Ocean Innovation And Blue Finance Take Centre Stage As Frontier25 Signs MoU With Monaco Foundation

Frontier25 and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance shared climate action goals. The agreement focuses on sustainability themes such as impact investment, ocean innovation, and blue finance, with both organisations aligning their efforts to support long-term environmental resilience.

The partnership announcement takes place alongside the 10th edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform in Abu Dhabi, held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Frontier25 and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation co-host the platform, highlighting regional interest in ocean-focused climate solutions and low-carbon maritime growth.

The Ocean Innovators Platform, created in 2022 by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, aims to highlight practical technologies and ideas for the ocean. It focuses on solutions that support a sustainable shift in sectors such as waste management, seafood production, and maritime transport, where environmental and economic interests closely intersect.

The new MoU builds on earlier discussions between leaders of both organisations. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President and CEO of Frontier25 and The Climate Tribe, met His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, in September 2025 to explore wider cooperation in environmental conservation.

During the Ocean Innovators Platform event, Sheikha Shamma delivers the keynote address, linking climate action with ocean innovation and the blue economy. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said, "The growth of the blue economy does not rely on how much more we can gain but rests on how much more we can give. So much of the world below remains unknown, and yet our lives depend on it. To thrive on the surface, we must take care of what lies beneath."

Economic figures shared at the event underline the regional and global scale of the blue economy. The UAE’s maritime industries generate around 37 billion dollars for the country’s annual GDP. Worldwide, the blue economy exceeds 2.2 trillion dollars, more than doubling across the past three decades.

Forecasts referenced at the platform suggest that global ocean-based economic activity could reach 3 trillion dollars by 2030. At the same time, recent research warns that human impact on marine environments might double by 2050. Pollution, overfishing, and climate change together place growing stress on marine ecosystems.

Regional blue economy growth and ocean innovation outlook

Olivier Wenden, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, links ocean innovation and blue economy development to regional opportunities. Olivier Wenden said, "Ocean innovation sits at the crossroads of environmental responsibility and economic opportunity. This 10th Ocean Innovators Platform in Abu Dhabi highlights the maturity of the blue economy and the strong regional appetite for solutions that accelerate low-carbon transition and sustainable shipping. The United Arab Emirates’ dynamism in this field reinforces the foundation’s plan to open a branch in the region to scale impactful initiatives."

The MoU between Frontier25 and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation therefore reinforces a shared agenda on climate action, ocean innovation, and blue finance. It connects global conservation efforts with the UAE’s growing maritime economy, while supporting regional projects that aim to protect marine ecosystems and encourage more sustainable industry practices.

With inputs from WAM