Inverness and the wider Highlands and Islands are on the threshold of new job developments in the healthcare sector thanks to the increasing amount of ground-breaking research being carried out in the area.

That is the key message being delivered at a major conference in Inverness tomorrow (Friday 23 November). The event is being organised by the Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute (HIHRI) - and is intended to encourage closer and stronger partnership working between the commercial and research sectors.

Inverness and the inner Moray Firth has already benefitted substantially from jobs in the healthcare sector. In the private sector the biggest employer is Inverness Medical.. Their manufacturing plant for diabetes testing kits at Beechwood currently employs 1,000 and recently-approved plans for an extension to the facility will see employment rise still further.

The establishment of HIHRI has led to the creation of 20 research jobs, the University of Stirling has created two new professorial appointments and the local NHS trusts have recently bolstered their research and development departments by appointing research managers. These jobs are located at The Green House business technology centre alongside other medical research organisations such as Psychiatric Diagnostics Ltd. and Highlands Psychiatric Research Foundation.

Director of the HIHRI, David Godden said: "The purpose of this conference is to bring together the main players in the industry, the academic institutions and the health care providers. There are real opportunities here for joint working and real potential for growth both in research terms and in commercial spin-off developments. If we can forge closer links and partnerships we will be a step closer to realising this potential. I would hope that this conference will help us prepare a strategy for moving things forward."

Commenting on the ongoing and exciting health research activities and developments in the area, business development manager at Inverness and Nairn Enteprise (INE) Ruaraidh MacNeil said: "It's been a long term objective of INE to achieve further developments in the technology sector in general, and the healthcare sector in particular. They offer the type of high-quality employment which will lead to sustainable growth in the economy. Obviously we've had some considerable success already, not least with Inverness Medical, but I believe we've now reached a stage where there's a 'critical mass' of activity and this should be a springboard for a cluster of future developments.

"There are some very highly skilled and respected people working in the healthcare sector locally, and bringing them together for this conference will almost certainly highlight some new directions and opportunities for further development."