In September, biotech network organisations in Cambridge (ERBI), Oxford, and London will form a ‘supercluster’, called The Golden Triangle. London is known for its strength in clinical research and access to funding sources; Cambridge has vast experience in discovering therapeutic antibodies and moving them through clinical trials, drug re-profiling, and developing novel technology platforms; and Oxford has a strong R&D base across a range of diseases, including cancer, CNS disorders and inflammation. Collaborating in this way will create a powerful synergy between the regions, build a solid platform for knowledge-sharing, and offer greater visibility to outside organisations and international investors.
R&D hub
Harriet Fear is CEO of ERBI. She says: "This is the densest region in Europe for therapeutics, medtech, diagnostic, and healthcare R&D companies. It is also home to many of the world's leading companies and provides access to a skilled labour force, centres of clinical and
academic excellence, and an infrastructure supporting one of the most productive and innovative regions of Europe.
Scotland, meanwhile, is home to more than 50 academic research facilities offering services to the life sciences industry, plus over 600 life sciences organisations employing more than 30,500 staff. Life sciences companies in Scotland attract in excess of £400million of research funding annually.
A world-class reputation
In the coming years, Scotland’s reputation for excellence in the fields of biotech and pharma is set to grow stronger still with the development of its flagship life sciences project: the Edinburgh BioQuarter. This location, close to Edinburgh city centre, is on course to become one of the world’s top 10 centres for biomedical commercialisation.
BioQuarter is unique to the UK – a major £600million public and private sector collaboration which offers a state-of-the-art teaching hospital (The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh), a world-renowned medical school (the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School and Research Institute) and bespoke biomedical research and development facilities across 100 acres.
This is the densest region in Europe for therapeutics, medtech, diagnostic, and healthcare R&D companies. It is also home to many of the world's leading companies.
Harriet Fear
CEO
ERBI
Here, industry and academia can work side by side. As such, BioQuarter, led by Scottish Enterprise (the country’s main economic development agency), has become a magnet for the world’s best scientists, clinicians and researchers and it is estimated that it could boost the economy by £350million every year. On-site at BioQuarter there are currently over 70 companies engaged in collaborations with Edinburgh scientists, including 17 of the world’s top 20 global pharmaceutical companies.
BioQuarter – Scottish biotech expertise
BioQuarter is a partnership between Scottish Enterprise, the University of Edinburgh, the National Health Service for Lothian, Edinburgh City Council and Alexandria Real Estate, a US-based international real estate developer. Jonathan Wilson, Project Manager for Commercialisation and Innovation at Scottish Enterprise, says: “BioQuarter will be a glorious infrastructure which stakes out Scotland’s life science credentials, attracts inward investment and channels it to a state-of-the-art location.
R&D in the UK?
“This brand new translational medicine environment is attracting a great deal of attention. Our ambition is to attract large pharma interests and collaborations and to have biotech and pharma companies interact with Edinburgh university to develop applied science.”
The idea for BioQuarter took shape in the late 1990s, with the announcement that the Royal Infirmary and the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School and Research Institute were going to share a new location in a greenfield area of the city. With private companies collaborating with researchers to facilitate drug development, it was obvious that a new translational medicine structure could be developed in one place – and surrounding acreage was bought around the greenfield site.
A flagship scientific institution
In 2004, the Royal Infirmary and Medical School were opened. Planning permission was granted for 1.4million square feet of office development; and now the National Health Service is assessing possibilities for other NHS facilities on site. A purpose-built £60million home for the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine is under construction and will be the next flagship science institution at BioQuarter. The existing BioQuarter site is currently home to a community of over 1,200 dedicated researchers.
Earlier this year, Scottish companies and organisations achieved stem cell breakthroughs in synthetic blood and embryonic and iPS (Induced pluripotent stem cells) technology and began stem cell clinical trials for corneal blindness and stroke, further reinforcing Scotland's world-leading position in the use of stem cell-based therapies.
In these challenging times, Scotland’s world-class talent, high-tech infrastructure and commitment to cross-sector collaboration provide a rich and innovative environment for life sciences investors.
Rhona Allison
Senior Director
Life Sciences
Scottish Enterprise
In February, Swedish-British stem cell company Cellartis, based in Dundee and Goteborg, signed a new license deal with ITI Life Sciences to commercialise large scale ethically derived human embryonic stem cell lines (hES) - a technology which has the potential of driving unprecedented innovation in drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Organon Research Scotland, a drug discovery research centre between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and part of US pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough, continues to develop products in areas including gynaecology, fertility, neuroscience and anaesthesia; and US pharma giant Wyeth has partnered with leading Scottish universities, four NHS Trust and Scottish Enterprise to develop a world-leading network of clinical and scientific excellence throughout Scotland called the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration.
“In these challenging times, Scotland’s world-class talent, high-tech infrastructure and commitment to cross-sector collaboration provide a rich and innovative environment for life sciences investors,” says Rhona Allison, Senior Director, Life Sciences, Scottish Enterprise. “Major capital investments such as the new Edinburgh BioQuarter and the Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine are just two examples of how Scotland is helping companies bring novel technologies and products to market.”
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