How to access funding through SAIC

If you would like support with drawing down third-party funding, please contact us to find out how we can help: projects@sustainableaquaculture.com

To view some of the projects we have supported to help reduce the environmental footprint and increase the economic impact of aquaculture, see our projects pages.

Closing date: Wednesday 17 December 2025

Defra is seeking proposals to develop autonomous systems for continuous welfare monitoring in aquaculture, focusing on Atlantic salmon (essential) and rainbow trout (desirable).
 
The project should deliver a proof-of-concept output, leveraging recent advances in emerging technologies where appropriate. Industry stakeholders must be engaged in the project to maximise relevance and applicability in real-world aquaculture settings. 

Find out more

Closing date: Please visit FHF for to find out more about specific funding calls. 

The calls relating to aquaculture cover the following topics: 

• Developing new technologies for the removal of CO2 from water used in aquaculture operations; 
• Generating knowledge about the rehabilitation of flora and fauna in the benthic environment below fish farms that have been fallowed or where operations have ceased; 
• Developing new or improved sensors for the measurement of water quality; 
• Obtaining knowledge about salmon’s need for vitamin D under various farming conditions, particularly in production systems with little or no access to natural light, but also during seasonal variations in conventional open-pen farming; 
• Generating knowledge about Cand. Branchiomonas cysticola in relation to the development of gill disease in farmed salmonids, specifically around transmission routes, susceptibility, and disease course, as a foundation for better control and prevention measures. 

You can find out more here. If you would like support with accessing third-party funding, why not contact us to find out how we can help? Email: projects@sustainableaquaculture.com 

Closing date: Fund refreshes annually on 1 January

This fund, managed by Salmon Scotland, supports postgraduate research projects relevant to the Scottish salmon farming sector. The fund aims to foster innovation and develop future talent by offering:

• Grants: Up to three awards annually, each up to £2.5K (larger projects considered with prior approval).
• Industry links: Access to Salmon Scotland members and professionals for project support.

Eligibility:
Applicants must be enrolled in a recognised university or college, with projects focused on areas such as:

• Sea lice biology and management
• Oceanography and farm connectivity
• Salmon health and welfare
• Planning systems, communities, and social licence
• Environmental impacts and mitigation

For full details and how to apply

Closing date: visit the Shell-volution website for details. 

The Shell-volution Challenge Fund supports innovative ideas that address real-world challenges in Scotland’s mussel farming industry. Projects are delivered through tenders advertised on Public Contracts Scotland.

Shell-volution expects to run one or two funding rounds each year, and details of any active or upcoming opportunities will be posted on the Shell-volution website.

For more information, visit UHI's Shell-volution Challenge Fund page.

Closing date: this programme is anticipated to run until March 2029. If funds are committed earlier, the programme will close.  

Introducing digital technology into your business has many advantages, including cutting costs, speeding up processes, improving customer insights, creating the ability to make faster business decisions, reduce carbon emissions and increase revenue.

HIE recommend that organisations applying for this fund should have a digital action plan or feasibility study in place before making an enquiry. If you require support with this, please see our Digital Specialist Advice Programme Fund, which may help cover the costs of 1-2-1 consultancy on digital technologies. 

Digital technologies that may be supported with a capital grant include:

Robotics |sensor technologies | Internet of Things | data innovation |  
cyber security | software development | AI | AR/VR | 3D visualisations |
additive manufacturing and laser machining |

Projects that have an element of ‘deep tech’ will also be considered, for example, blockchain, photonics, aerospace and space technologies, electronics, cyber threat intelligence and quantum computing.

Find out more and apply: HIE Digital and Technology Adoption Capital Grant

Please note: This grant is now closed to new enquiries until April 2026.

Introducing digital technology into your business has many advantages, including cutting costs, speeding up processes, improving customer insights, creating the ability to make faster business decisions and increase revenue. 

This funding is available to cover the costs of 1-2-1 consultancy on digital technologies leading to an action plan or a feasibility study for your business.

Digital technologies may include:

Robotics |sensor technologies | Internet of Things | data innovation |  
cyber security | software development | AI | AR/VR | 3D visualisations |
additive manufacturing and laser machining |

Projects with elements of ‘deep tech’ will also be considered, e.g., blockchain, photonics, aerospace and space technologies, electronics, cyber threat intelligence, fusion power and quantum computing.

Visit HIE's website to find out more and apply

Closing date: This programme will run until 31 March 2026.

You'll learn about the benefits of using AI technologies and get insight into whether your business or social enterprise would benefit from using AI technologies as part of your business activities.

Find out more.

Physical AI: accelerating embodied intelligence for AI-powered robotics

Closing date: 26 Feb 2026 (stage 1)

This European Innovation Council (EIC) Advanced Innovation Challenge offers funding to support high-risk, demand-driven deep tech innovations with transformative potential.

This pilot aims to assess whether competitive, stage-gated support can accelerate the path to market for high-risk deep tech innovations. The pilot will provide evidence on whether these mechanisms lead to more efficient innovation cycles and broader market adoption than other instruments within Horizon Europe. 

2026 Challenge 1: Physical AI: Accelerating embodied intelligence for AI-powered robotics

This challenge aims to accelerate the development towards integration, deployment and commercialisation of breakthrough Physical AI solutions that will enhance Europe’s technological sovereignty, sustainability, and global competitiveness.

Who can apply: start-ups, SMEs, or research-performing organisations (universities, research/technology organisations, teams, individual inventors). UK organisations are eligible to take part.

Funding and support:

• Stage 1: €300,000 lump sum (up to 9 months) for feasibility and benchmarking.
• Stage 2: Up to €2.5 million lump sum (up to 2.5 years) for development and real-world testing.
• Coaching, mentoring, networking, and access to global partners.

Full details and how to apply

The UK Government, through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), offers several funding routes to support innovative solutions that can benefit national defence, security, and broader UK prosperity. While primarily defence-focused, many of the mechanisms may be relevant to cross-sector innovation, including aquaculture technologies.

Current cycle closes 16 December 2025.
The Open Call for Innovation allows innovative ideas to be proposed to Defence and Security stakeholders, even where a specific requirement has not been stipulated. It is a broad mechanism which allows innovators to present disruptive ideas which may otherwise be overlooked.

Visit the official funding page for full details and application links.

Closing date: not stated on website. Please contact Hatch Blue. 

Hatch Blue is a global innovation and investment firm specialising in early-stage technology companies along the whole value chain of sustainable aquaculture and ocean conservation to generate high returns, lower carbon emissions and regenerate biodiversity of oceans.

Contact Hatch Blue for further information and begin your application

Closing date: 21 January 2026