Stirling deal to fund new £17m Institute of Aquaculture
A NEW £17 million Institute of Aquaculture will be built at Stirling University as part of a £90.2 million city region deal designed to drive economic growth, it was announced on May 31.
The money - £45.1 million each for Stirling and Clackmannanshire – is being invested by the Scottish and UK governments, and will also support a £5 million new International Environment Centre at the university.
The new Global Aquatic Food Security centre will form part of a new innovation hub which will operate four aquatic research facilities.
Unique in the UK, the hub will provide the full range of marine environmental conditions, and create research and development opportunities to grow Scottish aquaculture skills and products.
University principal Professor Gerry McCormac said: ‘Investment in world-class research through the City Deal will enable our researchers to further tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems.
‘By working in partnership, we can unleash our economic potential, delivering a unique source of jobs, growth, and skills development, both for Stirling, and the wider Scottish and UK economies.’
Speaking ahead of a visit to the university’s existing Institute of Aquaculture, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said:‘ The ambitious and innovative deal will drive economic growth across the region, creating jobs and boosting prosperity for generations to come.
‘It is now for Stirling and Clackmannanshire to get on with the hard work needed to turn these proposals into a reality.
‘Today’s announcement brings the UK government’s investment in UK City Region Deals in Scotland to more than £1 billion.
‘All of Scotland’s seven cities either have, or are in negotiation for, a deal. And talks are also under way on the Borderlands and Ayrshire growth deals,’ said Mundell (pictured below with the IoA’s Herve Migaud).
‘The UK government is working hard to boost economic growth right across the UK.We want to work with the Scottish government where we can to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of Scotland’s economy.’