Global Ocean Innovation Challenge (TNC/Newlab)

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Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 13:42

Partnership between The Nature Conservancy and Newlab incentivizing startup organizations to design technologies and solve information gaps for critical ocean conservation challenges. Focuses on pilot projects in regions like Southeast Asia to address overfishing and habitat degradation.

Source: https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/ocean-innovation-challenge/

Funding Details

Funder: The Nature Conservancy (TNC) / Newlab
Funding Goal: To incentivize startup organisations to design technologies and close information gaps to address critical ocean conservation challenges — particularly overfishing, lack of data for fisheries management, marine habitat degradation, and loss of coastal resilience. Initial pilot projects focus on fisheries and marine protected areas (MPAs) in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Funding Amount: Not specified — challenge with pilot funding for selected technology solutions
Deadline: Phase 1 through early 2026; Phase 2 field pilots throughout 2026 (Fixed)
How to Apply: Contact Ahmad Baihaki, Ocean Innovation Challenge Advisor, at oceanchallenge@tnc.org to stay informed. Phase 1 (through early 2026): TNC field teams and Newlab define conservation challenges and identify pilot sites. Phase 2 (throughout 2026): Selected solutions deployed through three field pilots in Southeast Asia. Programme culminates in a global showcase and report.
Target Region: Southeast Asia (Indonesia primary focus); global showcase
Contact: Ahmad Baihaki, Ocean Innovation Challenge Advisor — oceanchallenge@tnc.org
Last Checked: 2026-05-07 08:18

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Applicant must be a startup organisation with a technology-driven solution

Project Scope

Solution must address ocean conservation challenges: fisheries, MPAs, or coastal resilience
Pilot deployment must be feasible in Southeast Asia (Indonesia focus)

Required Documents

No formal public application — contact oceanchallenge@tnc.org to express interest

Constraints

Solutions evaluated across ecological, operational and community impact dimensions
Phase 2 field pilots run throughout 2026; Phase 1 site identification through early 2026

Summary

The Global Ocean Innovation Challenge is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Newlab, a venture platform, launched in September 2025. The challenge incentivises startup organisations to design technologies and close information and data gaps to address critical ocean conservation challenges. The initial focus is Southeast Asia, home to more than 70% of the world's coral reef species and a crucial food source for 120 million people. Thematic scope covers fisheries management, marine protected areas (MPAs), marine habitat degradation, coastal resilience, and lack of data for fisheries monitoring and enforcement. Technologies should address overfishing, data gaps in ocean management, and threats to marine ecosystems. Emerging technologies are prioritised, especially those applicable in contexts with limited monitoring capacity. Eligible applicants are startup organisations developing technology-driven ocean conservation solutions. Initial pilots focus on Indonesia (in partnership with YKAN) and broader Southeast Asia. Solutions are expected to demonstrate ecological, operational, and community impact. The programme runs in two phases. Phase 1 (through early 2026) involves TNC and Newlab collaborating with field teams to define priority conservation challenges and identify pilot sites. Phase 2 (throughout 2026) deploys three selected solutions through field pilots. The programme culminates in a global showcase and consolidated report. There is no open public application; interested organisations should contact the challenge advisor directly. Insights from pilots will inform scaling across TNC's global ocean programmes. No specific funding amounts have been disclosed.

Historical Context

Partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Newlab (a venture platform). Launched in September 2025 with initial focus on Southeast Asia. Indonesia partner: Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN).

Why it was added

Major ocean innovation challenge by TNC targeting technology solutions for marine conservation

Sources

https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/ocean-innovation-challenge/

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