Scottish Life Sciences can thrive as part of the UK - Moore
Minister says being part of the UK helps Scotland's industry sector collaborate and grow
The life sciences and biopharma sectors are important growth areas for Scotland’s economy and essential for the health of both our economy and population, the Secretary of State for Scotland said today.
Visiting the biopharmaceutical company Quintiles in West Lothian today, the Minister said it was the mixture of expertise, skills and access to finance within a stable economy that made investing in the UK an attractive prospect for global companies as well as start-ups and spin-out firms.
He pointed to the fact universities and research institutes across the country help put the UK at the forefront of the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. It employs around 72,000 people in the UK, of which around 26,000 work in research and development.
Michael Moore said:
“Bioscience is an important and growing industry and Scotland benefits directly from the links and collaborations which are possible by working across the whole of the UK. That spans research as well as manufacturing bases which not only support thousands of jobs but are constantly finding and delivering new drugs, technologies and cures to fight diseases.
“Having a global company like Quintiles continuing to invest in Scotland shows the growing range of opportunities which the UK continues to offer. The company is a prime example of making the most of those possibilities and itself has units and labs across the country, including in Guys Hospital in London.
“That stability is clearly a major factor in securing the future of this industry and I want to see it continue. The UK Government will continue to support the sector and is also set to open a cell therapy centre through the UK Technology Strategy Board.”