Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and BIA Innovator Campus, based at Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway have announced a strategic partnership agreement to drive the sustainable development of the Irish seafood industry. 

BIA Innovator Campus was officially opened in January this year and is designed to facilitate the launch and development of new and existing food businesses at all stages of their business journey.

The 23,000ft² campus includes food grade workspace, food production units, culinary training centres with demonstration space and hot desks. 

CEO of BIM Caroline Bocquel expressed enthusiasm about the new agreement: “This partnership is about finding creative and productive ways to add more value to our prized seafood resource and to empower entrepreneurship across industry allowing businesses to test, develop and fast-track their seafood business ideas for market.

“It will serve as an ideal base for BIM’s Seafood Academy, in particular for chefs and seafood retailers located in the West of Ireland.”

General manager, BIA Innovator Campus, Derek Dunwoody added: “We are delighted to have signed a partnership agreement with BIM in our efforts to support the sustainable development of the Irish seafood industry.

“This agreement forms the basis of a mutually beneficial relationship that will result in the delivery of key seafood projects at the BIA Innovator Campus driving innovation across the industry.” 

Bia Innovator Campus

Earlier this year, Ireland’s first National Centre of Excellence, Bia Innovator Campus, dedicated to supporting start-up, micro and small food businesses was officially opened by the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.

Bia Innovator Campus

It aims to drive regional and national growth in Ireland’s agri-food sector.

In addition to it state-of-the-art facilities, the BIA Innovator Campus team also provides a mix of technical, innovation and commercial supports to the food community and benefits from direct links to research, development, and innovation within the Teagasc Food Programme.

More than €8 million was provided in capital funding from Enterprise Ireland, Department of Rural and Community Development, Galway County Council, Teagasc, Galway Rural Development/LEADER and the Western Development Commission to deliver the project.