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List of the ASEAN, Japan and UNDP winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), (Photo : UNDP) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : ASEAN, Japan and UNDP officially announced the winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), an initiative that aims to advance sustainable blue economy solutions in ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Launched in April 2024, ABIC is part of the ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation project supported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and implemented by UNDP, with funding support from the Government of Japan.

This initiative identifies and supports innovative solutions from ten ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste that address pressing challenges in marine and freshwater ecosystems. The initiative received 1,341 proposals, of which 60 winners were selected by a Joint Selection Committee consisting of Satvinder Singh, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community; Kiya Masahiko, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN; and Norimasa Shimomura, Chief Representative of UNDP Indonesia.

These 60 winners represent a diverse range of innovators, and their solutions aim to improve sustainability in aquaculture, fisheries and tourism while addressing broader environmental challenges such as climate change, plastic waste and water resource management. Through technological innovation, community engagement and new financing models, this innovation project has the potential to generate positive environmental and social impacts across the region.

One other important piece of information is gender inclusion. Of the 60 winners, 27 of them (45%) were led by women, with a total of 125 female team members, exceeding the number of male members which amounted to 116 people.

Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN said, “This project marks an important milestone in our journey towards sustainable blue economy development. By empowering local innovators and encouraging regional collaboration, we not only address pressing environmental challenges but also open new economic opportunities for ASEAN. I congratulate the 60 winners whose solutions have the potential to improve the future of our marine and freshwater ecosystems. I am confident that the partnerships formed through this initiative will drive long-term positive change across the region.”

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday October 10th 2024 in Jakarta, four focus areas covering sustainable fisheries, marine plastic pollution, sustainable tourism and climate issues, the winners emphasized the use of the latest technological advances in the blue sector to increase efficiency and environmentally friendly approaches.

In precision aquaculture, for example, award recipients from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic are using artificial intelligence (AI) and water filtration technology to optimize fish farming and increase local production. To demonstrate circularity in fisheries, award recipients from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines transformed fish and shrimp waste and seaweed into valuable products such as fertilizer, microalgae and food supplements, promoting resource sustainability and community resilience. In biotechnology, solutions such as phage therapy (a medical treatment that uses viruses that infect and kill bacteria to treat bacterial infections) and the use of Bacillus probiotics to improve health or prevent disease in aquaculture ─ aim to improve fish health, while grass-based filters Oceans tackle microplastic pollution.

Award recipients from Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam focus on plastic solutions, developing alternatives to agricultural waste, converting plastic waste into valuable products such as furniture and industrial materials, and facilitating the issuance of plastic credits in collaboration with local SMEs. In ecotourism, award recipients from Thailand and Timor-Leste are creating sustainable tourism models that involve local communities in conservation and waste management, driving environmental and social impacts.

This announcement also marks the start of a six-month incubation program for 60 winners. The program is designed to support the development of their proposed solutions at various stages of business implementation, from testing and proof of concept to scale-up and commercialization, equipping them with the tools to turn their ideas into impactful, scalable solutions. The winners are also entitled to funding of up to 40,000 US Dollars for 60 innovators//VOI