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National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub
The National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH) will be a pioneering innovation centre set-up to drive the UK’s ambitions to become a world leader in modern aquaculture practice.
Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry, with a global growth rate of 8%, while in Scotland, the sector has ambitious plans to double its output by 2030. This gives us a unique opportunity to increase the economic, social and environmental benefits of aquaculture.
It will use the latest research and tackle the major challenges facing aquaculture producers, such as fish welfare and managing environmental impacts, to make sure that the UK leads and innovates the aquaculture industry.
NATIH is due to open in 2025 and is a £17 million investment by the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.
World-leading expertise
The National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub will be led by the expertise of the Institute of Aquaculture. For more than 40 years, we have spearheaded the development of science and expertise to support the sustainable production of food in aquatic environments. Working closely with industry, from producers and retailers, to certification bodies, and the pharmaceutical sector, our research informs modern commercial markets around the world in development, production and point of sale.
Our credentials in this field are well-established. In 2019 the Institute of Aquaculture was awarded the UK’s most prestigious academic honour, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, in recognition of the impact and international reach of its research on society, the economy and health of aquatic ecosystems.
The National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub will deliver new, state-of-the-art laboratories and aquatic experimental facilities, reinforcing this world-leading work. Collaboration will be at the heart of our approach, enabling our experts to conduct dynamic and commercially relevant research in partnership with leading aquaculture companies, and ensure students are equipped with the skills the blue food economy of the future will require. By co-locating industry partners with the Institute, we will translate ground-breaking scientific research into practical, applied solutions that support economic development in communities from rural Scotland to South America, Africa and the Middle East. In doing so, UK expertise and technology will be placed at the centre of efforts to support a sustainable international industry, while enhancing global food security.
Get in touch
Contact John Craig, Head of City Region and Growth Deal Programme