There is a proud record of achievement in Scottish life sciences. Over the years, groundbreaking work has taken place involving penicillin, anaesthesia, CAT and MRI scanners, the p53 cancer suppressor gene and, famously, a cloned sheep.
Scotland is home to one of the most sizeable and rapidly growing life sciences communities in Europe. More than 620 organisations employ around 31,000 staff, and pioneering work is carried out across several fields in which the Scottish life sciences industry can boast particular expertise.
Scottish life science strengths
The Scottish life sciences sector is worth £3 billion annually and is growing at a rate of 8 per cent per year. Scotland is ranked in the top five regions globally for biotech companies and has emerged as a world leader in many fields.
- 71 per cent of the life science organisations based in Scotland are focused on human healthcare, including drug discovery and development.
- Scotland has one of the most sizeable life sciences clusters in Europe, with a significant multinational presence in research, development and manufacturing.
- 20 new life science companies started trading in Scotland during 2007, while an increasing number of corporate spin outs demonstrate the maturity of the sector.
- World-renowned researchers such as Professor Sir Ian Wilmut and Professor Sir Philip Cohen are based in Scotland.
Life science research in Scotland
Scotland’s life science community has access to 57 university and research facilities, 17,000 research staff and strong links to key academic and commercial biotechnology organisations across the globe.
- Life sciences research in Scotland attracts £290 million – 15 per cent of the UK total – annually.
- Scotland produces a disproportionately high number of life science graduates, making it attractive as a location for drug research and development.
- Scotland has strengths in cancer research, cardiovascular research, neuroscience, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics, signal transduction biology, stem cell research, virology and immunology.
Scottish life science industry infrastructure
The Scottish Life Sciences Strategy outlines a 15-year vision for the development of a collaborative industry in Scotland. Through partnership between industry, academia, NHS Scotland, policy makers and the wider biotechnology community, Scotland has the most comprehensive national life sciences strategy in the world.
- Scotland’s enterprising culture and supportive legislative environment have helped create a dynamic and progressive life sciences industry.
- The maturity of the Scottish life science industry means a fully-formed supply chain is in place.
- Edinburgh BioQuarter, a landmark £600 million life science facility, will make Scotland one of the world’s top ten centres for biomedical commercialisation.
Investing in life sciences in Scotland
Life sciences in Scotland are currently experiencing rapid growth, and some of the world’s most innovative research and development takes place here. The renowned and innovative life sciences industry in Scotland is an attractive proposition for inward investment.
Some of the life sciences businesses that have recently committed to investment in Scotland include:
- Wyeth;
- Invitrogen;
- Aptuit; and
- Organon.
Contact us to find out how we can help your life science business to invest, partner, locate, grow and prosper in Scotland.