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THE RIPPLE: Ocean Tech Innovation Conference 2025 on Aug. 1 at the Molave Hotel, Tagum City, will tackle the potential of the blue economy through innovations, pitches, and expert discussions.

RIPPLE is organized by Blue Economy Underpinning Global Sustainability through Adaptive Innovations (BUGSAI TBI) of the Davao del Norte State College.

Rob Gumba, BUGSAI TBI manager, said the conference will serve as an avenue for industry players and other stakeholders for ideation of start-ups.

About 150 innovators will convene at the RIPPLE, including the Information and Communications Technology and engineering organizations, researchers, fisherfolk organizations, government agencies, and other interested innovators.

The one-day event will feature keynote talks about the Blue Economy, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Shipping, Maritime Trade, Ocean-based Logistics, Climate and Disaster Resilience, Marine Protection, Conservation, and Preservation, and Renewable Ocean Energy to promote the understanding of these domains and a deep dive discussion on their challenges and opportunities.

The event will feature a trade fair for marine-based products, a techno fair for ocean tech and research, and a pitching of blue innovations from DNSC.

Gumba said it is high time to explore the potential of the blue economy and take advantage of the Philippines being the second-largest archipelagic country in the world, with 7,641 islands. 

“There are already blue tech emerging, and it’s more prevalent in other countries. The Philippines is the second largest archipelago, which should be something that our innovators should look into,” Gumba said during the Habi at Kape media forum on Wednesday.

To note, the Asian Development Bank promised a $400-million or about ₱23.4-billion loan to restore marine ecosystems and strengthen the country’s blue economy, as part of the lender’s $24-billion support package for Southeast Asia through 2028. 

ADB President Masato Kanda announced this at the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit on May 28.

BUGSAI, citing ADB, said the country, with its ocean-based industries, accounts for an average of 4% of GDP in 2018–2023. Fisheries dominate, accounting for nearly 30% of ocean-based industries in 2023, followed by the manufacture of ocean-based products (20.9%), maritime transport (15.0%), and ocean-based power generation (10.3%). 

The emerging industries, such as marine biotechnology, coastal tourism, and offshore renewable energy, also present vast opportunities for expansion, while coastal tourism offers extensive employment opportunities and income generation.

Meanwhile, marine renewable energy—offshore wind, solar, wave, and tidal energy—can help the country reach its target of increasing renewable energy’s share in power generation to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.  

“We are expecting developers or tech groups to be able to look into the blue economy for possible inspiration for a start-up or a project,” Gumba said.