Ireland.- The first AQUAEXCEL2020 industry brokerage event “FROM RESEARCH INNOVATION TO INDUSTRY APPLICATION” brought together researchers and aquaculture industry representatives during the Aquaculture Europe 2017 conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 19 October 2017. This forum for engagement and exchange was hosted by the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform (EATiP) and AquaTT, both partners in AQUAEXCEL2020, an EU-funded Research Infrastructure project focusing on excellence in European fish research.
AQUAEXCEL2020 project coordinator, Dr Marc Vandeputte (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique INRA, France), reflected on the event which was “a fantastic opportunity to discuss some of the important research achievements of the project as well as its precursor, the EU FP7- funded AQUAEXCEL project, and share those knowledge outputs with their end-users, the aquaculture industry stakeholders. Assuring effective and constructive contact between research and industry is a
key component of AQUAEXCEL2020, to facilitate real uptake of the research innovations by the aquaculture industry”.
Central to the brokerage event were pitches of three knowledge outputs of high potential for the European aquaculture industry. The outputs were previously selected by the AQUAEXCEL2020 Industry and Research Advisory Panel (IRAP) which comprises high-level professionals from the aquaculture industry and research sectors. These outputs resulted from projects conducted within the AQUAEXCEL2020 Transnational Access (TNA) programme so far. The TNA programme funds access to 39 aquaculture research facilities across Europe, offering researchers the possibility to undertake experimental trials on commercially important aquaculture fish species and system types.
Dr Laura Gasco (University of Turin, Italy) presented her research findings and industry solutions for substituting juvenile sea bass diets with insect mealworms to reduce the need for costly, volatile and unsustainable fish meal and oil. Dr Jaume Pérez-Sánchez (Institute of Aquaculture Torre de la Sal (IATSCSIC), Spain) introduced a novel, comprehensive toolset that helps with the understanding and assessment of potential benefits of adding feed additives to plant-based diets for aquaculture fish. Both innovations could eventually support a more sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector.
Dr Petr Císar (University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic) showcased “3DFISH”, an innovative infrared reflection system for use as a suitable real-time 3D fish monitoring and measuring technique. 3DFISH enables non-invasive monitoring of fish behaviour and welfare indicators in real-time which allows for an efficient and cost-effective detection of behavioural abnormalities. Its users can, for example, detect potential problems in aquaculture facilities such as poor water quality and early disease signs earlier than in conventional systems, which will help reduce financial losses.
In addition to these high potential knowledge outputs, research and innovation leaders within AQUAEXCEL2020 presented their newest findings together with some tasters of further expected outputs. In the next three years research will continue on, amongst others, fishlines, virtual laboratories, and experimental fish management. The project also offers services such as new training courses based on the latest results and the online European aquaculture facility directory.
It is imperative that aquaculture research considers the actual and future needs of the industry and Mr Kjell Maroni of the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (Norway) presented some perspectives from the industry. Mr Maroni, an AQUAEXCEL2020 IRAP industry expert and previous President of the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) said that “this is a very participative concept and it is the place where not only researchers can pitch their ideas to industry, but industry people can in return present their knowledge and technology needs”.
The closing industry panel, moderated by Mr Courtney Hough (EATiP) and chaired by Mr Kjell Maroni and Dr Marc Vandeputte, discussed some of those needs, including the need for technological improvements, vaccines and genetics for better biological production, societal acceptance of aquaculture to allow for sustainable growth, better communication of research based results, and the promotion of “aquaculture open days” throughout Europe.
Supporting research innovation to industry application is key to AQUAEXCEL2020, and involves maintaining active communication, engagement and exchange of ideas between researchers and aquaculture industry stakeholders. A number of similar industry brokerage events will be held in the next three years, presenting more high-potential industry-relevant outputs. To find out more about the recent research findings from AQUAEXCEL2020 and their applicability to industry, please visit the project’s website: www.aquaexcel2020.eu
AQUAEXCEL2020
AQUAEXCEL2020 is a research and innovation action funded under the European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. The project will run for five years from 2015 to 2020, with a total budget of €9.7 million funded by the EU.
The AQUAEXCEL2020 consortium includes 22 partner organisations offering access to 39 top level aquaculture facilities in 12 European countries. The project is coordinated by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) in France. AquaTT is the project dissemination partner.
The annual Aquaculture Europe event was held this year in Dubrovnik, Croatia, 17-20 October 2017. With a motto of ‘Cooperation for Growth’, it promoted increased cooperation between operators to ultimately foster positive growth in the European aquaculture sector. For more information regarding the event, please visit: https://bit.ly/2upsvPG
The brokerage event was opened by Ms Catherine Pons (EATiP, Belgium), followed by an introduction to the AQUAEXCEL2020 project by its coordinator Dr Marc Vandeputte (INRA, France). Then, the TNA programme was introduced to the participants by Dr Claudia Junge (AquaTT, Ireland) on behalf of Mr John Bostock (University of Stirling, UK). Two presentations on “Fostering Innovation from Research Infrastructures” introduced participants to the knowledge output selection process (Dr Claudia Junge) as well as the IRAP and its role in AQUAEXCEL2020 (Ms Catherine Pons).
The three industry pitches were followed by four presentations from AQUAEXCEL2020 work package leaders or partners on their behalf: Standardisation and maintenance of fishlines (Dr Marc Vandeputte on behalf of Dr Edwige Quillet, INRA, France); Virtual laboratories and modelling tools for designing experiments in aquaculture research facilities (Dr Hans Bjelland on behalf of Dr Gunnar Senneset, both SINTEF Ocean AS, Norway); Experimental fish management (Dr Åsa Espmark, Nofima, Norway); and New aquaculture training courses and an overview of the online European aquaculture facility directory (Ms Marieke Reuver, AquaTT, Ireland).
The final part of the brokerage event was dedicated to the industry perspective.
Scientific Contact
Dr. Marc Vandeputte (INRA, France): Marc.Vandeputte@inra.fr
IRAP Contact
Mr Courtney Hough (EATiP, Belgium): courtney@eatip.eu
