AquaInnova - Supporting governance and multi-stakeholder participation in aquaculture research and innovation

 

 

Co-ordinator: European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP)
Start: February 2010
Duration: 28 Months
Funding Programme: 7th Framework Programme (FP7)
Sub-Programme: KBBE- Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology
Funding Scheme: Coordination and Support Action

For more information on this project:

Visit:  www.eatip.eu

Or contact: Gill Marmelstein Ph.D., E-mail gill@aquatt.ie,

Background:

Aquaculture in the European Union encompasses the production of a wide range of fish and mollusc species, which in the last 40 years has grown rapidly into an industrial sector that is composed of multi-national companies, SMEs and family firms.

In 2002, the European Commission developed a “Strategy for the Sustainable Development of European Aquaculture” which was subsequent reviewed in 2009. It is only recently that European States have developed clear national strategies or policies for aquaculture development. This effort has been largely supported by the European research community, with its many institutes and universities dedicating specialised departments to carry out R&D activities for the benefit of the sector.

Aquainnova seeks to establish an international framework focused on creating the vision for the future of European Aquaculture to 2030 and, using best governance principles, define the research and innovation needed to supports its key development strategies.  Aquainnova will facilitate the dialogue between the aquaculture industry, the research community and the policy makers.

Objectives:

Aquainnova will actively promote the exploitation, dissemination and communication of the results of aquaculture Research and Technological Development (RTD) of FP6 and FP7 to ensure that RTD and innovation knowledge is managed, disseminated and transferred. By exploiting the potential for innovation and technological development Aquainnova aims to improve the competitiveness of professional European aquaculture and related industries.

Deliverables/Expected Outcomes:

AQUAINNNOVA focuses on providing the support and the methodologies required to facilitate the development of Vision Documents that give a consensus view of where the European aquaculture sector should be in 10-20 years time.

Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) will identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as well as specific knowledge gaps for all aspects of Aquaculture including production and consumption, socio-economic and knowledge management, systems and technology, feeds and animal welfare, environment.
Action Plans developed will describe the research and innovation needed to support the key development needs identified in the Vision Documents and indicate how these can be achieved and implemented to the benefit of European aquaculture.

Partners:

  • European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP), France and Belgium – (COORDINATOR) Courtney Hough
  • The Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), Belgium
  • European Aquaculture Society (EAS), Belgium
  • Aqua TT UETP Ltd, Ireland
  • Eurofish, Denmark
  • Stiftelsen for industriell og teknisk forskning (SINTEF), Norway

 

Download the AquaInnova project factsheet (PDF)