The national center for mariculture and Biotechnology.

NCM-IOLR – Research, Technology Development and Demonstration Partner in Sustainable Marine Aquaculture and Blue Bioeconomy

About the organisation

The National Center for Mariculture and Biotechnology (NCM), part of Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR), is a marine aquaculture research institute located in Eilat, Israel.

NCM combines scientific expertise, advanced research and demonstration infrastructure, and extensive experience in applied research, technology development and collaboration with industry. The institute has participated in European research projects and maintains established relationships with aquaculture producers, commercial farms, technology companies, startups, relevant stakeholders and regulatory authorities.

Research expertise and infrastructure

NCM operates experimental and cultivation facilities ranging from laboratory to semi-commercial scale, including:

- Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), including denitrification-based water treatment.

- Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems.

- Sea urchin breeding and cultivation systems.

- Advanced marine fish hatchery facilities.

- Microalgae and macroalgae cultivation systems.

- Climate-controlled experimental facilities.

Potential contribution to collaborative projects

NCM can contribute to research, technology development, experimental validation, pilot-scale testing and demonstration activities in areas including:

- Sustainable and resource-efficient marine aquaculture.

- Integrated production systems, water reuse, nutrient management and circular bioeconomy.

- Marine organism cultivation, breeding and production diversification.

- Climate resilience and adaptation of aquaculture technologies.

- Development, optimisation and upscaling of innovative aquaculture solutions.

- Technology transfer, industry collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

NCM's location in Eilat, characterised by a hot and arid climate, provides opportunities to test technologies under challenging environmental conditions relevant to climate change adaptation. Complementary climate-controlled facilities enable experimental investigations under defined environmental conditions.

The institute's experience in working with small-scale producers, transferring technologies to commercial farms and collaborating with industry partners supports the development and validation of solutions with practical application potential.

Cooperation sought

NCM is interested in joining European and international research and innovation consortia as an active R&D partner, technology development partner and/or demonstration site.

The institute welcomes collaboration with research organisations, universities, technology developers, SMEs, aquaculture producers and other stakeholders working towards sustainable marine food production, resource efficiency, climate resilience and the blue bioeconomy.