The 9th edition of Ocean Innovators revealed the new potential of the Ocean assets.
- M Abti
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Oceans are much more than natural ecosystems. Their framework embodies a series of key features, resources, and processes which support economic and social activities. The Ocean Innovators Platform - OIP -, was launched in 2022 by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation - PASF - in partnership with Builders Vision to accelerate Ocean Sustainable Transition, including Blue Economy and Tourism, through a a global network of pioneering innovators capable of attracting investors, asset owners and corporates.
On Wednesday the 22nd October 2025, the 9th edition of OIP was held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, co-hosted by the Sustainable Finance Initiative and PA2F, with the support of AVPN, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy, and Builders Vision. The event was animated by over one hundred private and institutional investors and entrepreneurs involved in a series of targeted panels, pitch sessions, workshops aimed at strengthening the links among ocean innovation, finance, and sustainability.
Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, stressed: « Our task is to make the ocean measurable, investible, and restorable. The ReOcean Fund and Ocean Innovators Platform are Monaco’s contribution to that collective effort. From Monaco’s shores to Victoria Harbour, we can turn ambition into tangible, regenerative growth ». The "Made in Monaco" paradigm highlights how philanthropy alone is not enough to achieve tangible goals. Specific financial driveways, scalable scientific data and entrepreneurial self-starters are then pivotal drivers towards a sustainable economic and social change.
Katy Yung, CEO of Sustainable Finance Initiative - SFi - concluded: « This is a defining moment for strategic collaboration. Hong Kong has a key role to play in driving blended finance and mobilising capital to integrate economic development with marine conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable ocean use. At SFi, we are answering the call by acting as a regional bridge for investors seeking credible pathways to scale ocean impact ». Not by change, the Fragrant Harbour is catalysing 4.2% of its GDP in the Maritime Industry while hosting 25% of China's marine biodiversity.
Balancing economic growth and nature conservation is the key. As confirmed by economic models, comprehensive sustainable initiatives drive innovation, increase employment rates and generate new business opportunities. Those benefits are even more evident when they concern ocean-related assets. Using metric tools to measure economic benefits in a transparent and clear way is crucial to foster business attractiveness while building up scalable and impactful Blue Economy solutions.
The event showcased how encouraging a strong financial coalition among corporates, governmental institutions, foundations, family office and other key partners is successful. The synergy between philanthropy and high-quality financial tools can lead to tangible results to promote Sustainability. Action, Innovation, Momentum and Opportunity are then the pillars of the new regenerative economy.
The debate among major entrepreneurs, like Plastics for Change, Bound4Blue, Katapult Ocean Asia and Shift4Good, revealed that Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) are the preferred forms of investments in the Blue Economy, aimed at expanding the network of investors.
The 9th Ocean Innovators Platform was the privileged stage where to encourage peer-review discussions on sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, ocean energy, and plastic waste reduction while fostering the role of strategic financial and cross connected cooperation to combat overfishing, pollution, and climate impacts.
In this context, Hong Kong confirmed its role as an ocean innovation hub, including the management of open data and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to keep the health of marine ecosystems under control. The ultimate goal of PA2F and SFi's cooperation was to encourage a positive-thinking approach in an economic sector (= Ocean Economy) that is expected to generate revenue worth USD 3 trillion by 2030. ***
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy.
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