The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) Director, Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, emphasized that the blue economy is crucial for India’s sustainable future. Speaking at the curtain raiser event for the Earth Science Technology and Innovation Conference (ESTIC) 2025, held on October 17 at the NIOT campus in Chennai, he highlighted India’s emerging leadership in ocean research through innovative and science-driven initiatives like the Deep Ocean Mission.ESTIC 2025, themed “Imagine, Innovate, Inspire for Viksit Bharat 2047,” is scheduled for November 3-5, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The conference aims to foster collaboration between government, academia, and industry to promote sustainable use of ocean resources. The Blue Economy theme focuses on balancing economic growth, livelihood improvement, and ocean ecosystem health.

Prof. Ramakrishnan praised the Department of Science and Technology and the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India for creating ESTIC as a platform to showcase India’s scientific and technological progress.

He described the blue economy as a vital pillar of sustainable development, advancing areas such as marine research, offshore renewable energy, deep-sea exploration, marine biotechnology, and ocean-based industries.

Other dignitaries like Dr. Balakrishnan Nair (INCOIS), Dr. R.S. Kankara (NCCR), and Dr. M.V. Ramana Murthy (Deep Ocean Mission) highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in ocean science and technology.

The event concluded with the unveiling of a video outlining India’s Blue Economy vision and the ESTIC 2025 agenda. Senior officials from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, academia, industry, and media also participated, reinforcing the significance of this initiative for India’s sustainable ocean economy.

This event marks a key step toward India’s goal of a sustainable and inclusive ocean economy by 2047, harnessing ocean resources innovatively while ensuring environmental health and economic prosperity.