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The Bigger Picture
Life sciences and biotechnology
now employ more than quarter of a million people
in North America and Europe. With annual revenues
of more than £20 billion, these sectors
are widely recognised as the next wave of the
knowledge economy. The market in Europe alone
is expected to be worth over £70 billion
by 2005.
The development of the life sciences
and biotechnology sectors has been identified
as a high priority by government in the UK and
in Scotland. Of course, this is a country with
a long tradition of excellence in life
sciences – stretching back to the
15th century when the world’s first department
of medicine was created at Aberdeen University.
Since then Scots pioneers –
from Sir Alexander Fleming through to Dr Ian Wilmut
– have enhanced the Scots reputation for
groundbreaking R&D. And, in recent years,
the life sciences sector has grown rapidly.
In 1985 there were nine biotechnology companies
in Scotland. By September 2002 there were 97.
The Scottish dimension
A
strategic overview
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The biotech sector in Scotland
is growing at
30 per cent per annum.
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The Scottish life sciences sector
comprises over 450 individual
organisations.
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The Scottish life sciences sector
now employs more than 25,000
people.
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Over 12% of Scottish graduates
hold biotechnology related qualifications.
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Think
Aberdeen
