The £40m ONE BioHub has opened in Aberdeen.
It will provide start-up, spin-out and scaling life sciences businesses with incubator laboratories and offices, commercialisation and growth programmes, and access to mentors, networks and investors.
The new-build industry innovation hub is aiming to become a focal point for action and investment to diversify the economy and maximise the impact of science and technology from within life sciences companies, the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and NHS Grampian.
It should be able to accommodate up to 400 'bio-entrepreneurs' at full occupancy.
An Aberdeen City Region Deal-backed project, ONE BioHub is led and co-funded by Opportunity North East (ONE), with funding from the UK Government, Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. The University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian are strategic partners and have provided the site, at the Foresterhill Health Campus.
Sir Ian Wood, chair of ONE, said: “ONE BioHub will be the transformational place in the North East of Scotland for the entrepreneurial life sciences community and growth sector to meet, share, learn, start up, innovate and grow.
“It will be a new game-changing technology and business cluster in Aberdeen, accelerating life sciences commercialisation, translating research into solutions in the market, improving health and wellbeing, creating high-growth businesses and high-value jobs, and harnessing the potential of science, technology and innovation to diversify the economy.”
Deborah O'Neil, chair of the life sciences board at ONE and ONE BioHub - as well as being the boss of Aberdeen biotech company NovaBiotics - said: “This region is home to world-class research and innovation in the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and NHS Grampian, as well as a thriving community of 2,500 life scientists and a cluster of dynamic biotech, medtech and healthtech businesses.
“ONE BioHub will make more of all these strengths, assets and talented people, inspiring the next generation of bio-entrepreneurs to commercialise innovation in the city, solve health challenges and create lasting economic value.”
Formally launching ONE BioHub this morning, Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead said: “ONE BioHub will allow the already thriving life sciences cluster in the region to continue growing, innovating and succeeding.
“This reflects the key role that life sciences have in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation and forthcoming National Innovation Strategy.
“That is why the Scottish Government has invested £10m in BioHub through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.”
Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord added: “The products developed here will improve lives, and reduce pain and suffering worldwide, while the companies based here will bring high quality jobs and investment to the local community.
“The UK Government has invested £10m in the BioHub, part of our £2.3bn support for levelling up right across Scotland.“
Robertson Construction was the main contractor for ONE BioHub and the building was designed by BDP.
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