COLLABORATION
National and International Collaboration
INCAR²'s mission is to drive innovation and transfer solutions through world-class scientific and technological research, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinarity to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of Chile's aquaculture industry. Given the complexity of these challenges, national and international collaboration is a key pillar of our strategy, generating both measurable benefits—such as increased scientific impact and access to funding—and qualitative outcomes by expanding research horizons.
National collaboration
At the national level, INCAR² collaborates with leading institutions including COPAS Coastal Center, CIEP, the Patagonia Institute, Patagonia Biotech Hub, Aquabench, IFOP, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, University of Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and Universidad de O'Higgins.
International network
INCAR²'s international network officially includes the following institutions: the Aquaculture Institute (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain); the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer, Germany); Monterrey Bay Aquarium (USA); the Global Sustainable Aquaculture Advancement Partnership (GSAAP); the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization; Dr. Steven Roberts from the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences of University of Washington (Seattle-USA); The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC-Spain); University of Cadiz (Spain); the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative, University of Gothenburg (Sweden); Dr. Marilyn Roberts from the University of Washington (USA); Prof. Peter Smith from University of Galway (Ireland); Dr. Carlos Pereira Dopazo from Aquatic One Health Research Center-University of Santiago de Compostela - ARCUS-USC - (Spain); Dr. Simon MacKenzie from the University of Stirling (UK); Dr. Guillaume Riviere from Marine Ecosystems and Organisms Research Laboratory (MERSEA, formerly BOREA) (France); Dr. Alejandro Cabezas from National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) (France); Dr. Dahiana Arcila and Dr. Ricardo Betancur from the Fish Evolution Lab, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) - University of California San Diego (USA); Dr. Carolina Tafalla from Animal Health Research Center (CISA-INIA-Spain); Dr. Brian Dixon from the University of Waterloo (USA); Dr. Daniel Barrera from Alberta University (Canada); Dr. Mario Pablo Estrada from Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) (Cuba); Prof. Claire Gachon from the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (France); College of Economics, Law and Government (CELG) and the Economy & Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), (Vietnam); Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida (USA); Oceanographic Centre of Vigo from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) (Spain); Leibniz Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (Germany); Dr. Hirotsugo Uchida from International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET) - University of Rhode Island and Oregon State University (USA).
Collaboration mechanisms
To strengthen these networks, INCAR² promotes three main mechanisms:
- 1
Scientific fellowships
supporting research stays and joint scientific outputs.
- 2
Technical training
focused on advanced technologies and equipment use.
- 3
Technological tours
aimed at building strategic alliances and accelerating knowledge transfer.
A key milestone is the ECOS-ANID project “Understanding the Effects of Climate Change on Shellfish Aquaculture through Hologenomics (BivalOMICS)”, which supports researcher and student mobility and highlights INCAR²'s capacity to secure international funding.
Additionally, INCAR² fosters internships and collaborative initiatives focused on applied technological development, engaging researchers, students, and stakeholders.
Strategic partnership with NATIH
INCAR² maintains a strategic collaboration with the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub (NATIH) at the University of Stirling (UK), supported by a £17 million investment. This partnership provides access to cutting-edge laboratories and infrastructure, strengthening applied research, technology transfer, and human capital development.
Together, INCAR² and NATIH promote innovative solutions for sustainable aquaculture, contributing to global economic development and food security. This collaboration includes scientific fellowships, technical training, and technological tours for researchers, students, and the transfer team (INCAR² Acceleration Hub – INAH).