Scotland at Aqua Nor: Innovation, collaboration and a bold vision for the blue economy

By Stuart Black, Chief Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) 

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Trondheim, Norway, which served as the host for the world’s premier aquaculture show with 25,000 visitors from 80 countries. The event brought together leading businesses from across the globe to showcase a diverse range of innovative solutions shaping the future of the industry.  Aquaculture is hugely important for our region and salmon is the UK’s largest value food export tipped to shortly reach £1bn per annum.  
 
I had the privilege of opening the Scottish Pavilion on the first day. The pavilion, which we delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate, the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) and Scottish Development International, was a hive of activity and ambition over the 3 days of the show.  
 
International collaboration was front and centre. One of the most exciting meetings was between the Saudi fisheries minister and Aquafarm Equipment Scotland. Their discussions around sustainable aquaculture partnerships signal a growing global appetite for Scottish expertise. It’s a testament to the strength of our innovation and how our businesses are viewed on the world stage.  
 
The panel on Disruptive Innovation was another highlight. Bold ideas were shared with a packed audience on the stand – ranging from autonomous net cleaners to AI-driven health screening systems.  

The second day signalled the arrival of Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands. She met with pioneering companies who are developing technologies to make aquaculture more efficient and environmentally sustainable. She also met leading research organisations like the Scottish Association for Marine Science – SAMS Enterprise, based near Oban.  

One of the most engaging sessions was our Brunch and Business event ‘Who Needs an Innovation Cluster?’ This was chaired by HIE’s head of Blue Economy, Elaine Jamieson. Clusters are engines of innovation, driving collaboration, accelerating R&D and unlocking new market opportunities. The expert panel shared real-world examples of how clustering has transformed the aquaculture landscape and where future opportunities lie. The triple helix of academia, government and industry was to the fore.  

Examples include the success of the Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre in Scotland, which has accelerated R&D through cross-sector collaboration and Norway’s Aquatech Cluster, which has unlocked new market opportunities by integrating technology providers with producers. These highlight the strategic role of clusters in driving innovation and growth across the aquaculture sector.  

Day three at Aqua Nor continued to build on the energy and ambition of the Scottish Pavilion. The response from businesses was overwhelmingly positive with meaningful connections forming across the sector and new partnerships forged.  
 
Aqua Nor 2025 sparked many conversations about the future of aquaculture. The Highlands and Islands is home to many of Scotland’s aquaculture businesses, and their success is deeply rooted in the communities, lochs and seas of our region. HIE remains committed to supporting these businesses, whether through funding, innovation support, or helping them reach global markets. 

As we look ahead, the momentum from Aqua Nor should continue. The conversations started in Trondheim will evolve into partnerships, projects and hopefully jobs and prosperity. To everyone who joined us at the Scottish Pavilion, thank you. Your energy, ideas, and ambition are what make Scotland’s aquaculture sector a success. Let’s keep building, innovating, and leading - together Scotland is making waves, and the Highlands and Islands is leading the way.