The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice brought together a dynamic mix of scientists, policy leaders, innovators, artists, and civil society organisations with one shared purpose, to protect and restore the ocean through scalable, inclusive action. This year’s theme focused on moving from dialogue to delivery, and we were honoured to contribute to the global momentum through keynote participation, technology demonstrations, and partnership engagement.
Our presentation shared real examples of ocean innovation being deployed. We showcased Wingfurl™, our auxiliary wind propulsion system designed to decarbonise shipping; Netless™, a selective fishing and plastic retrieval system; and Streamesh™, a microplastics recovery module. These technologies are not future concepts. They are real tools being tested and deployed to address the most urgent issues affecting our marine ecosystems- carbon emissions, ocean plastic, and destructive fishing practices.
The keynote session, hosted by JB Dondolo, Inc. and the APEX Development Foundation, was a standout moment. We were privileged to share the stage with environmental artist Anna Stern, whose thought-provoking work has brought fresh awareness to sustainability. Her creative perspective underscored a powerful theme echoed throughout the conference: that true change happens when diverse sectors, science, art, technology, and grassroots action-work together.
Also presenting was Think Ocean CIC, a member of the Upstream Horizon Consortium, representing on-the-ground community engagement and habitat restoration projects. Their contribution reaffirmed the importance of blending global systems with local action. Whether through technology or traditional knowledge, the pathway to change must be collaborative, inclusive, and practical.
For us, UNOC3 was not just a talking shop. Several connections made during the week have already evolved into working groups, co-design initiatives, and regional pilots. From Africa to Asia, from coastal communities to international finance partners, there is clear movement toward co-investing in impact. This gathering gave us hope, because it showed that when dialogue leads to action, a healthier ocean becomes truly possible.