ONE of Scotland’s innovation centres has reached a significant milestone in its membership base with a growth of 25% during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) said the increase had come as they and the entire sector focus on new technology and ways of working.
Among the consortium’s new members are Malin Group, the marine engineering specialist, and Isle of Skye Mussel Company – one of Scotland’s burgeoning community of seafood small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
SAIC acts as a connecting point for different parts of the sector, including seafood producers, supply chain firms, regulators and the public sector.
Beyond aquaculture, sectors represented range from biotechnology, subsea companies and equipment suppliers, to logistics firms and retailers. More than half of SAIC’s membership (57%) comprises SMEs, while another 31% is large organisations. Around half (48%) of the consortium is based in Scotland, while 28% are located in other parts of the UK and 9% overseas, reflecting the growing diversity of organisations with an interest in Scottish aquaculture and its research and development (R&D) projects.
SAIC membership rose by around 25% from February as the sector sought to increase connections, deliver greater adoption of technology, and encourage new ways of working.
Earlier last year, the centre launched its ongoing rapid-response funding programme to support investment in innovation at a highly challenging time.
By the end of the decade, Scotland’s aquaculture sector is aiming to sustainably increase its contribution to the economy to £3.6 billion – effectively doubling from 2016’s levels – an objective outlined in its Aquaculture Growth to 2030 strategy.
This also highlighted the crucial role of innovation in helping to meet the increasing global demand for farmed fish and shellfish.
“The growth of SAIC’s consortium reflects the increasing commitment from aquaculture – as well as the many industries that support it – to innovation and collaboration,” said SAIC’s CEO Heather Jones.
“It also highlights the growing diversity of the sector, not only in terms of geography, but also in the types of businesses involved, their size, and areas of focus.
“That innovation is a priority for organisations throughout aquaculture – from fish feed producers to food retailers – reflects the growing recognition that the sector is more inter-connected than it has ever been.
“Organisations within it need to draw on each other’s skills and expertise to drive a sustainable future, and our consortium brings people together to connect, collaborate, and communicate, fostering dialogue and knowledge-sharing that ultimately translates into tangible commercial results for our members.”
Dr Judith Brown, director of Isle of Skye Mussel Company, added: “The SAIC network encourages a spirit of knowledge-sharing and collaboration that has been invaluable to us as a new business.
“It has opened the doors to an entire community of aquaculture experts that are willing to work together.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here