Ireland launches 2021 aquaculture accelerator
Ireland’s seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), today launched its 2021 aquaculture accelerator programme. The programme is aimed at early-stage tech, fintech and AI (artificial intelligence) start-ups with ideas in aquaculture innovation.
It takes place between October 11-22 at the RDI (research, development, innovation) Hub in Killorglin, County Kerry in the south west of Ireland.
BIM’s salmon and shellfish manager, Richard Donnelly, said: “The idea for an accelerator is to put start-ups on the path to growth and scale.
A new field of innovation
“We are at the birth of a new field of innovation in aquaculture. More people from different disciplines are getting involved, including those with backgrounds in AI and other areas of tech. They’re beginning to think about systems and software that can transform aquaculture to help meet the growing demand for safe, nutritious and sustainable seafood.”
The programme is being run by sustainable aquaculture accelerator and investor Hatch, which ran similar programmes in 2019 and 2020, and is supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). It will bring in between eight and 12 start-ups to connect with BIM and Hatch staff in addition to leading entrepreneurs and investors from the global aquaculture industry to leverage their expertise and to support their commercial ideas.
Applications are now open. More details can be found here.
