£7.5m cash secured for world-class science park

AMBITIOUS plans to create a world-class marine science park in Argyll secured a £7.5 million funding package yesterday.

The board of development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) agreed to commit 4.5m towards the first phase of the European Marine Science Park and has attracted the remaining 3m from the European Regional Development Fund. The facility will be built on a site next to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) laboratories at Dunstaffnage, near Oban.

HIE gained outline consent for the development last year and has recently submitted detailed proposals to Argyll and Bute Council. Construction of phase one, to create a laboratory and office building capable of hosting three marine science businesses and supporting up to 119 jobs, could start in October. The project aims to build on Sams' international reputation for research and act as a "launch pad" for new businesses in Scotland's growing life sciences sector.

The sector contributed more than 130m to the region's economy in 2008-9 and accounts for about 50 businesses in the region. HIE chief executive Alex Paterson said: "The life sciences sector … can make a significant contribution to the country's recovery from recession. Sams is renowned internationally, both for the quality of its research and its commercialisation activities.

"HIE believes we have a tremendous opportunity here to combine an exceptional natural marine resource with world-class research expertise to create a unique niche opportunity in a growing global market."

Meanwhile, HIE has given the go-ahead for the tendering of work to prepare 89 acres of land near Inverness for a new academic and business campus.

Work scheduled to begin next spring will provide infrastructure and essential services for bodies using the site, including Inverness College, the Scottish Agricultural College and UHI Millennium Institute.