Qingdao West Coast New Area hosted the New Growth Drivers – Innovative Development of Emerging Marine Industries parallel forum on Sept 17. The forum is a key part of the 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum.

Global officials, academicians, and industry leaders gathered to explore innovation in seawater desalination, marine renewable energy, and marine biomedicine, aiming to cultivate new quality productive forces.

A highlight of the event was the release of the Blue Pharmaceutical Database Development Report 2026 alongside showcases of products such as seaweed-based goods and pharmaceutical-grade marine phospholipids.

Developed by over 30 researchers from Ocean University of China through nine major revisions over the course of a year, the comprehensive report features three sections and 10 sub-reports. It notes that of 16 globally recognized marine first-in-class drugs, two were developed at Ocean University of China. Furthermore, 32 innovative marine drugs are currently in clinical pipelines, with nearly 80 percent targeting major oncology diseases.

Concurrently, a second parallel session titled Deep-Sea Exploration – Value Transformation of Future Marine Industries brought together international government officials, maritime agencies, and major corporations. Attendees engaged in discussions regarding deep-sea technological innovations, green resource development, and international collaborative governance.