The role of the Scottish Oceans Institute in ocean innovation and business development

Marine stations offer a unique environment for the exploration of the oceans in that they combine access to specific ocean habitats at their locations with the provision of experimental facilities, field work equipment and academic expertise in their specialised areas. These resources are available for education and basic as well as applied research. In their operations, marine stations should be ambassadors for the blue economy by encouraging the exploration of technology and sustainability strategies to improve and manage ocean resources and their use. This presentation will give examples of business development at the Scottish Oceans Institute, highlighting how research and development using marine stations can lead to successful and sustainable business ventures. The projects include the development of sustainable and effective predator deterrence methods for fisheries and fish farming, the provision of early development, native seaweed for re-stocking areas after harvesting, the farming of native oysters in Scotland, and the development of animal tags for wildlife monitoring. I will summarise how businesses interact with other station activities, how they enrich the scientific environment and help educate students about sustainable commercialization. The Blue Economy is a key component of coastal societies and beyond and needs to be at the centre of marine station activities to drive the sustainable use of the oceans. Marine stations should be seen as the obvious starting point for the development of new marine business ideas and their realization. We need to recognise that this is a key function of and justification for continued investments in marine stations.