Aquaculture innovators invited to apply for funding
Higher education institutions and SMEs get their first opportunity to pitch projects to SAIC
Scotland’s Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (SAIC) has opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) call for collaborative research, development, and innovation projects that address priority challenges and opportunities across Scottish aquaculture.
The call runs from today until June 26 and aims to build a pipeline of high‑quality proposals ahead of a full funding call planned for the autumn.
The opportunity is open to both industry and academic partners, with support available for projects aligned with SAIC’s strategic priorities, including finfish health and welfare, shellfish, seaweed and other species, environmental sustainability, sector and production capacity, climate resilience, and the transition to net‑zero. Projects must involve at least two partners and begin at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above.
For the first time, both higher education institutions (HIEs) and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are eligible for SAIC funding.
Scope and eligibility
EOIs should clearly describe the challenge, proposed innovation, collaborative approach, anticipated outputs and impacts, and rationale for SAIC support.
Projects must be collaborative and include at least two partners. An academic partner is not mandatory, provided the consortium can clearly show it has access to the necessary technical or scientific expertise.
Funding and costs
Eligible costs will be assessed at the full application stage and may include staff time, equipment and materials, subcontracted expertise, trials and validation activity, and dissemination.
Indicative intervention levels;
- Universities/research institutes: up to 80% full economic costs (where applicable)
- SMEs: up to 50% of eligible project costs
Match funding is mandatory for all applicants.
For more information and an application form, visit the SAIC website.
