A self-maintaining aquarium, hydrofoil surfboards and a biobank to preserve coral species were among the unique innovations on show as part of the West Tech Coast event.
A self-maintaining aquarium, hydrofoil surfboards and a biobank to preserve coral species were among the unique innovations on show as part of the West Tech Coast event.
Entrepreneurs, investors and keen tech enthusiasts made their way to Coast at Fremantle’s Port Beach for day two of the week-long West Tech Fest; focused on ocean tech.
Among the innovations and projects on display was The Forever Reef Project – a biobank project for coral reef species run by scientist, Australian Geographic-sponsored explorer and BBC television presenter Dean Miller.
The Forever Reef Project aims to collect, catalogue and store living fragments and genetic samples in a state-of-the-art ‘coral ark’.
“With every bleaching event we lose vulnerable corals and with over 50 per cent of corals already gone in the last few decades we don’t have a moment to lose,” Dr Miller told the crowd.
Also on display was the Living Oceans aquarium – which yesterday was announced as a recipient of the Innovation Booster Grants from the state government.
Living Oceans, in partnership with the University of Western Australia, have developed a ‘living ecosystem’ aquarium – a system which combines fish, corals and bio-active elements to naturally recycle nutrients creating a resilient, self-sustaining environment.
Founder and chief executive Ben Brayford – who also founded marine robotics company Geo Oceans, a two-time Innovator of the Year award winner and 2022 Exporter of the year – said the aquariums were born out of a desire to change the unsustainable aquarium industry.
“I have a vision of scaling this internationally, bringing WA’s coastline to living rooms and board rooms around the world,” he said.
West Tech Fest’s event at coast was the first time the aquariums have been show publicly.
“It’s an exciting time for us. We’ve got an investor pool; we’ve raised our seed round, and we’ve received an innovation booster grant,” Mr Brayford told Business News.
“So now we’re planning to take it to Karrinyup shops next week and hopefully get some interest from market.”
Mr Brayford said he expected a series A funding round in Q1 2025.
“I’ve told our investors all along that once we go to market, we plan to grow quickly – and right now we’re entering market,” he said.
“It’s such a simple system, it really won’t take much effort from the owner to keep the ecosystem alive – they’ll use a magnet cleaning tool to clean the glass, and have to top up the food, but aside from that everything is done for you.
“Anyone can look after it – and that’s what we’re trying to do – we’re trying to transform the Marine Aquarium industry into a fully sustainable one.”
Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson was at the event to announce an innovation challenge focused on energy storage solutions and funded by the state government through Curtin University’s GreenTech Hub.
The challenge forms part of the lower carbon grants program – Gorgon Fund, a joint venture between the state government and the Chevron-operated Gorgon joint venture.
As part of the program, the GreenTech hub was funded to the tune of $4 million over four years and aimed at building WA’s green technology capabilities and capacity.
Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said the hub will help pursue the state government’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“The GreenTech Hub will be a catalyst to inspire, mobilise and connect green entrepreneurship ad commercialisation across WA,” he said.
“The hub has now set its first challenge with energy storage and will work alongside industry, government, academics and others on how WA can lead the charge into the future.”
A self-maintaining aquarium, hydrofoil surfboards and a biobank to preserve coral species were among the unique innovations on show as part of the West Tech Coast event.
