Life science collaboration fostered at new facility
15 Jun 2015 by Evoluted New Media
A new facility – bringing together business, health research and educational organisations – has been officially opened in Inverness by Scotland’s Deputy First Minister, John Swinney.
The site, named Inverness Campus, will foster collaborative working opportunities on a 215-acre site.
Swinney, who also chairs the Inverness Campus Partnership Forum said: “This is an outstanding facility which I believe will be a leading resource for enterprise and innovation, not only of benefit to the region, but to the entire country. The teamwork of everyone involved has helped make Inverness Campus a reality and I am sure this will continue in the years ahead.”
By attracting investment of almost £100 million, this project is expected to be one of the main drivers in the region’s economy. Over the next five years, the project will support up to 1,300 jobs in the independent research sector and create 940 new jobs across the Highlands and Islands.
“The location of this transformational project has undoubted strategic value for a new generation of Highland-based businesses, and I have asked our enterprise and international development agencies to investigate opportunities presented by it, not least in life sciences, and I am confident their focus will help fulfil the vision of the Campus as a place to inspire and attract business,” said Swinney.
The first phase of the project will involve opening of a new building for Inverness College UHI, including a dedicated Life Science building and an Enterprise and Research Centre.
Alex Paterson, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something unique for the region. It is a long-term project which will have an increasing impact over many years. For instance, the educational opportunities and new jobs at the Campus will encourage young people to stay in, or relocate to, the area, while the links between education, industry and academia will boost local businesses and make the Campus an attractive inward investment location.”
