Strengths

Skills and expertise

• Life sciences in Scotland employs over 32,000 people across 640 organisations, with a core specialisation in human health care
• Scotland has a long history of innovation in medical care dating back to the 1500s, which can help to support this relatively new market

Specific achievements

• Scotland is the focus for trials of new social care alarm devices
• Scotland leads the way in lone worker technology, thanks to our natural geographic challenges which create a natural demand for the products
• Scotland has produced technology such as electronic sports devices for children

Supportive infrastructure

• 29 institutes are currently carrying out research into wellness technology related subjects, these include academic establishments and other centres of excellence across the country
• Scotland provides an excellent base for research and is home to three companies which were named in the top 1000 R&D investment companies in 2009
• Each year over 10,000 students graduate from Scotland’s universities in medical, engineering and related fields, specialising in subjects such as imaging, cardiovascular instrumentation, opthalmics, orthopaedics and implants
• 17 science parks embedded in university research centres as well as industry-led network organisations
• Extensive business support is available to companies trading in Scotland
• A wide range of government-led centres of excellence, professional development centres and academic research institutes, help to shape the industry

Cost-competitive

• Scotland offers an excellent cost-effective base for wellness technology manufacturing when compared to other European locations, according to 'FDI Magazine' (Foreign Direct Investment Magazine)