The natural home for marine science

The rich marine resources of the Highlands of Islands of Scotland underpin a vibrant and growing economic cluster based on marine science. This includes innovative enterprises, world-class research, excellent locations and facilities, a skilled talent pool, strong government support for business and close links between policy makers, industry and academia.

1st Class

LOCATION FOR MARINE SCIENCE, RIGHT BY THE SEA

100+

SCIENTISTS IN ALL FIELDS OF
MARINE SCIENCE

12+

MARINE COMPANIES IN THRIVING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

SAMS Research Services Ltd

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"Highlands and Islands Enterprise is doing more than just creating the conditions for business growth. Without the business support of HIE we couldn’t have achieved what we have."

Glycomar

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It's exciting to help facilitate and assist some of the innovative and exciting marine science projects that this country has to offer.

Xanthella Ltd

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Malin House is an excellent base from which we can grow Xanthella. The building’s light and airy atmosphere makes it a great place to work and the low carbon footprint really fits our company’s ethos. We are looking forward to welcoming guests, collaborators and customers to our new facility and to closer working with scientists at the Scottish Association for Marine Science.

LALLEMAND AQUAPHARM

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A broad and diverse R&D resource situated close to some of the world's leading marine research organisations.

Latest News

04 September 2019 News

New investment enables expansion for European Centre for Marine Biotechnology business

CuanTec Ltd, the blue biotech company based in Motherwell and Oban, has completed an investment round with Sky Ocean Ventures and Scottish Enterprise that will enable them to process at pilot production scale and finalise their formulations. The investment will also create new jobs at the CuanTec lab at the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology at the EMSP on the outskirts of Oban.

CuanTec Ltd extracts chitin from shellfish waste. Using a clean, energy-efficient method, they then convert this chitin into chitosan, which is used to manufacture an antimicrobial, compostable bio-plastic, directly addressing the problems of plastic pollution and food waste in the world.