The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Sustainable Finance Initiative co-hosted the ninth edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform (OIP) in Hong Kong on 22nd October, bringing together more than 100 investors, entrepreneurs and conservation leaders to accelerate innovation and financing for the global blue economy.
Held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the event featured panel discussions, fireside chats, pitch sessions and workshops focused on scaling ocean-based solutions through impact-driven investment. The gathering aimed to foster international collaboration across finance, conservation, and technology — particularly in Asia Pacific, a region central to marine biodiversity and economic potential.
From Monaco to Hong Kong: catalysing blue economy finance
The platform is part of Monaco’s broader commitment to sustainable ocean action. “Our task is to make the ocean measurable, investible, and restorable,” said Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “From Monaco’s shores to Victoria Harbour, we can turn ambition into tangible, regenerative growth.”
The discussions examined how innovative financing models and multi-sector partnerships can tackle threats like overfishing, plastic pollution and habitat degradation, while also unlocking new opportunities in ocean energy, sustainable fisheries, and marine conservation technologies.
Katy Yung, CEO of Sustainable Finance Initiative, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as a potential regional hub for blue finance. “With 4.2% of its GDP tied to the maritime industry and home to 25% of China’s marine biodiversity, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to be Asia Pacific’s leading hub for Blue Economy solutions,” she said. “At SFi, we’re acting as a regional bridge for investors seeking credible pathways to scale ocean impact.”
Impact and investment: key takeaways
Speakers and participants agreed that the future of ocean conservation is tightly linked to financial innovation. Key themes emerging from the forum included the alignment of conservation with economic growth, the critical role of transparency and metrics, and the need to build a diverse, collaborative financing ecosystem.
A rapid poll of attendees found strong enthusiasm for action-oriented capital deployment, though many indicated a preference for early-stage investment through grants or private equity/venture capital — pointing to a need for stronger support structures to help ocean-focused projects scale.
Entrepreneurs from ventures such as Plastics for Change, Bound4Blue, Shift4Good and Katapult Ocean Asia pitched their solutions to the audience, sparking active engagement and post-event networking interest.
Interactive workshops tackled challenges like financing ocean innovation in Asia Pacific, decarbonising marine industries, balancing conservation and community livelihoods, and using open data and AI to improve ocean health.
Building the future of the USD 3 trillion ocean economy
The Ocean Innovators Platform was launched by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2022 to spotlight scalable solutions and connect innovators with investors. This latest edition underscored the Foundation and SFi’s shared belief that sustainable investment can drive meaningful environmental outcomes while delivering economic value.
With support from AVPN, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy and Builders Vision, the forum reaffirmed its goal of shaping a future in which the ocean’s resources are protected, measured and harnessed for long-term global prosperity.
The blue economy is forecast to contribute up to USD 3 trillion to global GDP by 2030, according to the OECD — a goal the OIP aims to support by bridging innovation, finance and leadership across borders.
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