Enterprise Minister welcomes Johnson and Johnson expansion plans

Enterprise Minister Nicol Stephen today ( February 7) welcomed a joint announcement by two leading medical devices companies that they are to launch a unique collaboration project which is expected to bring significant investment and new jobs to Scotland.

The two companies – both part of healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson are working together to bring investment and jobs to Inverness-based LifeScan Scotland Ltd and the Livingston operation of Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited at Kirkton Campus.

Mr Stephen said: “I am delighted that Johnson & Johnson is expanding its operations in Livingston and Inverness potentially creating 150 new jobs. Scottish Development International, along with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the local enterprise companies worked hard to secure this project which is being supported by £1.95million of government funding.

“This new project is evidence of Johnson & Johnson’s confidence in its Scottish workforce and further expands our excellent life sciences research and technology base. The life sciences sector in Scotland is growing fast and now employs more than 26,500 people.”

The multi-million pound project involves new product initiatives that will contribute to the line of blood glucose monitoring systems researched, developed and manufactured by LifeScan Scotland Ltd and used on a daily basis by millions of people with diabetes all over the world. Manufacturing resulting from the new initiative is expected to begin within the next two or three years.

The Johnson & Johnson Medical Ltd, Livingston operation will be responsible for some specialist aspects of the production process for the new LifeScan products. The project was secured for Scotland by Scottish Development International, the joint Scottish Executive / Scottish Enterprise agency, working with Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise.

Martin Togneri, Chief Executive of SDI said: ”This announcement demonstrates the confidence that Johnson and Johnson has in Scotland as a location for its operations. It’s choice to expand at both its Inverness and Livingston facilities is a huge endorsement for the strength of Scotland’s life science sector.”

Sandy Cumming, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “We are delighted that Lifescan Scotland Ltd is investing further in its facility in Inverness. Pioneering projects like these further enhance Lifescan Scotland Ltd’s position as a world-leader in the development of diabetes healthcare, of which Inverness is proud to be associated. This project will have a significant impact on the local economy and is complementary to other developments in Inverness, such as the £15million Centre for Health Science and the new Lifescan chair of diabetes at UHI Millennium Institute.”