Our foundation

Beneteau Foundation : protect the marine environment and heritage

The Beneteau Corporate Foundation, founded in 2005 and transformed into an endowment fund in 2020, is dedicated to protecting the marine environment and preserving naval heritage. It is the only French endowment fund entirely dedicated to nautical activities. It supports a variety of projects, ranging from competitions for architecture students to the restoration of heritage boats.

A mission with 3 key axes

The Beneteau Foundation’s commitment combines maritime tradition and sustainable development through three main areas: safeguarding naval heritage, protecting the environment and innovation.

1. Safeguarding naval heritage

Committed to maritime tradition, the Beneteau Foundation actively supports the protection and promotion of naval heritage, particularly in the fields of pleasure boating, rescue and fishing. This mission came to fruition in November 2024 with the launch of an ambitious project: The Museum of Yachting. https://museedelaplaisance.com/

This virtual museum, designed to evolve and expand over time, invites enthusiasts and the general public to discover the history of yachting in France, from the 1950s to the present day. It explores the overall evolution of yachting, from boats to nautical practices, highlighting the major milestones that have shaped this world.

The goal is to share this rich and inspiring history while encouraging future generations to explore the many possibilities offered by the sea. This philanthropic project was developed in collaboration with experts and renowned institutions such as the INA (National Institute of Marine Studies).

The Beneteau Foundation aims to make this platform a gathering point for the diverse communities of the yachting world—builders, sailors, and boaters. It invites these stakeholders to actively contribute to its enrichment by sharing testimonials, videos, and photos, in order to make this museum a true living repository of nautical heritage.

2. Protect the environment

The Beneteau Foundation places environmental protection at the heart of its priorities, particularly in the world of boating, and emphasizes innovation to meet this challenge.

“In the world of boating, the Beneteau Foundation encourages initiatives to save energy and respect the marine environment. Environmental protection remains a priority for us, which we address through innovation. Its track record is already impressive: the development of hybrid engines, the use of pultruded plastic to lighten boat hulls, and wastewater treatment using electrolysis,” explains Annette Roux, President of the Beneteau Foundation.

This commitment is also reflected in partnerships with academic institutions and design schools, such as ENSAAMA, which are working on innovative solutions for boating that are both high-performance and environmentally friendly.

3. Supporting innovation

The Beneteau Chair in Nautical Design: a commitment to innovation and sustainability

Building on a long-standing partnership with ENSAAMA, the Beneteau Foundation inaugurated the Beneteau Chair in Nautical Design in 2024. This forward-looking initiative aims to promote research and innovation in nautical design, while integrating developments in boating practices and maritime environments to meet the challenges of the ecological transition.

The Beneteau Chair is structured around three strategic axes:

• Innovative design for pleasure boats, emphasizing aesthetics and functionality.
• The integration of emerging technologies, such as advanced materials and connected solutions, to modernize nautical design.
• Sustainability and eco-design, with an approach aimed at reducing the environmental impact on the industry and marine ecosystems.

At the same time, this chair explores the heritage of nautical design by promoting traditional know-how and drawing inspiration from this wealth to reinvent contemporary boats.

The Beneteau Chair reflects the Foundation’s commitment to supporting innovative, environmentally friendly boating, rooted in long-term thinking about the needs and aspirations of the nautical world.

“In 2024, the collaboration between the Beneteau Foundation and the ENSAAMA design school took on a new dimension, offering students an exceptional opportunity: to bring their creativity to life by creating models in the Groupe Beneteau workshops in Dompierre. This initiative illustrates the foundation’s commitment to training, innovation, and the transmission of know-how.”
— Cyril Sancereau, Secretary General of the Beneteau Foundation

A unique endowment fund in France

In 2020, the Beneteau corporate foundation became the Beneteau Foundation, a unique endowment fund in France: the only one entirely dedicated to the world of yachting.

Chaired by Annette Roux, the Beneteau Foundation supports numerous ambitious projects.

“Transforming our foundation into an endowment fund allows us to expand our funding capabilities and adopt a more flexible structure to support more projects.”
— Cyril Sancereau, Secretary General of the Beneteau Foundation