Event runs Sept. 14-18 at Korea Maritime and Ocean University and other venues

Korea Maritime and Ocean University will host the 2026 AMFUF Ocean Innovation Challenge for five days, from Sept. 14 to 18. [Courtesy of Korea Maritime and Ocean University]
Korea Maritime and Ocean University will host the 2026 AMFUF Ocean Innovation Challenge for five days, from Sept. 14 to 18. [Courtesy of Korea Maritime and Ocean University]

Korea Maritime and Ocean University will host the 2026 AMFUF Ocean Innovation Challenge (AOIC 2026) for five days, from Sept. 14 to 18.

The event is an international student program in which students from member schools of the Asian Maritime and Fisheries Universities Forum, or AMFUF, explore global ocean-related issues together and propose creative solutions. A total of 48 teams from 10 member schools in eight countries applied for the preliminary round of AOIC 2026. After screening, 15 teams comprising 30 students from nine universities in eight countries advanced to the finals.

Students from Korea Maritime and Ocean University will be joined in the finals by participants from Mokpo National Maritime University, the Myanmar Merchant Marine Academy, National Taiwan Ocean University, Sri Lanka Maritime University, Shanghai Maritime University, Jakarta Maritime University, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and Vietnam Maritime University.

Participating students will present ocean-related issues they identified and their proposed solutions across a range of fields, including maritime logistics, maritime safety, marine environment, marine fisheries, marine engineering, marine policy and marine education.

The event is particularly linked to the Regional Talent Development System, or ANCHOR project. It goes beyond a simple international student presentation competition, running as a field-based international joint education program that uses Busan's maritime industry and maritime culture resources as global education content.

Ryu Dong-keun, president of Korea Maritime and Ocean University, said, "Through AOIC 2026, I hope students from around the world will share different perspectives and ideas, learn together at Busan's excellent maritime industry and education sites, and grow into global talent who will lead the future maritime society."


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