Global Ocean Innovation Challenge
Advancing Technological Innovation for Sustainable Ocean Management in Indonesia
Indonesia lies at the heart of global marine biodiversity. More than 75 percent of the world’s coral reef species and thousands of fish species inhabit its waters, sustaining ecosystems as well as livelihoods.
Yet despite this immense potential, the management of large-scale fisheries and marine protected areas still requires significant strengthening, particularly in terms of data availability, monitoring systems, and effective enforcement.
To respond to these challenges, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Newlab, has launched the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge, an open call for technology startups to collaborate in supporting marine conservation efforts in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region. The program is designed to bridge persistent gaps in information and technology that continue to hinder sustainable ocean management.
This initiative aligns with the policy direction of the Government of Indonesia through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), which is focused on strengthening sustainable fisheries governance and the management of marine protected areas, including Indonesia’s commitment to protect 30 percent of its marine waters by 2045.
Within this context, technological innovation is seen as a key enabler to enhance surveillance effectiveness, expand monitoring coverage, and support data-driven decision-making.
The Global Ocean Innovation Challenge serves as a connector between real world needs on the ground faced by government agencies, coastal communities, and marine protected area managers and technology solutions developed by startups. The program will focus on two priority areas in Indonesia’s national marine development agenda: monitoring and enforcement of large-scale fisheries, and monitoring and management of marine protected areas.
Selected startups will work collaboratively with YKAN, TNC, and Newlab to design and implement pilot projects in Indonesia. This collaborative approach ensures that the technologies tested are relevant, practical, and responsive to on the ground needs.
Register Now!
Registration for the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge is open until 6 February 2026.
In addition to technical support and thematic expertise, participants will receive non-dilutive grant funding totalling USD 200,000, access to investor networks, and resources to support prototype development.
Pilot projects are scheduled to begin in March 2026, with the aim of generating measurable impacts and implementation models that can be replicated and adopted over the long term. Lessons learned from the program are expected to strengthen marine management practices in Indonesia while also contributing to the advancement of global marine conservation strategies.
The Global Ocean Innovation Challenge is part of a long term commitment to support Indonesia in achieving healthy and productive oceans through cross-sector collaboration and the responsible use of innovation.
Technology startups with solutions to support fisheries management and marine protected areas in Indonesia are invited to participate and become part of a collective effort to safeguard Indonesia’s oceans for future generations.
Information and Registration
Registration for the Global Ocean Innovation Challenge is open until 6 February 2026.
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