Strengths

Scotland offers you the opportunity to develop products from concept right through to full scale manufacturing. With our strong track record of academic excellence, collaborative networks, supportive infrastructure and world-class cost-competitive facilities, Scotland has the formula for your success.

Strengths and benefits of the chemicals industry in Scotland

Scotland has an innovative, world-class education system with a strong focus on developing courses in line with business needs. Much of the chemicals research in Scottish universities is designed to address specific industrial issues, and the academic sector continues to develop and adapt to meet the needs of a modern economy.

Academic excellence

  • Ready talent pool − Scotland produces around 1000 graduates a year with degrees in chemistry or a related subject
  • Track record of excellence – our universities are recognised for their strengths in several areas of chemistry
  • The University of Glasgow has harvested five Nobel laureates in Chemistry
      • Sir William Ramsay in 1904 − for discovery of inert gases, and a new group in the periodic table
      • Frederick Soddy, 1921 − for work on the origin and nature of isotopes
      • Sir Alexander Todd in 1957 − for research directly leading to understanding of nucleic acids
      • Sir Derek Barton in 1969 − for work on conformational analysis
      • Sir James Black in 1988 – for discoveries of important principles for drug treatments

Collaborative networks

  • Strong links with industry, delivering real solutions – Scottish universities enjoy close relationships with major companies in key chemicals industry sectors, including Ingenza and Sasol Technology, BP, Pfizer, DSM Fine Chemicals, ChiroTech, Merck, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Evotec, Eli Lilly, Avecia, Kodak
  • Supportive administration − Scotland has strong public sector support for academic research, backed by substantial government grants and funding to benefit the chemical industry in Scotland
  • Significant funding − in 2008, ScotCHEM and the Scottish Funding Council announced an investment of £1.8 million over 3 years to fund 31 PhD studentships in chemistry
  • Collaborative network − strong relationships exist with other academic partners, such as medical schools and agricultural colleges, ScotCHEM, and Chemical Sciences Scotland (CSS)

Infrastructure

As a EU27 member state, Scotland forms part of the world’s largest chemicals market. Scotland has established specific capabilities internationally, including:

  • Chemical processing
    • Commercial testing and demonstration services 
    • Scale-up facilities
    • Product and process development
    • Development of high value niche end-products

    Scotland’s chemicals industry benefits from established supply chains and support services. Established in 1871, Grangemouth − Scotland’s gateway to the North sea oil and gas pipeline − is the oldest manufacturing chemicals site in Scotland.

    Today, our chemicals industry comprises more than 150 core companies in addition to supply chain businesses.

    Cost-competitive

    From its Grangemouth origins the chemicals industry in Scotland has grown significantly. While Grangemouth accounts for around 30 percent of industry output, cost-competitive science parks and incubators suitable for chemicals research can be found right across Scotland demonstrating an expansive resource for inward investors. 

    Labour regulations in Scotland are flexible, and high-calibre staff are available at lower rates than in many comparative locations.