A £9.5 million facility “of international significance” has been opened on Inverness Campus.
The Life Sciences Innovation Centre was formally opened by the Princess Royal and could bring new jobs to the Highlands.
It is a collaboration between Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
What will the innovation centre do?
The centre will attract more life science companies to the region. It will also encourage collaboration between academic researchers, industry and the health sector.
It will also support the development of new products, processes and services to improve healthcare.
The building forms part of a wider project with the NHS National Treatment Centre – Highland on Inverness Campus, which opened to patients this week.
Between them, the developments are forecast to support more than 200 jobs.
Later this year the Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre, part of Scotland’s Rural College, is due to open on the campus.
The Princess Royal arrived by helicopter in the campus grounds and was piped into the centre by Donald John MacIntyre, UHI’s Gaelic officer.
She was greeted by Col Douglas Young, vice Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, and Inverness Provost Glynis Sinclair. The Princess Royal toured the new facilities and learned about some of the ground-breaking research taking place.
She unveiled a plaque, officially opening the building. She said it was a pleasure to see it become occupied, fulfilling the ideals that people had in the early days.
“It shows what can happen when you get the right partners together and the right levels of collaboration.”
She noticed the centre has space left to develop and joked: “It’s an excuse for me to come back.”
Strengthening partnership with industry and NHS
Vicki Nairn, UHI principal and vice-chancellor, said the centre is a “game-changer” whose opening marks the start of a new era for life sciences across the area.
“In partnership with HIE, we will be working to establish this new centre as a facility of international significance.
“It will strengthen partnerships with industry and the NHS to develop technologies which will have a positive and possibly life-changing impact on our communities and wider society.”
Ms Nairn said the centre will increase research in fields such as medical nanotechnology and active health.
“It also represents a significant investment in the future and will generate economic benefits for our communities through innovation, commercialisation, company and job creation and by attracting and retaining talent.”
HIE chief executive Stuart Black said the innovation centre will support commercial enterprises. That includes start-ups and organisations looking to establish a presence in the north.
“The benefits will extend across the region and support the continued growth of the life sciences sector. All of this will help to attract and retain talent for the region.”
A new tenant with links
The Princess Royal spoke with many of the 100 guests attending the ceremony. She was said to be extremely well informed about medical research.
The first tenant in the new building was medical device consultancy iDE8. The company’s managing director has a personal connection to the project.
David Howarth’s father, Dr Jeff Howarth, who died in 2022, was a key member of the team which developed the concept and oversaw its construction.
The firm is testing new-design medical equipment and hopes to expand its research capability in future.
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