A new plan to help Scotland’s Life Sciences sector become a £25 industry by 2035 has been published at an event at the University of Dundee’s new Life Sciences Innovation Hub.

The Scottish Government’s refreshed Life Sciences Strategy, co-produced with representatives of the sector, sets out steps to build the infrastructure and skills needed while harnessing new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

The Strategy will be kick-started with £1 million of Scottish Government investment to cover:

• support for the Industry Leadership Group to drive delivery of this strategy
• a new pilot programme for Scottish-based Small and Medium Enterprises to develop innovative products
• investment in NHS Regional Innovation Hubs to better connect business with opportunities within the NHS
• a Financial Health Innovation Lab to bring together the life sciences sector with financial services
• a feasibility study into getting more laboratory space for start-up and growing companies.

The 10-year Strategy will be followed by a series of focused delivery plans to support the sector’s acceleration and positioning as a globally-competitive industry.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead MSP told the launch meeting:

“Life Sciences is a sector that spearheads economic growth, transforms health and care and stimulates innovation across our economy.

“It is vital we support the sector’s continuing growth and unshakeable determination to succeed with a long-term plan to support infrastructure, skills and collaboration.

“The goal of this strategy is to make Scotland’s life science sector the best in the world for developing, testing, manufacturing and commercialising life sciences innovation to benefit the health and prosperity of the nation.”

Delivering the strategy will be driven by the Life Sciences Scotland Industry Leadership Group (ILG) which brings together Scottish Government ministers with representatives of the life sciences sector.

A new Life Sciences Scotland team, reconstituted as a cluster development organisation, will be tasked with ensuring that the voices of the sector inform every aspect of delivery.

Industry co-Chair of the ILG, Mark Cook said:

“This Strategy will bring substantial economic benefits, both locally and globally, as a result of Scotland’s innovative and vibrant life sciences cluster.

“With the game-changing impact of new technologies, from genome editing to AI, the next 10 years are critical to the global expansion of the sector and we must ensure Scotland is at the forefront of that.

“This new Strategy will help the sector to continue to push boundaries, think bigger and take bolder steps forward.”

Richard Torbett, Chief Executive of the medicines and vaccines trade body ABPI, which is represented on the ILG, said:

“Scotland’s Life Sciences Strategy sets a bold and welcome vision, recognising the nation’s strengths in clinical research, world-class health data, and collaboration across industry, academia and the NHS. While this is a challenging moment for the life sciences sector across the UK, Scotland has a real opportunity to demonstrate leadership and build competitive advantage.

“To succeed, ambition must be matched by focused delivery, implementation and critically. rapid, equitable adoption of innovative medicines and vaccines. This not only ensures the best outcomes for patients, but also attracts investment, as global trials naturally follow health systems that routinely use cutting-edge treatments.

“Clear milestones, accountability and success measures for the Strategy will be essential. We are committed to working with the Scottish Government and partners to put it into action, for the benefit of patients, the healthcare system and the economy.”

The most recent data shows the life sciences sector already contributes around £10.5 billion in turnover to Scotland’s economy, supporting more than 46,000 jobs.

Under Scotland’s One Health approach, the sector covers human, animal and plant sciences, including pharmaceuticals, health tech, agritech and animal health, aquaculture and industrial biotechnology and bio based manufacturing.

Read more life sciences news: Major update to One Health AMR register; Glasgow expertise enables global first heart op; Common Understanding to promote joint work

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