The overall objective of the AutoHatch project is to optimise and mature necessary subcomponents of our European Lobster hatchery solution (AutoHatch). Our concept brings automation to larvae and post-larvae development to enable us to control European lobster (EL) growth – we will do this via cutting edge image processing and robotics and the latest knowledge in lobster development for growth control that will improve large industrial scale production of EL. This new rearing method will improve the survival and growth rate during the early life stages of EL development to sustain an industrial production of plate sized lobster. Furthermore, the Autohatch project will allow us to establish the first ever EU based hatchery that is fully automated, and with a fully controlled supply-chain setup to satisfy the requirements of any and all EL production facilities.
Our Autohatch project is well aligned to the EUROSTARS-2 programme, as it is an early stage high risk R&D-focused projects with a large potential market and a short route to market. This project is based on the integration of several complementary specialist technology components and competencies. We meet the EUROSTARS-2 criteria by:
- Being an international consortium, from at least 2 EUROSTARS-2 countries Norway (Norwegian Lobster Farm and ECS Automation) and Denmark (IHP Systems and DTU Aqua)
- Led by an R&D intensive SME as a coordinator (Norwegian Lobster Farm)
- Having complementary competencies, core to the development of the AutoHatch system
- Having mutual interest and individual benefits from the successful development of the AutoHatch system focussing on research, development, and commercialisation of AutoHatch European lobster juveniles.