Start-ups from a range of industries including engineering, IT and farming have taken part in a programme aimed at promoting innovation in Irish aquaculture.
A total of nine fledging companies participated in the BIM Innovation Studios in Killorglin in Ireland, an in-person event running over two weeks. To date, 38 such start-ups have taken part, raising over €9 million and generating more than 40 jobs in aquatech in Ireland.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, gave the opening address at an Aquatech Community Day held as part of the event, highlighting how the aquaculture industry is transforming the seafood industry around the world.
Jim O’Toole, BIM chief executive, gave a presentation on the future of aquaculture in Ireland, noting the country’s fortunate position in having a young, skilled and dynamic population, where the average age is 38 and where almost six in every ten adults has a third level education.
Supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, BIM’s Innovation Studios is run in partnership with aquaculture accelerator, Hatch. It aims to help start-ups innovate, experiment and test their ideas with experts from backgrounds in aquaculture, finance and marketing.
BIM is currently working to create a dedicated Irish Aquaculture Fund to further support the growing aquatech businesses that have already taken part in their Innovation Studios. Hatch is also in the process of raising a €75million fund for global aquaculture innovation.
