A groundbreaking centre for marine science business and enterprise is being officially opened today in Argyll.
The European Marine Science Park (EMSP) at Dunstaffnage, near Oban, will be opened by Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism.
The centre was developed and is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Mr Ewing will cut the ribbon at Malin House, the first unit to be completed on a site consisting of 20,000 sq ft of office and laboratory space.
He will then visit the innovative businesses in the building, Xanthella Ltd and SAMS Research Services Ltd (SRSL) – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
The new office and laboratory space has the potential to support up to 125 jobs.
Scotland’s West Coast is a hive of marine-related activity, with aquaculture playing a prominent role in the area’s economy, renewable energy projects and growth in marine-related life science activity.
A cluster of businesses are already taking advantage of the region’s natural resources and the new centre was developed by HIE to assist these and new businesses to take advantage of the growing opportunities.
Benefits to the business community of being located at the EMSP include increased access to research, opportunities for knowledge exchange and the wider benefits of being part of a significant cluster of international expertise.