Business Incubation
The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) is home to one of the most extensive aquaculture research and business incubation facilities in the country. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure is available to both established aquaculture companies and early-stage startups looking to test new ideas, develop products, or scale up operations.
Whether a company needs just a few tanks for a short-term trial or an entire building for a multi-year project, our facilities can support a wide range of needs. Unlike traditional business parks, aquaculture facilities require specialized infrastructure, such as filtered fresh and saltwater systems, discharge and treatment capacity, climate-controlled buildings, and specialized tanks and filtration systems. At CCAR, all of this is available in one place.
We also provide more than just space. Our experienced staff offers technical support in areas such as hatchery and grow-out system design, fish rearing, and water quality management. This is especially valuable for companies that may not yet have the in-house expertise or staffing to run operations independently in the early phases of development.
We regularly assist our industry partners with applying for outside funding, and we offer full support for R&D projects, from early research and system trials to full-scale commercial farm design. Through our role in the University of Maine’s Department of Industrial Cooperation and our close partnership with the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, we also help companies with business planning, site selection, intellectual property development, team building, investment strategy, and preparing to launch commercial operations.
Whether you’re exploring a new product, launching a company, or expanding your existing operation, CCAR provides the tools, expertise, and support to help you succeed in the growing aquaculture industry.