The European Marine Science Park (EMSP)
Highlands & Islands Enterprise.
Oban, Scotland, is cementing its identify as a key location for marine science and aquaculture expertise, with the news of a significant expansion to the existing European Marine Science Park (EMSP).
Located at Dunstaffnage near Oban, the EMSP is to undergo a £8.1 million expansion, aiming to accommodate the growing demand for office and laboratory space in the thriving marine science sector.
The first building at the facility, Malin House, was completed in 2012, and hosts 15 companies employing over 70 people, many of which are part of, or provide services to, the aquaculture sector.
Companies with locations at the facility include salmon farming company Bakkafrost, aquaculture services firm BAM Marine, fish transportation company Migdale Transport, marine and aquaculture engineering firm Ocean Kinetics, Norwegian fish health firm PatoGen Ltd, and the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association. The Scottish Association for Marine Science's wholly-owned trading subsidiary SAMS Enterprise is also based at the site.
The EMSP expansion will see the construction of an additional building at the site, Camas House, a two-storey facility encompassing 1,500 square meters. This will feature 11 laboratories and various office suites designed to meet rigorous sustainability standards with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality, according to a news release by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE).
"Argyll’s rich marine resource has underpinned significant economic activity for generations," said Morag Goodfellow, HIE’s area manager for Argyll and the Islands, in a press release.
"We’ve been developing the EMSP as a centre of collaboration in marine innovation and technology that taps into this natural advantage and stimulates growth in the marine science economy, not just for Argyll but across Scotland. As a world-class, multi-purpose facility set in a stunning natural environment, it has proved an ideal location for companies involved in marine science industries and research," Goodfellow continued.
“We can expect more opportunities in skills and entrepreneurship, notably for young people, as well as enhanced confidence in Argyll as a business location [...] It will build on the progress so far and help meet the increasing demand for these types of facilities, bringing new business and fresh talent into the area," she added.
Prof. Nick Owens, director of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), which is located adjacent to the EMSP, underscored the project's significance in positioning Oban and the wider region as a hub for marine science excellence.
“As well as having SAMS on its doorstep, benefiting from our 140-year heritage of world-class research, the European Marine Science Park hosts some very successful companies that have experienced rapid growth, as the value of the blue economy becomes more and more apparent," Owens said, adding that the initiative "fits seamlessly with SAMS’ vision and developments.”
“It is great to see that investment in Scotland’s knowledge-based economy continues to gather pace in the marine sector in rural Argyll," said Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands.
“Projects such as this show the kind of collaborative working that is needed to help us bring more good, high quality jobs and skills to coastal communities. It also sits within our wider vision to enhance and make the most out of Scotland’s Blue Economy.”
Construction of Camas House is set to commence in the coming weeks, with an expected completion date in late 2025.
