Vision for hi-tech manufacturing in the Scottish highlands
pharmafile | September 22, 2015 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Research and Development | GSK, Scotland, manufacturing
Scottish life and chemical science firms claim Scotland is an ideal European base for UK and global manufacturers.
A new industry-led strategy will be launched at Encap Drug Delivery’s facility in Livingston, which is expanding following investment decisions by US owners Capsugel.
Senior figures from life and chemical science companies will set out how Scotland provides the infrastructure, connectivity and academic excellence necessary to sustain a thriving manufacturing base at the launch.
Caroline Strain, head of chemical sciences, Scottish Enterprise, says: “We can offer the supply chain and infrastructure essential for successful manufacturing. Scotland is also well connected internally and externally, from collaboration between public, private and academic sectors, to transport links. And we have a track record of academic excellence and industrial research and development.
“We’re calling on national and international companies to talk to us to find out more about how they could benefit from all the advantages that Scotland has as a European or Global base.”
As the life sciences sector seeks to double its turnover to £6.3 billion by 2020, the chemical sciences sector is aiming to increase exports by 50% from £3 billion to £4.5 billion by 2020. Over the past three years, life and chemical sciences companies in Scotland have committed almost £1 billion towards expanding their manufacturing facilities.
Major companies in the sector present in Scotland include GSK, BASFPharma, Johnson Matthey, Exxonmobil and Ineos. Scotland is home to one of the most sizeable life sciences clusters in Europe with the latest Scottish Government figures showing turnover in excess of £3.2 billion for the sector.
Scottish business minister, Fergus Ewing says: “Achieving our goals means generating additional turnover of £5.6bn a year across the two sectors, which is equivalent to replicating the output of Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest industrial complex. This will be challenging, but it’s essential that we clearly state the extent of our ambitions if we are to grasp the opportunities. These sectors will continue to make an increasingly important contribution to our economy, through developing our manufacturing base, internationalisation and inclusive growth.
The strategy includes key elements such as changing perceptions of manufacturing, commercialising research by translating intellectual property into opportunities for manufacturing, strengthening the manufacturing, highlighting the benefits of ‘re-shoring’ manufacturing to Scotland and to attract investment from overseas companies.
Dave Tudor, vice-president of GlaxoSmithKline, says: “Scotland has all the necessary attributes and capabilities to deliver strong, innovative and competitive manufacturing in life and chemical sciences. Scotland is one of the top five countries in the world for intellectual property generation, there is a competitive and supportive regulatory environment and it is also a great place to live.
“In addition we have brilliant young scientists and engineers studying at world-class universities. Pull all these elements together and Scotland should continue to compete successfully on a global level for an increasing number of high value chemical and life sciences projects.”
The next step for the strategy will see task groups led by the industry and managed by Scottish Enterprise.
Yasmita Kumar
Related Content
Ardena announces €20m expansion following first GMP approval
Ardena has announced that it has received Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) approval from the Dutch …
GSK shares results from phase 3 trial for gonorrhoea treatment
GSK has announced positive results from its phase 3 EAGLE-1 trial for gepotidacin, a potential …
GSK’s meningococcal vaccine candidate accepted for FDA review
GSK has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review …
