Heriot-Watt University is seeking a development partner to help it build one of the largest research and development sites in the UK, potentially creating up to 10,000 jobs.
The new hub aims to align research, innovation, talent development and the university's sustainability ambitions.
It has appointed JLL to select a partner to develop future phases of the Heriot-Watt Research Park, a 165-acre site at the Riccarton Campus on the west side of Edinburgh.
The existing site is already of one of Scotland’s largest science parks, with around 1,000 staff working across 28 organisations, including green hydrogen firm Logan Energy, pharmaceutical company Charles River Laboratories and the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service.
Almost 70 acres are available for future development and Heriot-Watt’s vision is to create a research and innovation district that would be one of the largest such opportunities in the UK.
This would include developing accommodation and an ecosystem to drive growth for research across a range of sectors and business types, from start-ups and SMEs to established businesses.
When developed, the location will integrate with the wider range of mixed-use developments currently taking place in the west of Edinburgh, as well as promoting health and wellbeing to surrounding communities.
The Riccarton campus is now home to the National Robotarium, a centre for robotics and artificial intelligence, and the Lyell Centre, one of Europe's leading centres in marine and ecosystem sciences.
These are the first two of six Global Research Institutes that Heriot-Watt is developing – including ones for net zero research and health and care engineering.
Other research centres at Heriot-Watt include the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre, which offers prototyping and manufacturing support to develop medical devices; the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre, and the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions – focused on net zero technologies.
Professor Gillian Murray, deputy principal for enterprise and business at Heriot-Watt University, said: “We are excited about the prospect of finding a new partner who shares our values and can help us realise our Strategy 2025 ambition through the development of our research park.
“We believe we can create an exciting new model to drive economic regeneration that creates the companies and leaders of the future need to provide opportunity and economic growth to Scotland.”
Cameron Stott, head of Scotland at JLL, added: “Heriot-Watt University is exceptionally well located in west Edinburgh and with the new National Robotarium building, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion headquarters and the Oriam National Performance Centre for Sport all on the campus, it really is an unrivalled offer for the Knowledge sector.
“We already have a healthy list of enquiries from some exciting companies in the knowledge sector who are keen to build closer ties with the university.”
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