Aquaculture is a recognised future option to provide animal protein to the increasing population since it is an efficient user of feed and water resources, and fish is a unique source of unsaturated fatty acids that have significant health benefits.The Research Institute for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Irrigation (HAKI) is a regional centre of excellence and an important representative in various European initiatives aiming at aquaculture development. This has been recognised as an unexplored opportunity to contribute to the improvement of rural livelihoods in the Central and Eastern European (CEE)region, where the low technological level of fish farming provides significant scope for innovation..The objective of the proposal is to strengthen the research potential of HAKI in order to become the leading research and innovation knowledge centre in the field of freshwater aquaculture development in the CEE region, which could subsequently act as a driving force of technological development and improvement of the fish product supply in the region. In the frame of the project, HAKI will acquire new knowledge, competencies in the field of research, innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) development, build strategic partnerships with outstanding research partner organisations, mobilise human resources, enhance research capacity and develop its research infrastructure. In order to achieve the enhancement of its innovation potential, HAKI will collaborate actively with three leading European research entities, an IP office and a SME during the implementation of the project activities.