Wednesday 22nd October 2025, 11:00am
Raygonal's innovative Aquary system aims to reduce the UK’s £3.5 billion annual seafood import dependency, while strengthening local economies and providing sustainable alternatives to traditional frozen seafood supply chains.
Aquary is an AI-powered, renewable energy driven system that enables the local cultivation of fresh tropical seafood, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting a more sustainable food system.
Winning the Blue Economy prize at Converge 2025 marks a significant milestone for Raygonal, recognising their pioneering work in sustainable tropical seafood production in Scotland through the innovative Aquary technology.
Aliyu Dala, Founder and CEO of Raygonal, is a graduate from the School of Engineering, and from the initial concept to address the challenges of overfishing and environmentally harmful aquaculture, the start-up worked with mentors and stakeholders to help refine its business model, gaining traction and funding to advance its technology.
The company has now progressed beyond start-up and is part of the innovation ecosystem at Roslin Innovation Centre.
Aliyu highlights the recent move to Roslin Innovation Centre as being instrumental to progress. Access to facilities at the Agri Field Station has accelerated research and development activities, enabling the company to validate key aspects of the technology in the development of their commercial prototype through the SMART Scotland Project.
Equally valuable has been the collaborative environment, expert guidance, and visibility provided by Roslin Innovation Centre. These have opened doors to strategic partnerships and funding opportunities such as the Campus Innovation Account Award, which supported the initial project phase, as well as a supportive network that is vital for a growing deep tech start-ups like this.
“Roslin Innovation Centre has been more than just a base for Raygonal. It has been a catalyst for our growth. The facilities, ecosystem and support have played a pivotal role in enabling us to validate and scale our technology in Scotland.”
Aliyu Dala, Founder and CEO of RaygonalIn the months ahead, Raygonal will focus on advancing Aquary to commercial readiness. This includes securing the necessary regulatory approvals and establishing the first cultivation cluster in Scotland’s central belt. This phase will allow Raygonal to demonstrate the commercial scalability of the technology, while contributing to Scotland’s net zero targets and enhancing national food security.
“Raygonal has moved from a concept into a funded and supported strategic venture with the aim to scale its sustainable aquaculture technology. We’re excited to be part of Raygonal’s entrepreneurial journey as they progress development of this innovative technology.
"As a hub of expertise in animal health, agritech, and aquaculture, Roslin Innovation Centre will continue to open opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange for companies.“
Val Hughes-White, Director of Innovation, Roslin Innovation Centre
Read more about Raygonal and the company's sustainable aquaculture system.
Converge Challenge is an annual competition for innovative startups and entrepreneurs from Scottish universities and research institutes, offering significant prize money and business support. It is designed to help academic innovators turn their ideas and research into commercial businesses and is open to current students, staff, and recent graduates.
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
