ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
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Time: 2024
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Location: ASEAN
Discover the Problem
ASEAN holds a crucial position in global marine biodiversity, boasting a significant portion of vital
ecosystems. Specifically, ASEAN encompasses 28% of the world’s coral reefs, 31% of mangroves, and 33% of seagrass beds. Annually, these ecosystems provide essential services to ASEAN, estimated at USD 112.5 billion for coral reefs and USD 5.1 billion for mangroves. Consequently, the oceans and seas play a pivotal role in the region’s economic advancement, serving as crucial sources of sustenance, protein, and livelihoods.
Unfortunately, the region’s coastal and marine ecosystems face numerous threats, including overfishing, unsustainable fishing practices, marine debris, and climate change. Unfortunately, approximately 64% of the fisheries base across the ASEAN countries is at medium to considerable risk due to overfishing and destructive fishing methods. Moreover, oil spills and the escalating accumulation of marine debris pose imminent risks to the sustainability of fish stocks. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, with temperatures rising consistently from 0.14°C to 0.20°C per decade since the 1960s, impacting the well-being of coastal inhabitants and the productivity of coastal and oceanic ecosystems.
Acknowledging the pivotal role of the blue economy in fostering economic growth within ASEAN and recognizing the pressing need to address its challenges, ASEAN, through the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (ACCMSME) endorsed the implementation of “ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation”
Project, with the support of the Government of Japan and UNDP. This initiative aims to display innovative solutions sourced from diverse stakeholders — innovative micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, local communities, women’s organizations, academic institutions, and civil society entities—to advance the blue economy across the ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste, build upon the recent adoption of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework.
By promoting cutting-edge technological innovations via inventive competitions, the project endeavours to safeguard marine and freshwater ecosystems, drive progress in oceanic climate solutions, and advocate for circular approaches to address plastic pollution, all while enhancing traceability in sustainable fisheries. These efforts are not mere strategic maneuvers but imperative actions toward safeguarding our planet’s oceans and fostering sustainable development.
Award winning initiative
EcoSun
Over 25 teams from different parts of Cambodia have applied to EPPIC 2023 in two months. They came up with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution with upstream and downstream innovations. In October 2023, 08 teams were selected as EPPIC finalists and undertook a 2-month incubation programme, including two field trips to Sihanoukville province. During the Final Pitching Competition, taking place on 07 December 2023, 04 winners (2 from Cambodia) were awarded seed funding of up to USD 18,000 each and started a 9-month impact acceleration programme.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Ecosystem Conservation and Community Initiative (ECCDI)
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Institute of Technology of Cambodia
Over 25 teams from different parts of Cambodia have applied to EPPIC 2023 in two months. They came up with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution with upstream and downstream innovations. In October 2023, 08 teams were selected as EPPIC finalists and undertook a 2-month incubation programme, including two field trips to Sihanoukville province. During the Final Pitching Competition, taking place on 07 December 2023, 04 winners (2 from Cambodia) were awarded seed funding of up to USD 18,000 each and started a 9-month impact acceleration programme.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Magnolia Sustainable Experiences Social Enterprise
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Malaysia University of Science and Technology
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Nikola Inventor Technology and Innovation Lao
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
River Ocean Cleanup Organization
Over 25 teams from different parts of Cambodia have applied to EPPIC 2023 in two months. They came up with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution with upstream and downstream innovations. In October 2023, 08 teams were selected as EPPIC finalists and undertook a 2-month incubation programme, including two field trips to Sihanoukville province. During the Final Pitching Competition, taking place on 07 December 2023, 04 winners (2 from Cambodia) were awarded seed funding of up to USD 18,000 each and started a 9-month impact acceleration programme.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
SUDrain
Over 25 teams from different parts of Cambodia have applied to EPPIC 2023 in two months. They came up with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution with upstream and downstream innovations. In October 2023, 08 teams were selected as EPPIC finalists and undertook a 2-month incubation programme, including two field trips to Sihanoukville province. During the Final Pitching Competition, taking place on 07 December 2023, 04 winners (2 from Cambodia) were awarded seed funding of up to USD 18,000 each and started a 9-month impact acceleration programme.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Techo Sen Institute of Public Works and Transport
Over 25 teams from different parts of Cambodia have applied to EPPIC 2023 in two months. They came up with a broad range of solutions to tackle plastic pollution with upstream and downstream innovations. In October 2023, 08 teams were selected as EPPIC finalists and undertook a 2-month incubation programme, including two field trips to Sihanoukville province. During the Final Pitching Competition, taking place on 07 December 2023, 04 winners (2 from Cambodia) were awarded seed funding of up to USD 18,000 each and started a 9-month impact acceleration programme.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Thaung Enterprise
Chỉ trong vòng hai tháng, EPPIC 2023 đã thu hút hơn 25 đội thi đến từ khắp Campuchia. Họ đã đưa ra một loạt các giải pháp đa dạng để giải quyết vấn đề ô nhiễm nhựa bằng các sáng kiến ở cả thượng nguồn và hạ nguồn. Vào tháng 10 năm 2023, 08 đội xuất sắc nhất đã được chọn vào vòng chung kết EPPIC và tham gia chương trình ươm tạo kéo dài 2 tháng với hai chuyến đi thực địa đến tỉnh Sihanoukville. Tại Vòng Chung kết Thuyết trình Dự án ngày 07 tháng 12 năm 2023, 04 đội chiến thắng (2 đội đến từ Campuchia) được nhận khoản tài trợ ban đầu lên đến 18.000 USD và khởi động một chương trình kéo dài 9 tháng để thúc đẩy các tác động của dự án.
Innovator: ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge
Judges
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