SKAGINN HF

Their core work

Skaginn hf. is an Icelandic technology company specializing in automated machine vision and sorting systems for the commercial fishing industry. Their core product is an onboard fish species identification and sorting system that operates in real time as catch is processed at sea. They combine computer vision with onboard data communication to help fishing vessels sort exploited stocks by species, improving compliance, quality control, and operational efficiency. Their work sits at the intersection of fisheries technology and industrial automation, targeting the practical needs of fishing fleets rather than academic research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Skaginn's H2020 participation spans only 2017–2020 and is entirely focused on a single product concept — the SEASCANN system — developed through the EU SME Instrument's two-phase structure. Their Phase 1 feasibility study (2017) validated the technical and commercial case, and their Phase 2 full project (2018–2020) moved into development and market preparation. There is no keyword data available to track finer shifts in technical focus, but the project titles suggest the Phase 2 scope expanded the real-time communication component alongside the vision system, implying growing ambition around data connectivity beyond the vessel itself.

Skaginn appears to have used EU funding as a structured path to commercialize a single focused product; future collaboration potential is highest with partners in fisheries digitalization, vessel monitoring, or food traceability value chains.

How they like to work

Skaginn has acted as coordinator on both of their H2020 projects, which is consistent with the SME Instrument model — a company-led instrument where the SME drives the innovation agenda rather than joining a consortium. Both projects show zero registered consortium partners, typical of SME Instrument Phase 1 and Phase 2 structures where the applying company is the primary actor. This suggests Skaginn operates independently rather than as a network player, and any collaboration partners they worked with were likely subcontractors rather than formal co-beneficiaries.

Based on available H2020 data, Skaginn has no registered formal consortium partners and no cross-country collaboration recorded. Their projects were structured as company-led SME Instrument grants, which by design do not require multi-partner consortia.

What sets them apart

Skaginn is one of very few Icelandic SMEs to have successfully navigated both phases of the EU SME Instrument with the same product concept, suggesting genuine commercial traction beyond the grant. Their specialization in onboard fish sorting vision systems targets a narrow but globally significant problem — accurate species identification at sea — where regulatory pressure around catch reporting and quota compliance is increasing. For any consortium or business focused on fisheries digitalization, traceability, or aquatic food supply chain integrity, Skaginn brings domain-specific hardware and software expertise that is rare among EU-funded organizations.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SEASCANN
  The Phase 2 grant of €2,083,550 represents a substantial SME Instrument award, signaling that the European Commission assessed Skaginn's technology as commercially viable and investment-ready.
• SEASCANN
  The Phase 1 feasibility project (2017) demonstrates disciplined use of the SME Instrument pipeline — validating commercial and technical feasibility before committing to full development, a structured approach uncommon among first-time EU applicants.