Nua na Mara is the name of a marine innovation development centre established in Conamara by state agency Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Based in the State agency’s G-teic hub in Carna, Co Galway, Nua na Mara will provide “specialist training and business development supports”, it says.

Údarás na Gaeltachta and a number of stakeholders secured €2m in funding in 2018 under the Rural Economic Development Fund (REDF) via Enterprise Ireland to establish it.

Nua na Mara will be a “key element” of the agency’s Páirc na Mara project – which received a planning setback last autumn.

The centre will provide 1,800 square metres of enterprise and incubation space for marine enterprises, the State agency says.

It will function as a “champion for marine product commercialisation”, and will “bridge the gap in linking innovation, application, concepts, and commercialisation”, Údarás na Gaeltachta says.

It says the centre will “integrate and build on the world-class research, testing and enterprise development facilities for the marine sector provided by GMIT and NUI Galway”.

“ It will also coordinate collaborative programming of specialist supports and development interventions to be jointly implemented by BIM, the Marine Institute, the Education and Training Boards, Skillsnet and other regional stakeholders,” it says.

“We are delighted to establish Nua na Mara to bring the marine sector to another level in terms of commercialisation by facilitating research, testing and enterprise development within the sector whilst also ensuring sustainability,” Údarás na Gaeltachta chief executive Micheál Ó hÉanaigh said.

“ Despite the delay with the Páirc na Mara initiative, innovative concepts and developments can progress, particularly in light of the recent announcement of the development of a deepwater berth at Ros an Mhíl harbour - ensuring that Gaeltacht areas on the west coast are not lagging behind in terms of marine commerce” he said.

A business development manager, Cliodhna Ní Ghríofa, has been appointed recently to work on development of Nua na Mara, dedicated to “supporting businesses, start-ups, innovators and researchers looking to innovate in the marine sector in the Gaeltacht”, the agency says.

Further information regarding Nua na Mara can be received by contacting Clíodhna Ní Ghríofa at [email protected]