Ocean Impact Organisation and Moananui Unite to Propel Sustainable Blue Economy Solutions Across Asia Pacific
For immediate release
SYDNEY & NELSON, 11 April 2024
New Partnership to Accelerate Innovation in New Zealand and Australia’s Emerging Ocean Economies
SYDNEY & NELSON, 11 April 2024: Australia’s Ocean Impact Organisation (OIO) and Moananui, New Zealand’s leading blue economy cluster, have today announced a landmark partnership aimed at driving transformative change in the Asia Pacific region.
Through this collaboration, OIO will gain greater access to New Zealand's emerging blue economy network, extending its impact and reach into the local market while fostering collaborative innovation and knowledge exchange with Moananui's partners.
Moananui, on the other hand, will gain access to OIO’s extensive expertise, resources, and international network. By leveraging OIO's experience in startup commercialisation, funding facilitation, and ecosystem building, Moananui will enhance its capacity to nurture and grow ocean-related ventures within New Zealand’s blue economy.
Moananui and Ocean Impact Organisation share a desire to harmonise economic prosperity with environmental stewardship.
Together, both organisations will benefit from increased visibility and scale within the ocean innovation ecosystem, attracting attention from investors, stakeholders, and potential collaborators.
““This is exactly the kind of regional and cross-border collaboration that OIO is committed to,” said Nick Chiarelli, CEO of OIO. “To make our collective, greatest impact we must collaborate on expanding into international markets, increasing investment prospects, and exchanging vital knowledge.””
“Jodie Kuntzsch, CEO of Moananui, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Combining our expertise and resources means we can foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration that benefit our businesses, ocean and future generations. And through our collective networks, we create a fast-track to new opportunities for both organisations in Australia, New Zealand and beyond.””
Jodie Kuntzsch, Moananui’s Chief Executive, and Elisa-Marie Dumas, Ocean Impact Organisation’s Innovation Programs Manager
A distinguishing feature of the alliance between OIO and Moananui is that both Australia and New Zealand, despite their population size and geographic ‘isolation’ from the global North, share common challenges and aspirations in establishing a global presence in the sustainable blue economy ecosystem. This collaborative effort not only enhances regional cooperation but also amplifies the influence of both nations on the global platform.
“Elisa-Marie Dumas, Head of Programs at OIO, added, “This is a significant milestone in our shared mission to drive change in the Asia Pacific region. Together, we have the opportunity to leverage our collective strengths and resources to unlock innovative solutions that transform ocean health and propel the sustainable blue economy.””
For press enquiries please contact:
Tim Silverwood
Head of Marketing and Community
info@ocean-impact.org
About OIO
Ocean Impact Organisation (OIO) helps startups make their greatest impact through funding and growth opportunities. Headquartered in Australia with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, our commercialisation programs and support initiatives accelerate the best solutions to transform ocean health. OIO has supported 99 startups and entrepreneurs since launching in 2020 (to Dec 2023) and has an ambitious goal to facilitate $100M of funding for ocean-related ventures. OIO’s initiatives and cohort-based programs include the Ocean Impact Pitchfest, the Ocean Impact Accelerator Program, the Ocean Impact Ideation Program, INNOVOCEAN, and the Ocean Impact Podcast. At the forefront of the ocean health innovation ecosystem, OIO is passionately driving impact and investment into the rapidly emerging sustainable blue economy.
About Moananui
Moananui emerged in response to the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy in 2019 as a grassroots initiative led by key stakeholders including the Nelson Regional Development Agency, The Cawthron Institute, and Wakatu Incorporation. At its core, Moananui embodies the ethos of Tūpuna Pono – To Be Good Ancestors, aiming to accelerate innovation and commercialization in the New Zealand blue economy. With two years of government seed funding secured in 2023, Moananui has established itself as a prominent player in the blue economy landscape, fostering collaboration among diverse partners including blue tech, aquaculture, research, and engineering sectors.
