Ireland’s expanding aquatech sector – already valued at €165 million and supporting more than 900 jobs – is on the brink of growth, with potential for investment, the BIM Blue Ambition 2025 aquatech innovation conference heard.

The conference, hosted by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Hatch Blue, revealed the number of Irish aquatech companies had grown from 42 in 2016 to 76 in 2023. With proper support and investment, the sector can create cutting-edge companies with a global impact. 

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, told attendees that “Ireland has a tangible thriving aquatech sector with enormous potential, that is ideally placed to become a global centre of excellence for aquatech, with BIM supporting companies to develop technologies, scale up and pursue new markets.”

“Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world and that growth is fuelled by innovation. Irish aquatech companies such as Seaquest, Aquamonitrix and Weatherbys Scientific are leading the way in offering solutions to the many challenges that global aquaculture faces, providing services across the globe,” said Minister Dooley.

He added, “Through programmes like BIM’s Aquatech Innovation Studio, we are supporting ambitious companies to develop solutions that enhance seafood production, create high-value employment, and protect our marine environment.”

Ireland as a global hub for aquatech

Sarah Jane Larkin, director general of the Irish Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (IVCA) highlighted that Ireland is ideally positioned to become a global hub for aquatech innovation. This advantage stems from Ireland being an island nation with a highly educated workforce and access to global markets.

“Ireland’s aquatech industry is expanding rapidly and is ripe for investment. Ireland has all the right ingredients to lead this next wave of blue innovation with the talent, technology and a collaborative approach,” said Larkin.

She added that companies emerging from programmes like BIM’s Aquatech Innovation Studio demonstrate that “Ireland isn’t just participating in this space but is shaping the future of global aquaculture.”

Larkin also stressed the need for domestic innovation and investment, noting that historical reliance on foreign direct investment can create exposure for the Irish economy.

BIM Aquatech Business of the Year 2025 Award

Dublin-based PT Aqua was announced as the winner of the 2025 BIM Aquatech Business of the Year Award at the event. PT Aqua provides bespoke, premium feeds for the global aquaculture industry. This includes a new soft feed with high moisture content and extended shelf life. The feed is valuable for species such as cod and halibut which often have difficulty adapting to new diets.

“As one of Ireland’s longest-established and leading aquatech companies, PT Aqua is a worthy winner of the BIM Aquatech Business of the Year Award 2025, said Richard Donnelly,” director of Development and Innovation Services at BIM. 

The Aquatech Innovation Studio 

Last week, BIM hosted eight high-potential start-ups at the Aquatech Innovation Studio 2025, delivered in partnership with Hatch Blue. The intensive six-day programme provided expert mentoring, investor readiness training and access to Ireland’s growing aquatech ecosystem.

Donnelly said the Innovation Studio has supported more than 60 companies in the last seven years, helping them scale sustainably, create more than 200 high-value jobs and attract €16 million in investment.

“Ireland’s combination of research excellence, supportive policy, and investor engagement makes it one of the most attractive global locations for aquatech start-ups. The sector is on the verge of huge growth,” he added. “We have world-class research, government support, and a thriving innovation ecosystem which will redefine sustainable seafood production.”

Donnelly noted that €15 million investment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund in Hatch’s Blue Revolution Fund is an important platform to back early-stage aquaculture and aquatech ventures.

Source - https://thefishsite.com