World-class centre for health science gets the green light

The creation of a world-class facility for healthcare and biotechnology research, education, training and business development in Inverness has received the green light, now that all the funding is in place to allow the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network to buy the land and begin construction.

The Centre for Health Science, until recently known as the Inverness MediCentre, is to be built adjacent to Raigmore Hospital and will lead to the creation of around 200 high quality jobs as well as contributing to the development of a knowledge-based economy in the Highlands and Islands.

The £15 million cost of the project is being funded by the HIE network and includes £2.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund. The facility, which will extend to 7,240 sq metres (77,472 sq ft), will be developed over two phases, the first of which will be completed in the summer of 2006.

The Scottish Executive has just approved funding, which will enable NHS Highland, NHS Education for Scotland and the University of Stirling  to lease phase one of the facility from the HIE network. The UHI Millennium Institute will also take space in the first phase of the building for its new chair, sponsored by Lifescan Scotland.

The second phase of the development, which is expected to be finished in the summer of 2007, involves a variety of other public and private sector organisations, including the University of Aberdeen's Centre for Rural Health, In Vivo Medical Diagnostics (IVMD) and Lifescan Scotland.

Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Jim Wallace said: "The new Centre is an outstanding example of how the Enterprise Network applies our Smart, Successful Scotland Strategy in practice. The Centre will bring together businesses, high quality research, development and training to create opportunities for greater innovation and increased commercialisation in an ever growing and demanding sector

"Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been committed to bringing this project to realisation and it is extremely good news that the first stages can now proceed. I am in no doubt about the potential benefits of this development, not just for Inverness and the Highlands and Islands, but for Scotland as a whole." 

Andy Kerr, Health Minister, said: "The Centre will also provide state of the art facilities to help meet the demand for education, training and research both from existing healthcare professionals as well as the future NHS workforce."

"I am particularly delighted that we have been able to provide funding to enable the University of Stirling to provide nursing and midwifery education in first class facilities." 

William Roe, chairman of HIE, said: "The Centre for Health Science will be a bespoke, multi-user bio-medical research, education and business incubation facility located in the heart of Inverness. The idea of creating such a facility originated from Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE), and all credit is due to those who have been working on this complex project over the last three years.

"The HIE board approved funding in August 2003, and we are delighted that all the funding is now in place to begin construction. The centre will be the first of its kind in the UK and will play a major role in the development of a healthcare and biotechnology cluster, which will help secure the long term future of the bio-medical sector in the Highlands and Islands."

Garry Coutts, chairman of NHS Highland, said: "In the last few years we have been trying hard to attract people to work in this area. I welcome this announcement today as a major step towards having the best possible health care in the Highlands.

"The past five or 10 years have shown massive steps forward in the delivery of that care and having the Centre for Health Science built next to the main hospital in the Highlands will undoubtedly have its advantages in attracting new people to the NHS in Highland. That will be good for the NHS and good for patients."

Managing director of Lifescan Scotland, Mike Crowe said: "Lifescan Scotland is excited to be part of this important new initiative. This is an excellent opportunity to further reaffirm Lifescan Scotland's commitment to the people of Inverness and the Highlands and Islands area."