Hong Kong start-up Archireef expands into Abu Dhabi with launch of eco-engineering facility to save marine ecosystems

Archireef’s facility launched in December in Abu Dhabi can produce five 3D-printed reef tiles a day and it is also working on restoring marine ecosystems in the city

The reef tiles developed by University of Hong Kong scientists can help coral fragments grow and survive once they are attached to the base on the seabed

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Scientists plant coral fragments onto terracotta tiles made by Archireef in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park in Hong Kong. Photo: AFCD

Published: 10:00am, 29 Jan 2023

Hong Kong marine tech start-up Archireef has opened a new facility in the United Arab Emirates to make 3D-printed terracotta reef tiles as it helps the Gulf nation to save degraded marine ecosystems.

The move comes as Archireef has already booked US$2.7 million in sales for 2023, nearly triple the US$1 million recorded for the whole of last year, co-founder and CEO Vriko Yu Pik-fan said in an interview.

“The revenue increase was driven by some of our clients moving into their first year of subscription, after they first started working with us in 2022,” said Yu.

Last September, the start-up launched its first cross-sector coral restoration project with Sino Group, Ocean Park Corporation, the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation and Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong.

Vriko Yu Pik-fan, the co-founder and CEO of Archireef, says she wants to industrialise production and make it more cost effective. Photo: James Wendlinger

New projects Archireef had won to restore marine ecosystems in the UAE had also helped drive revenue growth, she said.

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