development starts from tissue or DNA samples, existing sequencing or genotyping data, or a supplied marker list.
Benchmark Genetics may combine samples, data and marker information from participating projects with information from public repositories and other lawfully available sources to develop a shared array, subject to the permissions and safeguards in these Terms and any applicable source licences or restrictions. Each Recipient retains the ownership of the samples, DNA, data and marker information it supplies. Participation does not automatically give Recipients access to another contributor’s confidential information or sample-level data. The resulting array remains owned by Benchmark Genetics Norway AS.
Recipients retain their existing intellectual property and may request a copy of any genetic data generated for their project, including sequencing data, genotyping results and marker lists. They may use these data independently, including with other service providers, subject to applicable third-party restrictions. The developed array itself, including Benchmark Genetics’ proprietary design and assay configuration, will remain with Benchmark Genetics and cannot be transferred to another provider. Improvements to Benchmark Genetics’ methods, workflows, marker selection and quality control processes made during the project, and general know-how that is not specific to the Recipient’s species, will belong to Benchmark Genetics, provided they do not disclose the Recipient’s data in identifiable form.
Recipients must have the necessary permissions to provide their materials and data for the agreed project activities. The Project Agreement will authorise Benchmark Genetics to carry out those activities and will grant the perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free rights needed to develop, maintain, improve and offer the array. These rights will continue indefinitely after the project ends and do not depend on the Recipient purchasing further services.
The Project Agreement will confirm the development scope, data delivery arrangements and arrangements for storing and using remaining samples, consistent with Section 8. Open access refers to availability through Benchmark Genetics’ paid genotyping services; confidential project information and sample-level results will not be made public.
8. Use of project data and samples
The Project Agreement will grant Benchmark Genetics a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free right to retain and use de-identified genetic data supplied by the Recipient for the project or generated by Benchmark Genetics during the project, together with relevant de-identified project metadata, for future research, validation and development of genetic tools for the same species, including commercial tools developed by Benchmark Genetics.
These rights will continue indefinitely after the project ends and are unaffected by the Recipient receiving a copy of the data or using them independently.
These permissions will also cover the storage and further use of remaining tissue samples and extracted DNA for the same purposes, including after the project ends, subject to applicable legal and third-party restrictions.
Benchmark Genetics will protect confidential information and remove or safeguard identifying details before further use. This permission does not authorise public disclosure of confidential identifiable information or unrestricted processing of personal data. The project agreement will specify the relevant safeguards, sample storage arrangements and any applicable third-party restrictions.
9. Use within the Benchmark Genetics group
Benchmark Genetics Norway AS may share the videos, project materials, data and samples covered by these Terms with other Benchmark Genetics group companies and authorise them to exercise the rights granted under Sections 6, 7 and 8. Such use must remain within the purposes and permissions described in those sections and follow the same confidentiality, privacy and other applicable restrictions.
“Benchmark Genetics group companies” means companies forming part of the Benchmark Genetics business that directly or indirectly control, are controlled by, or are under common control with Benchmark Genetics Norway AS. This excludes unrelated businesses connected solely through a common financial investor.
Benchmark Genetics may also share Recipient project data with subcontractors (including array manufacturers and sequencing and logistics providers) under confidentiality obligations.
Benchmark Genetics Norway AS remains responsible for administering the competition and ensuring that group companies comply with these conditions.
10. Privacy and administration
Personal information provided in connection with the competition will be handled in accordance with the Benchmark Genetics Privacy Policy. Benchmark Genetics Norway AS will use the information to assess applications, communicate with applicants and administer awards. Winner videos will be handled as described in Section 6 and in accordance with applicable privacy requirements.
Marketing subscriptions are optional and will not affect selection. Privacy questions and requests may be directed to gdpr@bmkgenetics.com.
Benchmark Genetics may exclude materially false, ineligible or fraudulent entries, allowing a reasonable opportunity to address concerns where appropriate. Necessary changes resulting from legal requirements or serious circumstances beyond its reasonable control will be communicated promptly and applied fairly.
11. Agreement and applicable law
By entering, applicants accept these Terms. Sections 1 to 4, 10 and 11 and the confidentiality and privacy provisions bind applicants from entry.
On acceptance of the award, Recipient(s) will be bound by the award conditions set out in Section 5. The rights in Sections 7 and 8 are granted only by the Project Agreement, signed in accordance with the conditions set out in Section 5.
The Project Agreement shall prevail over these Terms on project-specific matters upon signature. It will not (a) introduce charges for development support within the awarded scope, or award conditions materially different from these Terms, except as required by law, a permit or competent authority, a third-party restriction notified to Benchmark Genetics, technical feasibility, or as the Recipient expressly agrees; or (b) reduce the Core Principles, unless Benchmark Genetics and Recipient expressly agree in the Project Agreement, by reference to this clause.
Norwegian law applies, subject to participants’ mandatory legal rights. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded. Questions and complaints: geneticsinitiatives@bmkgenetics.com.
Registration confirmations
☐ Required: I have read and accept the Competition Terms and Conditions and have read the Competition Privacy Notice.
☐ Separate video publication permission: I consent to Benchmark Genetics Norway AS publishing my submitted video, including my image, voice and the name and affiliation I provide, on its website and official social-media channels for the purposes and 36-month period described above. I understand that this content will be publicly accessible worldwide. I may withdraw this consent through geneticsinitiatives@bmkgenetics.com without affecting my eligibility or award. Where needed, I may provide an equivalent non-identifying presentation. Benchmark Genetics will stop further use and remove content under its control, but cannot guarantee removal of copies independently shared by others.
