Ocean Innovation Africa 2023
Official Summit of The Ocean Race Cape Town Stopover
The fourth edition of Ocean Innovation Africa took place from the 21st to the 23rd of February 2023, as the official summit of The Ocean Race Cape Town Stopover. The event was enabled by Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, Ernst and Young, the V&A Waterfront, Dassault Systemes, Builder’s Vision, Wesgro, and the IUCN
Overall, 578 delegates, representing 408 organisations, from 59 countries around the world registered for OIA 2023, with almost 90% of them coming from 35 African countries. Eighty-eight speakers took part in 26 sessions, including 22 African startups who had the opportunity to pitch their innovations on the plenary stage.
Plenary sessions featured inspirational keynote talks, Pecha Kucha sessions, startup pitch showcases, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Action-driven collaborative breakout workshops were held on the afternoons of the first two days, with outcomes from these sessions presented as part of the plenary session on the third day.
OIA 2023 Programme
Welcome Tea & Registration
Master of Ceremonies Welcome
Opening Address
Keynote Address
Pecha Kucha Session
OceanHub Africa Accelerator Demo
TECA Ocean Venture Launcher Demo - Powered by SMTP and GIZ-Make IT in Africa
Closing for Lunch
Lunch, Exhibition & B2B Programme
Breakout Workshop: IUCN Great Blue Wall
This session will gather stakeholder perspectives to inform the drafting of the Green Climate Fund funding proposal for the IUCN Great Blue Wall initiative. Designing a programme for blue entrepreneurship empowerment, science and governance that will make the GBW a reality and putting a budget in front of this.
Live Stream Link - https://vmix.at/7SboUC
Breakout Workshop: Small-Scale Fisheries Value Chains in the Context of the Blue Economy
Solutions to quality, consistency, logistics and ecological concerns abound, but how do we disrupt pricing and local benefit-sharing to achieve sustainability? Come join us for an interactive discussion and brainstorming session. Bring your solution mindset!
Live Stream Link: mhg4-m8hb-g5sg-45ka-7aah
Breakout Workshop: Inclusive Innovation Pipeline Building
The 1000 Ocean Startups Coalition is hosting a workshop convening key investors, accelerators, entrepreneurs, and public sector voices to sketch out a roadmap for developing the ocean innovation pipeline in Africa. This workshop will address the needs and gaps for the entire innovation pipeline, from ideation through to late-stage investment. The workshop aims to develop clear action items for each part of the ocean impact innovation ecosystem in Africa.
Live Stream Link: 1zw9-svq9-px1s-jp16-7gra
Breakout Workshop: Sustainable Seaweed Aquaculture
The objective of the focused workshop will be to unpack a sustainable and inclusive seaweed value chain and explore possible value adding opportunities. Additionally, we would like to explore the concepts around blue carbon and carbon sequestration (ideals vs reality)
Live Stream Link: 5tup-78yc-ax19-g2bt-c67v
Cocktail with Exhibitors
Welcome Tea & Registration/Networking Breakfast
Master of Ceremonies Welcome
Opening Address
Panel Discussion: The Role of women in the Decarbonisation of the Maritime Sector
The implication of Global Warming on the world is tremendous as it affects the lives of present and future generations. Climatic change is increasingly a critical global issue that crosses sectors and geographies. The maritime sector has a role to play in reducing Green House Gas Emissions (GHG). Equally, gender equality is central to achieving a just and efficient transition to a decarbonised shipping sector and in this transition, the participation of women cannot be understated.
The panel will explore:
- What the implication of decarbonization is and the crucial role that the maritime sector can play.
- How to successfully include women in the sector to achieve greater diversity and complementarity.
- What the impact, implications and preparedness of the sector are.
- How do we expand the pool of talent to better address the demand for skills.
- What opportunities are available for start-ups in the sector, with focus on
women entrepreneurs.
Pecha Kucha Session
Ocean Innovation Africa Startup Pitch Competition
UK-SA Tech Hub Plastics Circularity Pitch Competition
Closing for Lunch
Lunch, Exhibition & B2B Programme
Breakout Workshop: Blue Carbon and Nature Based Solutions
Implementation of global blue carbon principles in Africa - challenges and opportunities
Innovative Finance Solutions
What does the future of blue finance look like? Exploring mechanisms, challenges and opportunities for finance structures, like blended finance, to meet the need of African blue economy development, and implentation of global finance principles
in the African context.
Breakout Workshop: Solutions for the Green Maritime Transition
In the immense effort of moving towards cleaner oceans, it is mission critical to onboard a community of technology developers that assist your business to remain on target. ESG goals are more important than ever before, making detection and monitoring systems essential. What technology is part of the global shift in environmental monitoring and how can Ports and marine companies adapt this for the ocean environment?
Welcome Tea & Registration
Master of Ceremonies Welcome
Film Screening - The Black Mermaid
Keynote Address
Pecha Kucha Session
Panel Discussion: Ocean Data
Francophone Africa Blue Economy Breakout Workshop
Fireside Culture Chat: Ocean Films
Fireside Chat: Ocean Friendly Fashion
Panel Discussion: Ocean Culture
Closing for Lunch
Lunch, Exhibition, and B2B Meeting Programme
Panel Discussion: African Blue Economy Policy
OIA Workshops Outcomes Feedback
Closing Address
The Ocean Race Chairman, Richard Brissius, will close proceedings with an address aimed at highlighting the need for recognition of Ocean Rights and how this fits in with African blue economy needs.
Tell your ocean-impact story on the main stage!
Do you have an inspiring story to tell about blue economy opportunities and/or impacts on communities, the environment, industry, or economy?
Share it during the OIA 2023 “Pecha Kucha” sessions. Pecha Kuchas are presentations of 20 text-free slides, where the speaker illustrates a concept or insight through storytelling, with 20 seconds for each slide.
Want to take part?
Take a look here and here for tips on the pechakucha format, and send us either your pechakucha slideshow and audio recording (with the pitch script), or a video of you giving the presentation to info@ocean-innovation.africa for the chance to inspire Africa’s ocean impact community with your story!
Calling all African Ocean-Impact Startups!
The annual Ocean Innovation Africa pitch competition is an opportunity for Africa ocean-impact startups to showcase their project to the summit’s international audience of investors, innovators, researchers, policy-makers and NGOs.
Six finalists will be selected to pitch their startup enterprise at the event, with cash and in-kind prizes for the winner and two runners-up.
To be eligible to enter, startups must:
- Have direct or indirect impact on ocean health
- Be based in Africa
- Be less than 3 years old
Submit your pitch deck and get exposure as a change-maker in the ocean-impact space!
Get immersed in Cape Town's blue economy
Ocean Innovation Africa is curating 3 thematic study tours to deep dive into Cape Town’s Blue Ecosystem and showcase innovation to inspire synergies and foster opportunities. We have tailored 3 day-tours focused on: Blue Food, Circular Economy and Outreach Programs.
Participants will be taken into the field to visit key blue economy sites and facilities in Cape Town, meet with local stakeholders, and learn about the latest technologies, startups and innovations in their field.
Further to core summit activities, OIA hosted two thematic blue economy study tours offering delegates immersion into local blue economy ecosystems, as well as facilitating the ocean-impact film festival forming part of The Ocean Race “race village” outreach activities.
2023 Sponsors and Partners
Founding Partners
Host City
In Collaboration With
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Session Sponsors
Honourable Partners
Media Partners
