The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Cluster (SAIC), an Inverness, Scotland-based seafood nonprofit, is launching an expression of interest (EOI) ahead of a funding call this fall.
The EOI calls for collaborative research, development, and innovation projects that address challenges and opportunities in the Scottish aquaculture sector, according to a release by SAIC.
It opened 22 May and closes 26 June and aims to build a pipeline of proposals before the official application opens so industry professionals and academic partners can pinpoint areas of expertise for collaboration. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee funding, SAIC said, but can help highlight additional materials and resources ahead of the formal application cycle.
Higher education institutions, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, are eligible for funding, SAIC added, so long as projects align with SAIC’s scope of “finfish, shellfish, seaweed and other species, finfish health and welfare, environmental sustainability, sector and production capacity, climate resilience, or the transition to net-zero [carbon emissions].”
Additionally, SAIC said that projects “must be collaborative and include at least two partners.” Projects must also begin at Technology Readiness Level 4 or above, and applicants must outline TRL progression with a written-out plan on how the project would be implemented into the aquaculture sector. Costs will be assessed at the fall formal application stage, SAIC said.
On 25 March, the Scottish government shared support for SAIC, noting the importance of aquaculture in Scotland for “economic growth, rural and coastal employment, and the nation’s global reputation for high quality seafood.” The Scottish government found that recent marine economic statistics show that the aquaculture sector contributed EUR 468 million (USD 545 million) to the Scottish economy in 2023 and provided 2,200 jobs.
“The Scottish government supports the development of a sustainable aquaculture sector, operating within environmental limits, and recognizes the considerable social and economic benefits the sector delivers today and can deliver in the future,” the government said. “The Scottish government recognizes that the coordination of aquaculture innovation is a strategic need if the Scottish aquaculture sector is to remain productive and internationally competitive in the face of biological challenges, climate change, and increasingly complex stakeholder expectations. SAIC acts as a neutral coordinating body across government, regulators, industry, and academia, aligning innovation activity with national policy goals.”
SAIC was established in 2014 and primarily focuses on food production through R&D, funding projects at their initial phases. SAIC became a fully independent organization in April 2026.
“SAIC has supported over 100 projects that have safeguarded jobs and revenue, opened new markets, and created pathways for spin‑out companies and emerging technologies,” the nonprofit said. “SAIC investment of EUR 10.8 million [USD 12.5 million] over the years has leveraged over EUR 70 million [USD 81.5 million] in external funding.”
