In the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the life sciences sector has experienced rapid growth over the last 15 years, largely due to a focus on diabetes research and diagnostics around the Inner Moray Firth, and marine science in Argyll and the west coast. The region is home to over 80 organisations active within the sector including businesses, internationally recognised academia and pioneering healthcare providers.
-
Innovating Natural Resources
The HIDB provides assistance to Alginate Industries Ltd, who win the Queen's Award to Industry. The firm processes seaweed collected in the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland and exports the extracted acid to around 80 countries. Board assistance enables 10 boats to be built for seaweed collectors.
-
RK Carbon Fibres Ltd begin operations at Muir of Ord, manufacturing carbon fibre for use in various industrial applications.
-
The Rise of Pharmaceuticals
The HIDB agrees support for plans to manufacture natural pharmaceutical products in the former fish-drying factory at Breasclete, Isle of Lewis.
-
HIE approves a financial and property investment package of £2.5m for the Lewis pharmaceutical company Callanish Ltd as part of a £4.5m expansion.
-
CAPITALISING ON GROWTH POTENTIAL OF HEALTH SCIENCE
Health science (a subset of life sciences) is identified by HIE-commissioned research as a focus for the growth of a knowledge economy for Inverness and the surrounding area. The research builds on the recommendations of the 1994 horizon scanning study 'Picking Runners' which identifies five specific growth industries for the region, and outlines a range of measures to support the development of health science including financial, networking and skills assistance. This leads to targeted inward investment efforts and the development of a health care cluster in the Inner Moray Firth area.
-
Forging Ahead with Healthcare
HIE secures major inward investment to the region with the establishment of Inverness Medical Ltd as the UK subsidiary of Selfcare, Inc - a medical device company headquartered in Boston, USA. The Inverness operation begins trading with 45 staff and focuses on the development and manufacture of glucose test strips, and the design of electronic meters for the world diabetes market.
-
Caring for Rural Communities
The Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute (HIHRI) is established. It later becomes the Centre for Rural Health, focussing on advancing knowledge of health and health services in rural and remote communities.
-
A solid foundation for research
HIE supports the establishment of the Ness Foundation, a charitable organisation looking at the effects of lipids on schizophrenia. The assets of Ness Foundation are later acquired by UHI forming part of its nascent Health Research Department. This new department secures funding from HIE and Lifescan Scotland for a chair of Diabetes. Later, a Professor of Lipidomics is recruited, setting up a department of lipidomics research.
-
"The Green House" business and technology incubator opens in Inverness. It is the first incubator of its kind in the region, designed to foster and support technology businesses and create a culture of knowledge exchange. A major focus is life science, and much of the successes in the early years are in supporting the development of academic research in the region (Ness Foundation, Centre for Rural Health and UHI Health Research Department). Companies spawned within the Green House include Tech 21 Ltd, Synergy Scotland Ltd, In Vitro Medical Devices Ltd and Food & Behaviour Research.
-
Billion Dollar Buyout
Inverness Medical Ltd is acquired by Johnson & Johnson in the Highlands and Islands' first billion dollar deal ($1.4bn in November 2011).
-
HIE supports the establishment of an NHS research and development office based in the Green House in Inverness, with 2 part-time staff. The office later moves to the Centre for Health Science.
-
Establishment of Frontier Science (Scotland), a clinical trials management company based in Kincraig. The company is the first European subsidiary of the Frontier Science and Technology Research Foundation, Inc.
-
Formation of new Johnson & Johnson subsidiary LifeScan Scotland Ltd. The company rapidly expands from around 400 staff to 1,700 by 2008, settling to around 1,100 in 2015.
-
HIE supports a PhD traineeship at the Scottish Agricultural College (now SRUC) office in Drummondhill, Inverness. SRUC Epidemiology Research interest commences.
-
Johnson & Johnson is attracted by HIE’s Medi-Centre concept (later known as the Centre for Health Science) and make Inverness their European base for diabetes research and development. More than 100 R&D jobs follow over the next 18 months.
-
HIE secures the support of the Chief Medical, Nursing and Dental Officers for Scotland and acquires land adjacent to Raigmore Hospital from the NHS for its Medi-Centre project. The project, which later becomes the Centre for Health Science, is a key part of HIE's strategy to develop a biomedical cluster in the Highlands and Islands, aiming to encourage cross fertilisation between academic institutions and the commercial sector.
-
A centre for marine technology
European Centre for Marine Biotechnology opens in Argyll. The new centre offers business incubators for 'start up' and established companies and aims to create a growing marine biotech cluster.
-
Science for better health
The Centre for Health Science is established on a 2.3ha site adjacent to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, with the completion of phase 1 of the project. The Centre brings together research, education, training, patient care and business development all under one roof.
The Centre now forms part of the life sciences cluster at Inverness Campus.
-
The University of Stirling becomes the first university to set up in the Centre for Health Science (cfHS). It is followed by the UHI (2008), University of Aberdeen (2010), RGU (2015) and Glasgow School of Art's Digital Design Studio (2010). The centre also develops a relationship with the University of Dundee for the provision of outreach training to final year dental students. Now, around 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students are based in the centre, with UHI’s BSc in Oral Health Science delivered remotely from the facility to locations/students in Stornoway and Dumfries.
-
SureSensors Ltd and Highland Biosciences Ltd, both developers of medical diagnostic products, are founded by former LifeScan Scotland employees.
-
Centre for Health Science Company is set up by HIE to strategically manage the new centre. It is instrumental in establishing and embedding the ethos of the CfHS, creating collaborative projects and encouraging innovative activity to build critical mass in the sector.
-
Phases II and III of the Centre for Health Science in Inverness formally open. With this, a total of 214 full time employees and 318 research projects are in, or administered from, the centre.
-
a unique approach to clinical research
The Highland Clinical Research Facility is established at the Centre for Health Science. It is one of only 5 such facilities in Scotland. Specialist research undertaken at the centre is expected to lead to the development of new products and services in the health industry.
-
Glasgow School of Art establishes a presence in the region. They open the Institute for Design Innovation (InDI) at Forres Enterprise Park, and the Digital Design Studio at the Centre for Health Science in Inverness. The InDI will have a particular focus on digital health research, while the Digital Design Studio will bring virtual medical training to areas of Scotland that struggle to gain access to traditional medical training resources.
-
A new research unit looking at the impact of lipids, commonly known as fats, on disease development is set up by UHI. It is part of a £2.3m funding partnership between HIE, the European Regional Development Fund (through UHI as a key allocator of strategic funds) and the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. The unit is the first in Scotland to turn the spotlight specifically on the role of lipids in disease.
-
Medical diagnostics company AccuNostics is supported by HIE to grow the international reach for its cutting edge self monitoring devices.
-
Handover of Phase 1 of the European Marine Science Park, providing laboratory and office space to those in the marine science sector. The Park is adjacent to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and the European Centre for Marine Biotechnology, incorporating marine science, research and development, education and commercial activity in one location.
-
At the heart of diabetes research
Inverness is to be the new home for all diabetes R&D into blood glucose monitoring carried out worldwide by LifeScan. The announcement is made by First Minister Alex Salmond during a visit to the North American commercial headquarters of LifeScan in Milpitas, California and with a live link-up to the company's Inverness research and development centre. The £11m project - including up to £2.8m public investment - creates 19 new high-value jobs and anchors 1,100 others at LifeScan Scotland, which is already Scotland's largest life sciences company and one of the biggest private sector employers in the Highlands and Islands.
-
the right chemistry for investment
The extended BASF Pharma (Callanish) plant on Lewis is officially opened by the First Minister, seven months after BASF - the world's largest chemical company - take a controlling stake in Lewis-based Equateq. Planned £18m investment commences at the plant, which specialises in lipid chemistry and pharmaceutical omega-3 fatty acid production.
-
Porex Technologies Ltd, an Alness-based manufacturer of high performance porous plastic parts used in medical and bioscience devices, sees sales rise 40% on the previous year to £3.2m.
-
A virtual diabetes clinic goes live across the Highlands. The year-long pilot supports people with type one diabetes living at a distance from specialist services. The project builds on the introduction of video conferencing to the diabetes service in 2012.
-
LifeScan Scotland win the Community Engagement Award at the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards for their work with local schools and communities.
-
A 4 day surgical "bootcamp" is delivered in the Centre for Health Science, providing highly innovative, intensive training for young, newly qualified surgeons. The training attracts attendees from across Europe, and two bootcamps per year are to follow from here on in.
-
academy for young scientists
Plans are announced for the creation of a Science Academy at Inverness Campus. The Academy will open up prospects for the region's young people to benefit from thousands of future job opportunities in the coming decades.
-
Healthcare technology company Inside Biometrics Ltd is founded by former LifeScan employees. The following year sees the Dingwall-based firm announce appointments of Olympic doctors to its Science and Medical Advisory Board, and receive a £1.6m research and development grant from HIE to accelerate the development of its fitness and performance trackers.
-
OpenBrolly wins the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Award for collaboration with NHS Highland, having developed a re-usable platform to allow patients to self-report outcomes and enter clinical diaries using a secure mobile and web application.
-
Alexander Graham Bell Centre opens in Elgin. It is a centre for excellence in Digital Health and Life Science, enabling expertise in research and education.
-
The UHI announces a new MSc in Applied Science Skills for Industry to help life science graduates, as well as those already employed in the sector, improve their practical and laboratory skills.
-
catapulting into the future
HIE signs a memorandum of understanding with the Satellite Applications Catapult to explore the use of space technology in health delivery. A number of projects are already active.
-
developing marine science
The European Marine Science Park in Dunstaffnage opens and the first two tenants move into the building. Developed by HIE and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), the multi-million pound facility provides flexible laboratory and office space to those working in marine science, as well as access to skilled staff and services from SAMS.
-
Glycomar secures share of £700,000 funding in a competition run by the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre.
-
Carbon fibre wheelchair producer, Carbon Black, receives £280,000 investment from Highland Venture Capital and the Scottish Investment Bank to accelerate the commercialisation of their cutting edge wheelchair design. The Nairn-based company had previously been awarded a SMART:SCOTLAND grant for product development.
-
NHS Highland R&D office takes over the Highland Clinical Research Facility, with some funding from HIE. The department now employs around 23 staff.
-
A new Algal Biotech Master's degree is introduced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Students will be based at the SAMS facility at Dunstaffnage.
-
accelerating innovative business
HIE launches its first ever business accelerator for innovative projects, early stage companies and entrepreneurs working in life sciences and technology. Operating from the Centre for Health Science in Inverness, the Pathfinder programme provides expert coaching and mentoring in an exciting and challenging environment to help businesses and teams develop an idea and bring it to market.
-
Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) agrees to move its Epidemiology Research Unit, which employs more than 20+ staff, to new, bespoke premises at Inverness Campus.
-
AspireNorth, Technology Enabled Care, Craegmoor Healthcare and Robert Gordon University all take up tenancies at the Centre for Health Science, bringing occupancy to 99%.
-
Three of the seven categories in the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards are won by companies from the Highlands and Islands - Frontier Science Scotland (Business Leadership Award), Tactical Wireless (Innovation Award) and BASF Pharma Callanish (Community Engagement Award).
-
€250,000 of European Space Agency funding is awarded to a consortium to test the feasibility of LymeMap, a phone app and web-based system that will help to identify tick hot-spots. The collaboration brings together a unique combination of health, veterinary and academic researchers from SRUC, NHS Highland, and UHI with significant expertise in Lyme disease.
-
Sitekit, a digital health company based on Skye, wins the ScotlandIS Digital Technology Award for their work on the ‘Living it Up' portal project. ‘Living it Up’ is an online self-management hub that empowers people aged over 50 to use technology to manage their wellbeing, feel more in control of their health, and get better connected in their local communities.
-
facilitating scientific enterprise
A new £2.2m facility for life sciences companies on Inverness Campus is now ready to welcome its first tenants.
-
Eleven life sciences and technology companies start on the HIE Pathfinder programme to put their business ideas on the fast track. Based at the Centre for Health Science, Pathfinder offers expert help and a concentrated environment for businesses working to develop an idea and explore its commercial viability before bringing it to market.
Life Sciences
At 2015
Over 70 organisations
are active in the life sciences sector employing more than 1,800 people
Across the sector in Scotland, weekly wages tend to be around
25% higher
than the Scottish average