Grenada took a bold step towards reaffirming its relationship with the ocean this week, hosting the inaugural Blue Economy Action Lab, a first-of-its-kind event that gathered entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors to turn blue economy ideas into action.
Following a series of ocean-related events that took place around the island, the Action Lab marked a major milestone for the region’s growing innovation movement. The novel format challenged participants to move beyond dialogue and commit to launching real projects that deliver results within just 90 days.
“We’ve had enough conversations about potential,” said Island Innovators CEO and Co-founder Fayeann Lawrence. “The Action Lab is about execution — about proving that Caribbean innovators can take ownership of our challenges and create our own solutions.”
Throughout the day, the energy in the room was electric. Curated stakeholders from across the public and private sectors — from marine entrepreneurs and tourism operators to data scientists and policy leaders — worked together to identify pilot projects.
The ventures were grouped under 3 themes: waste-to-value solutions (such as recycling marine debris into energy and new materials), circular blue tourism (reimagining how tourism can regenerate rather than deplete local ecosystems) and coastal resilience (tackling erosion and climate adaptation through community-led innovation). The facilitated workshop culminated in participants forming small, cross-sector “Doers’ Circles” — 90-day working groups committed to advancing at least one High-Impact Action Declaration (HIAD) under each theme.
“What we witnessed today was collaboration in motion,” said Dr Angus Friday, Advisor to Island Innovators and Co-founder of Azuros. “There was a real sense of ownership — people left the room not just inspired, but already building.”
Among the participants were several of Grenada’s leading voices in sustainability and enterprise, including Crystal Young of LTD Sailing; Chad Fraser, Founder of SonoverSaturn; and Benjamin Nestorovic of SarGas. Each shared how innovation within their field could help unlock Grenada’s full potential in the blue economy — a sector encompassing the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for growth, jobs, and environmental health. With its expansive marine territory, deep expertise in climate resilience, and growing network of impact-driven entrepreneurs, Grenada is well-positioned to lead regional innovation in this space.
Following the event, Island Innovators will continue to support participating teams through a 90-day pilot programme providing mentorship, visibility, technical guidance, and accountability. Progress will be tracked through the Island Innovators Impact Dashboard, offering transparent updates on milestones, partnerships, and measurable outcomes. The initiative represents a new model for the Caribbean — one where impact is visible, collaborative, and time-bound.
“By February, we’ll see the first tangible results of these pilots — not reports, but prototypes and partnerships ready for scale,” said Lawrence. “This is how we prove that small islands can lead to big progress.”
Building on the success of the inaugural event, Island Innovators plans to partner with regional development agencies and the private sector to fund and replicate the model, hosting subsequent quarterly Action Labs across various sectors, including the Creative ,Technology, and Health Economies.
Future blue economy labs will focus on emerging opportunities such as marine biotechnology, seaweed innovation, and coastal data mapping — creating a regional network of “doers” who transform the Caribbean’s ocean potential into lasting prosperity.
“This is the beginning of a movement,” said Dr Friday. “The Blue Action Lab is proof that when Caribbean talent connects with structure and support, possibility turns into probability.”
To learn more, visit https://www.islandinnovators.org/blue-action-lab.
