Scottish life science firms 'need support'

GOVERNMENT agencies must do more to promote Scottish life science companies in overseas markets, according to a senior industry figure.

Dr Rabinder Buttar, founder and chief executive of Glasgow-based Clintec International, called on Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Scottish Government to do more to attract business and investment.

Buttar, who moved her clinical research organisation from Germany to Scotland in 2007, has helped Scots firms to access the German market.

She has also taken part in trade missions to India, led by UK Trade & Investment, the government body responsible for helping exporters and attracting foreign investment.

Buttar told Scotland on Sunday: "While I was in India on a diabetes trade mission, I was looking around and asking where all my Scottish counterparts were. I think more could still be done to promote Scottish businesses abroad and the amazing research going on in our universities."

A spokeswoman for SDI said: "We have a strong track record in this field. In the past week alone we have represented Scotland and supported eight ambitious life sciences companies at the Bio-pharm America conference in Boston and delivered an intensive week of business development activities in Japan to showcase Scottish strengths in translation and regenerative medicine."