Aqua Bio Technology ASA announced that the company has entered into an R&D collaboration with Aquapharm of Scotland, aimed at developing new ingredients for skincare products. Both companies have proven expertise in the area of marine bio technology. Together, ABT and Aquapharm will develop products based on natural marine ingredients, creating an alternative to the petroleum-based components used extensively within the skincare market. The R&D collaboration will initially focus on two new ingredients, of which the first is expected to be ready for marketing in the first half of 2012. ABT's most recent R&D initiative is partly funded through a NOK 0.5 million grant from Innovation Norway.