Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM ), Ireland’s seafood development agency and BIA Innovator campus 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 23,000 square feet campus, located in Athenry, includes food grade workspace, food production units, culinary training centres with demonstration space and hot desks.
Caroline Bocquel, CEO BIM, expressed her 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,” she said. “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.”
Derek Dunwoody, general manager, BIA Innovator Campus, 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.”