Bid to double life sciences sector in North-east to move ahead

Plans to double the number of life sciences companies in north-east Scotland through a new £40 million project will move ahead early next year.

The main phase of construction work on the £40m BioHub facility at Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen is set to get underway in the New Year.

The main construction phase of the BioHub project on the Foresterhill Health Campus in Aberdeen will get underway in the New Year with work set to continue throughout 2021.

The 69,000 square foot facility will provide specialist support programmes and dedicated laboratory, collaboration and office accommodation for established and growing life sciences businesses, start-ups and spinouts. It will also be a focal point for international partnerships and investor engagement.

BioHub aims to accelerate commercialisation in the sector to address modern health challenges, including Covid-19, improve patient outcomes and change how healthcare is delivered. It aims to double the size of north east Scotland’s high-growth life sciences company cluster.

It is one of the industry innovation projects supported by the Aberdeen City Region Deal, a partnership between the UK government, Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Opportunity North East (ONE).

The UK government and Scottish Government are co-funding £20m of capital investment for BioHub with ONE acting as the lead partner for the project.

Professor Stephen Logan, chair of the ONE Life Sciences sector board, said BioHub is “moving forward at pace”.

“This flagship hub in Aberdeen will deliver long-term economic, health and societal benefits. BioHub will provide a unique combination of facilities, networks and support programmes.

“These will help life sciences business leaders, academics, and clinicians to achieve their commercial ambitions, and deliver solutions for global health challenges. Innovative businesses will be supported to translate research into therapies, technology and applications faster – anchoring high-value life sciences activity and new jobs in north east Scotland."

Councillor Jenny Laing, co-leader of Aberdeen City Council said the impact of Covid-19 has “underlined the critical need to future-proof our economy through diversification”.

“Our objectives include doubling the number of companies in life sciences in the City Region by 2027 and providing digital solutions, which have the potential to transform the sector through rapid advances in research, diagnosis and treatment of health conditions, as well better outcomes for patients, clinicians and researchers.”

Scotland's life sciences sector currently employs more than 41,000 people across 770 organisations with an annual turnover of £6.5 billion.

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