Revitalizing our beautiful waters and shorelines
Revitalizing our beautiful waters and shorelines
As a Biological Sciences PhD student, scuba diver Vriko Yu spent her weekends exploring the beauty and mysteries beneath the waves. But one dive proved especially alarming, when she witnessed once lush coral patches rapidly fading.
Corals are a force of life – habitats that nurture and support one-quarter of all marine life. But climate change and human activity threaten to dissolve 90% of these vital ecosystems by 2050, a very real threat that Vriko saw firsthand on that fateful dive.
Back on land, ideas swirled as she discussed potential solutions with fellow marine enthusiasts. What can be done to protect the colourful coral communities so central to the health of our waters and shorelines?
So emerged Archireef with its game-changing solution: the world’s first 3D-printed terracotta clay Reef Tile, on which corals can attach and grow. Literally re-tiling the ocean floor (just like tiling our kitchen at home!), Archireef’s ocean-friendly and species-adaptive tiles help nurture vibrant coral communities, accelerating coral restoration where it’s needed most.
“Keeping Up means being nature positive, and continuing to innovate through R&D and actively restoring our coral reefs.”
Starting from the waters of Hong Kong’s Sai Kung, Archireef’s Reef Tiles have since already restored more than 15,000 corals globally. Recongnised by the World Economic Forum, IUCN and Geneva Inventions, this proud HK startup is now teaming up with research institutions to deploy the reef tiles in more areas of the world, and helping private organisations advance their SDG goals.
Diver or not, we all long for bluer oceans. Join us to “Keep Up with I&T Tomorrow” and discover how innovation can help secure our natural habitats for generations to discover and enjoy.
Corals are a force of life – habitats that nurture and support one-quarter of all marine life. But climate change and human activity threaten to dissolve 90% of these vital ecosystems by 2050, a very real threat that Vriko saw firsthand on that fateful dive.
Back on land, ideas swirled as she discussed potential solutions with fellow marine enthusiasts. What can be done to protect the colourful coral communities so central to the health of our waters and shorelines?
So emerged Archireef with its game-changing solution: the world’s first 3D-printed terracotta clay Reef Tile, on which corals can attach and grow. Literally re-tiling the ocean floor (just like tiling our kitchen at home!), Archireef’s ocean-friendly and species-adaptive tiles help nurture vibrant coral communities, accelerating coral restoration where it’s needed most.
“Keeping Up means being nature positive, and continuing to innovate through R&D and actively restoring our coral reefs.”
Starting from the waters of Hong Kong’s Sai Kung, Archireef’s Reef Tiles have since already restored more than 15,000 corals globally. Recongnised by the World Economic Forum, IUCN and Geneva Inventions, this proud HK startup is now teaming up with research institutions to deploy the reef tiles in more areas of the world, and helping private organisations advance their SDG goals.
Diver or not, we all long for bluer oceans. Join us to “Keep Up with I&T Tomorrow” and discover how innovation can help secure our natural habitats for generations to discover and enjoy.
