SAIC moves to Inverness as it prepares to cast its net wider
Change of status allows aquaculture innovation organisation to directly support SMEs
Scottish aquaculture innovation organisation SAIC has started a new chapter by relocating to the Highlands from its longstanding home in Stirling, taking on new funding from the Scottish Government, and broadening its scope.
As previously reported, the innovation cluster has secured £1.4 million in annual funding from Crown Estate Scotland – administered by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate – for a minimum of five years, to continue its central role in driving innovation in aquaculture through collaborative research and development (R&D) projects.
As part of the changes, SAIC will relocate to the Life Sciences Innovation Centre at the Inverness Campus, within the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) section of the development. The organisation has also changed its name from the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre to the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster and become completely independent from its previous host institution, the University of Stirling.
Direct funding
SAIC said the changes place it at the centre of Scottish aquaculture and enable it to directly fund companies for the first time, creating opportunities for greater SME engagement and strengthening its ability to support all parts of the sector, including shellfish, seaweed, and other species beyond salmon.
The wider scope will also be reflected in the creation of a new ‘stakeholder committee’, comprising representatives from across the sector and its supply chain, to help inform SAIC’s activities.
Innovation is seen as a critically important way to help Scotland’s aquaculture sector grow sustainably. The sector already contributes £468 million in annual gross value added (GVA) to the economy, largely through the production of Scottish salmon. Independent research from Frontline earlier this year found investment in innovation in the salmon sector totals £184 million since 2018. To date, SAIC has invested £10.8 million in collaborative R&D projects and brought in £70.6 million in additional funding.
What’s different now is that we can work with companies directly, supporting smaller operators which often do not have the need for complex academic projects that formed the majority of our previous work
SAIC has more than 400 members, ranging from producers and universities to tech companies and retailers, as more organisations have embraced R&D projects. Sarah Riddle, who leads SAIC as its principal officer, said the innovation cluster expects to issue its first funding call under the new arrangements very soon.
Broader engagement
“Today marks a new start for SAIC and our support for the aquaculture sector. While it’s a new chapter, we are still made up of the same committed and knowledgeable team, working towards the same mission and ambition: helping aquaculture to grow sustainably through applied, high-quality R&D projects.
“What’s different now is that we can broaden our engagement to work with companies directly, supporting smaller operators which often do not have the need for complex academic projects that formed the majority of our previous work. That opens up new opportunities to deliver on our aims of enhancing fish health and wellbeing, improving climate resilience, and supporting production efficiency.
“We are incredibly grateful to the University of Stirling for hosting SAIC over the course of 13 years. Our new home in Inverness will place us at the heart of what is happening in aquaculture in the Highlands and Islands, where the majority of the sector’s produce is farmed and much of the innovation in the supply chain is happening.
“We are excited to help Scotland’s aquaculture sector access the funding it needs to deliver innovation, sustainable growth, and a more prosperous future for our coastal and rural communities. Funding is the catalyst for taking the projects that will make that happen forward, and we plan to launch our first call in the very near future.”
Sustained investment
Pieter van West, professor at the University of Aberdeen and chair of SAIC’s Independent Science Panel, said that sustained investment in research and innovation is fundamental to the future of aquaculture in Scotland.
“This new phase for SAIC is very exciting and will play a vital role in advancing the knowledge, technologies, and practices required for a resilient and sustainable sector,” added van West.
Alison Hutchins, producer engagement director at certifiation body the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), said: “It’s great to see SAIC enter this new phase of growth and impact. Long‑term, stable funding for innovation is essential if producers are to continue advancing environmental performance and responsible farming practices. SAIC’s ability to directly fund companies for the first time opens the door to a more agile and inclusive innovation landscape, ensuring producers across the sector can access the tools and research they need to remain competitive.”
