THE challenges for Scotland’s life sciences sector in turning research excellence into economic benefits will be examined at a major conference next week.
Scotland’s life sciences sector is recognised for its track record in research and development and in developing intellectual property, but it is weaker at getting products to the manufacturing stage.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney will address the issue of how manufacturing capacity can be strengthened in life sciences and other key economic sectors at the event, Life Sciences in Scotland: Realising the Manufacturing Potential.
Dundee has a strong presence in life sciences and formed the BioDundee public/private partnership to promote the sector as a centre of world-class life science activity.
There are world-class companies, universities and research institutions within a three-mile radius, and 18% of biotech companies in Scotland are located in Dundee and the surrounding area.
More than 4,000 people are employed in the Dundee sector, up from 2,200 since 2002, with scientists from over 60 countries.
Of the total UK clinical medicine budget Dundee receives more funding (2.4%) than Oxford (1.2%) or Cambridge (1.8%).
At the conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday Peter Williamson will explain the key role of the NHS as a customer for life sciences products.
Delegates will also hear how continuous manufacturing could revolutionise life sciences manufacturing.
Juliana Haggerty of the Centre for Process Innovation in Teesside will offer a UK perspective, while the life sciences manufacturing community is represented by Aidan Courtney from Roslin Cells and Ian Stevens of Touch Bionics. Other speakers include Julia Brown of Scottish Enterprise and Kathie Haunton of Deloitte.
