WIREDGOV

European funding of more than £9.3 million is being invested in new projects that will harness the economic potential of Scotland's world-leading research base and support the creation of 740 jobs, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today.

On a visit to the University of Aberdeen, Mr Salmond said that new allocations of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will be invested in projects that strengthen links between Scotland's research base and business community by commercialising knowledge.

The University of Aberdeen has been awarded £2.6 million towards a new facility to accommodate Scotland's growing life sciences sector. The project will support the transfer of research from the laboratory to the commercial world.

Scotland has been named as one of the world's top five emerging locations for life sciences and this growing sector makes a major important contribution to Scotland's economy with an annual turnover which exceeds £3 billion.

A recent report on research bases in universities, institutes and industry puts Scotland's science and research base as among the best in the world. Scotland's research is cited by other researchers around the world more often than any other country in comparison to its GDP.

The projects receiving a share of the ERDF funding are:

• University of Aberdeen: Life Science Innovation (£2.6 million)
• University of Edinburgh: Scottish Environmental Technology Network Phase Two (£408,137)
• Edinburgh Napier University: Institute for Wood Products(£665,387), the Edinburgh Climate Change Centre (ECCC) (£613,872), Business & Technology Hub (£1 million) and Construction Industry Advancement Centre (£761,129)
• University of Abertay Dundee: Commercialisation and Enterprise Development (£321,399)
• University of Strathclyde: Executive Director Designate Programme 1 (£675,000) and Medical Devices Knowledge Exchange Initiative (£307,904)
• Fife Council: Fife Renewables Business Innovation & Incubation Hub (£125,377) and Fife Renewable Hub Capital (£750,000)
• Institute for System Level Integration: Development of Research and Innovation in Electronic Systems (£352,960)
• Bioscience Network Ltd: Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network (£705,167)

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"The Scottish Government is working tirelessly to create and safeguard jobs and to ensure Scotland has the right infrastructure and skills to support sustainable economic growth.

"Scotland continues to make an immense contribution to shaping the modern world through innovation and this £9.3 million investment will support research projects that aim to capitalise on Scotland's proud reputation for scientific excellence.

"This Government recognises the importance of capitalising on Scotland's competitive advantages and this funding will support projects that aim to strengthen links between Scotland's research base and business community through commercialising this valuable knowledge.

"Scotland is a world leader in technology, innovation and enterprise - our scientists have been at the forefront of innovations such as Dolly the sheep, keyhole surgery and renewable energy technologies.

"It's important that our academics and entrepreneurs have access to support, particularly in this challenging economic climate, so that they can stay at the forefront of their fields, realise their potential, seize opportunities, expand, invest and contribute to sustainable economic growth. This is why this Government continues to work closely with our universities, research institutes and industry to ensure Scotland has the right infrastructure and people to deliver success.

"The commercialisation of knowledge is a key to unlock Scotland's economic potential and I am confident that as well as supporting the creation of 740 jobs and investing in our research base, this funding will help deliver innovative solutions to problems affecting our modern world."

Senior Vice-Principal for the University of Aberdeen Professor, Stephen Logan, welcomed the funding announcement:

"The University of Aberdeen is absolutely delighted to learn of the announcement confirming financial backing for what will be Phase 2 of Life Science Innovation facility on the Foresterhill health campus.

"Our first Life Science Innovation building, developed in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian, is now a base for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer, which is a tremendous coup for Aberdeen.

"This new Life Science Innovation facility will further support Aberdeen City and Shire's fast expanding life sciences sector by offering a base for young companies working on the commercialisation of life sciences research.

"Funding for the building is further evidence of the region's growing reputation as a centre of excellence for life sciences."

Information about projects receiving a share of the ERDF funding

Life Science Innovation project will support a new facility providing dedicated company space to support the area's growing life science sector. This new building is the second phase of dedicated infrastructure for the commercial life science sector.

The Scottish Environmental Technology Network (Phase One) was established 3-years-ago to help SMEs in the environmental and clean technologies sector (ECT) to become more competitive. SETN Phase two will develop and deliver new products and services to Scottish Industry and the public sector.

Biosciences Knowledge Transfer Network (BKTN) will enable knowledge transfer and the promotion of innovation in non-medical aspects of bioscience between SMEs and an established knowledge base. It will focus on four lead bioscience market sectors: industrial biotechnology, plant breeding and crop protection, food manufacture/processing and animal breeding/health.

Institute for Wood Products will provide research, training and development support for SMEs within the forestry and timber sectors in Scotland. The project will deliver a wide range of information and advice through its advisory, support and marketing to communicate knowledge about the potential of home-grown timber.

Commercialisation and Enterprise Development is a project to promote collaboration between SMEs and Abertay University on promotion of commercialisation and enterprise development. It will help the SMEs to seek out, acquire and utilise commercially viable innovations related to their products and processes.

Business and Technology Hub (BTH) is a joint venture between Edinburgh Napier, Queen Margaret and St Andrew's Universities to support SMEs in the process of innovation and exploitation of market opportunities to enable growth. The project will open up links with further education as required by SMEs, thus delivering a complete package of innovation at business-relevant levels.

Executive Director Designate Programme 1 aims to increase the number of spin-out companies from Universities and improve the chances of raising seed funding for these companies.

Fife Renewables Hub Capital will develop the Fife renewables Innovation and Incubation Centre at Methill Docks Business Park, Fife. This will create a low carbon facility to assist companies in making the transition and successful entry into the Renewable Energy Sector.

Fife Renewables Business Innovation and Incubation Hub will develop the Fife Renewables Innovation and Incubation Centre at Methill Docks Business Park, Fife. This is the revenue part of the capital project above and supports the staffing and premises costs of the build.

Medical Devices Knowledge Exchange Initiative will establish a knowledge transfer mechanism "Medical Devices Knowledge Exchange Initiative" (MDKI) that will drive and build a platform for MedTech technology growth in Scottish SMEs.

The Construction Industry Advancement Centre will provide expert support to SMEs in the delivery of low carbon system innovations.

Development of Research & Innovation in Electronic Systems will support Scottish SMEs in an intermediate position between academia and industry. The project will develop products, services and processes using electronics based enabling technologies.

Edinburgh Climate Change Centre will establish an innovation supply chain to bridge an identified gap between the region's research base, live projects and it's enterprise sector with specific focus on knowledge and innovation in carbon accounting, foot-

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