Two International Startups Selected in Global Ocean Innovation Challenge to Strengthen Indonesia’s Marine Conservation

Two international startups, Havoc from the United States and blueOASIS from Portugal, have been selected to develop and pilot technological innovations to support marine and coastal conservation efforts in Indonesia. They are among the three startups chosen in the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge, an initiative launched by the conservation organization The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in collaboration with Newlab, a global-scale startup and industry collaboration platform.

Havoc was chosen for its groundbreaking innovation in the development of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs), which can continuously monitor marine protected areas. This technology expands monitoring coverage while reducing the burden on conventional patrols, which are costly and pose risks to field personnel.

Meanwhile, blueOASIS introduces solar-powered underwater acoustic monitoring stations equipped with artificial intelligence to detect marine mammals such as whales and sharks, as well as other ocean activities in real time. This technology is considered effective for enhancing surveillance in remote and hard-to-monitor marine areas.

Remote Monitoring Technology for Marine Protected Areas and Marine Mammals

The Global Ocean Innovation Challenge selected Indonesia as the first trial site for this technology, focusing on the Savu Sea in East Nusa Tenggara. As part of the Coral Triangle, this marine area serves as a crucial migration route for marine mammals, necessitating a dependable and sustainable monitoring system.

Indonesia has been chosen as the first trial site for this technology, specifically in the Savu Sea off the coast of East Nusa Tenggara. As part of the Coral Triangle, the Savu Sea is a crucial migration route for marine mammals, requiring a reliable and sustainable monitoring system.

The use of remote monitoring technology is expected to help overcome the limited budgets for managing protected areas while improving the tracking of key marine species and migration patterns, which have so far been suboptimal. The Coral Triangle harbors the highest marine biodiversity in the world, covering around 76 percent of all global coral species and serving as a habitat for over 3,000 fish species.

Miftahul Huda, Secretary of the Directorate General of Marine Management at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), stated that Havoc and blueOASIS were chosen for their ability to address Indonesia’s challenges. “Our waters are vast, with many remote areas. We need technological innovation to address this, while also helping us achieve KKP’s national commitment to protect 97.5 million hectares of marine areas by 2045,” said Huda.

To ensure readiness for technology implementation in Indonesia, the selection process was followed by a multi-stakeholder technical consultation on 29 April 2026 in Jakarta. The meeting involved KKP, security agencies, relevant ministries and institutions, and development partners, including Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN). This consultation was a crucial step to ensure cross-sector preparedness and policy alignment for the application of marine conservation technologies in Indonesia.

Since its launch in January 2026, the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge has received over 60 proposals from technology developers and startups across 24 countries. All proposals underwent a rigorous selection process based on technical feasibility and alignment with conservation needs in the field.

The program is structured into three phases. The first phase, running until mid-2026, focuses on identifying key challenges, selecting technologies, and implementing pilot projects. The second phase, scheduled for the end of 2026, will replicate lessons learned from Indonesia in several other Asia-Pacific locations, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of marine protected area management and sustainable industrial fisheries.

The third phase will focus on global-scale solution development and create opportunities for the commercialization of the selected technologies. “Reliable monitoring technologies are crucial to ensuring that marine spatial planning and conservation management proceed as intended. More accurate, real-time data will support better planning, oversight, and responsive policymaking,” Huda added.

Collaborative Technology Pilots and Local Capacity Building

The two startups are scheduled to begin piloting their technologies in June 2026. From the development stage through the trial implementation, both companies will work closely with government agencies, YKAN, and various partners, including local communities, to ensure the technologies directly address field challenges.

Muhammad Ilman, Marine Program Director of YKAN, expressed enthusiasm for the arrival of these technologies. According to him, for a country with such vast and remote marine areas, technology is no longer optional but a fundamental necessity.

“We hope these technologies bridge the gaps in monitoring and data availability, while also strengthening local capacity for effective management of marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries,” Ilman concluded.

Through the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge, the three selected startups will collectively receive a total grant of US$200,000. This funding, coupled with technical support, conservation expertise, and access to investor networks and resources, will accelerate the development of their technology prototypes.