Scotland pins health hopes on private-public partnership

Life sciences support organisation BioCity Scotland has announced plans for a new innovation hub which will bring together players from across the biotech spectrum.

BioCity Scotland will be joined by Scottish universities, the National Health Service, innovation centres, pharmaceutical firms, big data companies, and investors with the aim of collaborating with each other on launching more spin-out and startup companies in Scotland.

Announced partners so far include St Andrews University, pharmaceutical Johnson & Johnson, university-backed venture firm Epidarex Capital, and tech firm Toshiba.

Diane Harbison, managing director at BioCity Scotland said: “Life sciences is a key growth sector of the Scottish economy and is set to double in size in the next five years.  Offering support to Scottish universities and industries by partnering with these major healthcare practitioners, entrepreneurs and scientists through the Innovation Hub will provide a tremendous boost to the life sciences sector in Scotland.”

Verity Brown, vice-principal for enterprise and engagement at St Andrews added: “For all universities, working with industry is essential in delivering the impact agenda. Partnership in the Innovation Hub allows us to access industry collaborators, with an ability to meet in a central location. In addition, the ‘Innovation Engine’ programme, developed by BioCity will assist St Andrews in ‘spinning out’ companies and aid the process of commercialising research.”