Blue Economy
Harnessing Science, Innovation & Sustainability for India's Marine Future
Date: 13th – 14th March 2026
Venue: Odisha State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhawan Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Student/Research Scholars: INR 1500
Startups/Foundation: INR 3000
Faculty/Scientist: INR 2000
Industry: INR 5000
International Participants: INR 10,000
Executive Summary
Building on the resounding success of the National Blue Economy Conference 2024 & International Conference on Blue Economy in 2025-which attracted over 700 national & International participants, released a White Paper draft, and catalyzed multi-stakeholder marine innovation-BCKIC is now elevating the initiative to the Global Blue Economy Summit 2026.
The 2026 Summit aims to position Odisha and India as global leaders in marine innovation, climate resilience, ocean-linked livelihoods, and sustainable blue growth. The Summit will integrate scientific leadership, policy frameworks, advanced marine technologies, industrial partnerships, Startups Engagment and community-centric development models, creating a global roadmap for Blue Economy 2.0.
Themes
Seaweeds & Value Chain
Maritime Security
Marine Bio-Manufacturing
AI for Marine Resources
Climate Change
Deep Sea Mining
Offshore Energy
Marine Pollution
Marine Biodiversity & Conservation
Coastal Disaster
Management
Marine Fisheries
& Mariculture
Marine Industries, Trade Technology & Services
Key Highlights
Supported By
Participants' Profile
Govt. Ministries, Dept. & Policy Maker
International Delegates
Startups and Innovators
Industry & Corporate Leaders
Academicians & Researchers
Universities & Research Institutions
Investors & Funding Bodies
NGOs, SHGS & Coastal Communities
Layout of SUMMIT AGENDA
Day -1 (13th March 2026)
| Session | Theme | Highlights | Key Takeaways |
| Session-1 | India's Pathway to Blue Economy 2.0 |
1. Vision statements from the Government of India & Coastal States 2. Global leaders on ocean governance 3. Release of Summit Prospectus & Blue Economy White Paper (Draft-I1) |
1. National commitments to blue growth 2. Policy alignment across ministries 3. Framework for India's global ocean leadership |
| Session-2 | Science & Innovation for the Future Oceans |
1. Deep Ocean Mission updates 2. Al for ocean ecosystems 3. Marine biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations |
1. Research priorities for 2025-2030 2. Technology deployment accelerators 3. New research clusters and joint labs |
| Session-3 | Blue Livelihoods, Communities & Climate Resilience |
1. Seaweed farming 2. Artificial reefs 3. Sustainable fisheries models 4. Coastal women entrepreneurs |
1. Replicable livelihood models 2. Climate adaptation frameworks 3. Stakeholder action plan for community programs |
| Session-4 | Industry & Corporate Leadership Forum |
1. Ports & shipping technology 2. Blue supply chains 3. Corporate sustainability and ESG for oceans |
1. Industry adoption roadmap 2. Carbon neutrality strategies 3. Public-private partnerships for ocean tech deployment |
| Session-5 | Startup Showcase - "Innovation for the Oceans" |
1. 10-15 curated startups 2. Underwater drones, aquaculture Al, biosensors, feed innovation 3. Market-ready product demonstrations |
1. Onboarding of startups for pilot deployment 2. Investment opportunities 3. Scaling pathways |
Day -2 (14th March 2026)
| Session | Theme | Highlights | Key Takeaways |
| Session-6 | Technology Pitching Arena | 1. 5-7 pitches evaluated by industry, academia & investors |
1. Direct industry linkages 2. Technology-to-market support 3. National innovation visibility |
| Session-7 | Research Symposium & Poster Presentations |
1. Extended abstract submission 2. Poster and paper awards 3. Student engagement |
1. New research collaborations 2. Identification of high-impact translational research projects |
| Session-8 | Policy Roundtable - Blue Economy Strategies |
1. Inter-ministerial dialogue 2. State-level strategies 3. Regulatory and financing frameworks |
1. Actionable recommendations 2. Policy harmonization 3. Launch of Action Groups |
| Session-9 | Global Cooperation Forum |
1. Technology exchange frameworks 2. Joint ocean missions 3. International student/fellowship pathways |
1. MoUs with international partners 2. Global Blue Innovation Network launch 3. Collaborative R&D roadmap |
| Session-10 | Valedictory & Action Groups Report |
1. Presentation of key outcomes 2. Launch of Blue Economy Roadmap 2025-2030 3. Recognition and awards |
1. Action groups and working committees
formalized 2. Community and technology deployment plans 3. Commitment towards next-year milestones |
India's Vision of the Blue Economy
Origins and Global Relevance
- Evolved from the Third Earth Summit Conference – Rio+20 in 2012, expanding the Green Economy to encompass the Blue Economy.
- Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, emphasizing sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.
- Pioneered the Department of Ocean Development in 1981, now the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
- Launched programs like Deep Ocean Mission, Oceanography from Space, and deployed data buoys along the Indian coastline.
- Participation in the UN’s Clean Seas Programme and collaboration with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for deep ocean exploration.
Read More
Government Vision (New India by 2030):
- Designated Blue Economy as a core dimension of growth, emphasizing coherent policy integration and development for coastal communities’ well-being and employment.
- Maritime Significance:
- India’s 7517 km coastline, 1382 islands, 12 major ports, and 187 non-major ports handling significant cargo.
- 95% of India’s trade volume transits by sea.
- Coastal economy sustains over 4 million fishermen and coastal communities.
- Post-COVID-19, India anticipates substantial growth in the marine sector through efficient and sustainable use of ocean resources.
Boosting capabilities, skills, and capacities related to oceans.
- Striving for efficient, sustainable ocean resource utilization, enhancing capabilities for employment and value addition while aligning with UN SDGs.
Policy Framework Development:
- Formulating a transparent policy agenda aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Focusing on transparent policies for the development of India’s Blue Economy.
Economic Growth and National Security:
- Enhancing GDP through sustainable economic growth in the Blue Economy domain.
- Aligning national development with security goals and international commitments.
The seven priority areas identified under Blue Economy relevant for India
Advisory Committee
Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh
Vice Chancellor
KIIT University
Mr. G S Krishnan
President
ABLE
Dr. Debasis Dash
Director, BRIC-ILS, Bhubaneswar
Dr. Ajit K Pattnaik
Former PCCF Odisha, Consultant World Bank
Dr. Mrutyunjay Suar
DG R&D and Innovation, KIIT & Chairman, BCKIC
Dr. Girija Bharat
Mu Gamma Consultants
Organising Committee
Dr. Vishakha Raina
Associate Professor
KIIT University
Dr. Namrata Misra
BCKIC Foundation
Dr. Sanjeeb Kumar Sahoo
Scientist F
BRIC-ILS
Dr. Shantibhusan Senapati
Scientist F
BRIC-ILS
Dr. Gulam Hussain Syed
Scientist E
BRIC-ILS
Speakers
Smt. Pravati Parida
Hon’ble Dy Chief Minister of Odisha
Dr. Rajesh Gokhale
Secretary, DBT, GoI
Dr. (Mrs.) Parvinder Maini
Scientific Secretary, O/o PSA, GoI
Sh. Sujeet Kumar
Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Prof. (Dr.) Achyuta Samanta
Founder, KIIT & KISS
Dr. Swati Basu
Former Scientific secretary, O/o PSA to GoI
Dr. Shailesh Nayak
Director, NIAS Bengaluru
Sh. S. K. Vasistha, IAS
Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, GoO
Dr. Jitendra Kumar
MD, DBT BIRAC, GoI
Sh. Upendra Tripathy, Retd. IAS
Former Secretary, MNRE, GoI
Smt. Usha Padhee, IAS
Principal Secy, Comm & Transport Dept, GoO
Dr. P. M. Murali
President, ABLE Council of Presidents
Vice Admiral Ramakant Pattnaik, (Retd.)
Indian Navy
ADG Donny Michael
PTM, TM, Coast Guard Commander, Eastern Seaboard
Rear Admiral Shantanu Jha
NM CSO (ops), HQENC, Indian Navy
Major General Atanu Patnaik (Retd.)
Indian Army
Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Director, ISRO-NRSC, Hyderabad
Dr. Mukesh Kumar
Head of Industry Resilience, University of Cambridge, UK
Dr. Subhanjoy Mohanty
Associate Professor, Imperial College London
Dr. Chandrasekhar Panda
Partner- Digital and Technology Consulting, McKinsey & Company
Dr. Arabinda Mitra
Former Scientific Secretary, O/o PSA, GoI
Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan
Director, NIOT, Chennai
Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Director, ISRO-NRSC, Hyderabad
Dr. Badri Narayanan
Scientist III Global Service Support, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dr. Neel S. Bhavesh
Group Leader, Transcription Regulation, ICGEB New Delhi
Dr. Pushp Bajaj
Program Lead, CEEW
Ms. Anuja Shukla
Environment Specialist, The World Bank
Dr. Tune Usha
Scientist – G, MoES, GoI
Mr. Devjit Mitra
Director, Socratus Foundation
Mr. Saumyajit Guha
Startup Evangelist
Dr. Shrikumar Suryanarayan
Founder, Sea6 Energy
Mr. Mayuresh Raut
Partner, Seafund
Mr. Dhiraj Kumar Sinha
Venture Capitalist VC, Ex-Founder & GP of SucSEED Indovation Fund
Mr. Anubhav Tiwari
Chief Innovation Officer, NIELIT- MeitY, GoI
Mr. Saurabh Trivedi
Director, VentureBolt
Mr. Vartul Jain
Senior Investment Analyst, IPV Advisors
Mr. Vinit Jain
Founder, CEO, Antennae Ventures
Dr. Lung-Jieh Yang
Counsellor & Director, TECC, Taiwan
Dr. Ramanuj Narayan
Director, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar
Prof. Dinabandhu Sahoo
Professor, University of Delhi
Dr. Manoranjan Hota
Former Adviser, MoEF & CC, GoI
Dr. GVM Gupta
Director, Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology
(CMLRE), MoES, GoI
Dr. Ramana Ch V
University of Hyderabad
Dr. G Dharani
NIOT, Chennai
Dr. Sumit Biswas
BITS, Goa
Mr. Nitesh Kumar
Head of Programs, Global Green Growth Institute, New Delhi
Dr. Ritesh Kumar
Director, Wetlands International, South Asia
Dr. Arabinda Mishra
Founder, DEFT and Former Prof., TERI
Dr. Ajit K Patnaik
Former PCCF Odisha, Consultant World Bank
Dr. Dipti Kakkar Thukral
Scientist G, ANRF, GoI
Dr. Dhiraj Kumar
Chief Manager -Technical (Health Care), DBT-BIRAC, GoI
Dr. Nalin Srivastava
Scientist E, MeitY, GoI
Prof. R Ramesh
Advisor, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Sh. Vivekananda Pai
Secretary General, VIBHA
Mr. Vivek JM
Environmental Policy & Resource Efficiency Advisor, GIZ India
Sh. P.L. Haranadh, IRTS
Chairman, Paradip Port Authority
Dr. Satish Shenoy
Former Director, INCOIS & National VP, VIBHA
Rear Admiral Brijesh Vashishta, (Retd)
IIT Ropar
Mr. Subrat Tripathy
President-Business Development, Adani Groups
Mr. Madhusmit Pati
Secretary, Nature’s Club
Mr. Prem Sanker Satpathy
Executive Director, Magnum Sea Foods Ltd
Ms. Abha Mishra
Head of Office – Odisha, UNDP
Mr. Omkarnath Suprabhat Rath
Program Director, MSH, MeitY, GoI
Dr. Chime Youdon
Associate Fellow, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi
Dr. Sujit Das
Officer-Technical, BIRAC, DBT, GoI
Ms. Sahana Ghosh
Associate Editor, Nature India
Mr. Sushil Sharma
Founder, Marwari Catalyst
Dr. U Chandrasekhar
Vice Chancellor-GGU, Rajahmundry
Dr. Vasant Shinde
Advisor, NMHC & National VP, VIBHA
Mr. Sudipto Sen
CEO, Asterix Innovations, Kolkata
Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao
Director, NIT Rourkela
Ms. Dharitri Nayak
Climate Champion, Women Leader
Past Program News Coverage 2024
Past Program Glimpses
