Innovation and research are the winning combination for sustainable ocean management. The Principality of Monaco has long been the ideal stage for pioneering projects even when its delegations are "on a business trip". On the 4th December 2023, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation made an agreement with two key partners, OceanX and 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition, to promote ocean innovation while attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023 - COP28 in Dubai.
In the context of the World Economic Forum, the partners aimed to encourage the most advanced blue technologies at the service of explorers, scientists and start-ups. Furthermore, the Forum and the Foundation shared the goal of making this cutting-hedge vessel the key factor to develop the Ocean Innovators Platform initiative by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. That is a privileged stage for pioneering ocean solutions to tackle the most urgent needs and for putting into practice entrepreneurial creations to manage marine resources sustainably.
Olivier Wenden, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, pointed out: «An entrepreneurial approach to ocean and climate issues is increasingly necessary and relevant. The Ocean Innovators Platform was set up to bridge the gap between solutions and funding. We are very honoured to be joined in our mission by the 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition of the World Economic Forum. We are also grateful to OceanX for supporting the Foundation’s missions over the years».
OceanX sets the objective to help scientists in ocean exploration through a multimedia ecosystem gathering science, philanthropy and communication addressed to educate, inspire and connect the whole Planet with the Ocean, while creating a global community. The 1000 Ocean Startups, as part of the Ocean Action Program promoted by the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, is a coalition to boost innovation for ocean preservation via capital funds, incubators, accelerators and innovation platforms.
Gim Huay Neo, Director-General of the World Economic Forum, highlighted: «The ocean economy is vital for the survival of three billion people, seven out of ten of whom are women. Protecting and restoring ocean health supports climate balance and biodiversity, allowing to strengthen community resilience and well-being and to stimulate local development. Ocean innovations, which affect people, planet and economic vitality, remain a largely untapped opportunity».
Some companies of new generations took part to the rendezvous. Among them we mention Archireef, a nature-tech company addressed to restore degraded marine ecosystems and conceiver of Reef Tile, a revolutionary 3D printed reef made of clay tiles specifically designed to regenerate damaged coral reefs. Distant Imagery, an environmental technology company that showcased its self-built recycled wood drones and 3D printed plantation rigging equipment. The Project Orpheus, a high-tech Propeller start-up applying advanced devices developed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at NASA. The new equipment is able to reach still unexplored ocean depths, as already tested in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, within the north-eastern coast of United States within the OceanX Bloomberg Philanthropies mission, in 2018.
From now on, the three partners will work together to encourage the creative part, the application and the testing phase on board OceanX, considered as one of the the most equipped vessels ever built, including two Triton submersibles with a depth of 1,000 metres and a Remote Control Vehicle (ROV) with a depth of 6,000 metres.
A synergy that is going to produce results of great value from a scientific perspective, according to the expectations of the same stakeholders. ***
To know more about the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and various projects please visit: PA2F
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By Maurice Abbati
Journalist; Editor; Communication, Media and Public Relations Specialist.
Lecturer and Author in English language of Technical Articles and the Manual: "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by Springer International Publishing.
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