About Life Sciences in Scotland
Scotland’s Life Sciences sector employs over 46,000 people in businesses and Higher Education Institutions. Driven by around 750 enterprises, it has grown in turnover by over 10% year -on -year during the past decade. It is one of the country’s most productive and high-growth sectors, providing high quality jobs and supporting better healthcare.
The Life Sciences sector in Scotland is defined as a priority sector of economic significance by the Scottish Government and is, therefore, fast becoming one of the most effective places to develop innovations and commercial enterprises. The Life Sciences Industry Leadership Group works in partnership with Scottish Government, academia and health professionals to create an ecosystem where scientific endeavour leads to economic growth across the Life Sciences spectrum, producing more companies of scale with international growth potential.
In Scotland, we recognise the deep interconnectivity between the health of humans, animals and the environment. Our definition of the life sciences sector therefore encompasses human, animal and plant sciences. It includes pharmaceuticals, health tech, agritech and animal health, aquaculture and industrial biotechnology and bio-based manufacturing.
World Class Innovation
Already employing over 46,000 people across 750 organisations, the Life Sciences Industry in Scotland:
- Produces 70% of media for biomanufacturing in Europe
- Is responsible for over 50% of Europe’s biosafety testing
- Is home to two out of the six UK British Heart Foundation centres of excellence for cardiovascular research
- Hosts two Cancer Research UK research centres looking at developing novel drug targets, novel diagnostic methods using precision oncology and exploring ways to prevent cancer onset
- Has the largest concentration of animal health and aquaculture researchers in Europe
- Includes the number one location in Europe for research impact in biomedical and health sciences at Dundee
High Growth Potential
The BioCity 2019 Life Sciences Start-Up Report describes a 50% growth in life sciences start-ups created in Scotland between 2014 and 2018 vs the previous with both Edinburgh and Glasgow listed as two of the top five regions for Life Sciences Start-Ups in the UK and among the fastest growing locations in the UK. The report also found Scotland to be the location for 15% of the UK’s HealthTech, Pharmatech and Wellbeing companies, 10% of biopharma, therapeutics and vaccines companies and 31% of cleanbio, agritech and industrial biotechnology companies.
Connected
The abundance of innovation and life science research in Scotland is made all the more powerful through an inclusive network of physical infrastructure, support organisations and a unique appetite for collaboration that accelerates growth and connects people in industry with:
A Bespoke Business Ecosystem | World Leading Research | Scotland’s Healthcare Service
Talent | Manufacturing Innovation | Funding and Investment | Healthcare Data and Bioinformatics
Sources:
Scottish Government Growth Sector Statistics
The BioCity Life Sciences Start-Up Reports