The Highlands' ascendancy in the life and health science sector was confirmed today when First Minister Jack McConnell officially opened the first phase of the £23m Centre for Health Science (Ionad Eòlas Slàinte) in Inverness.

The project is being driven by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) together with six other partners - an exemplar model of private and public partnership.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is contributing £2.7m to the project with HIE providing the remainder.

First Minister Jack McConnell: "This new health centre will help the Highlands develop and cement a reputation as a location for health sciences.  It is the kind of ambitious, forward looking development that we need to see in Scotland today.

"I want to congratulate everyone who had the foresight to develop this idea - and all who've been involved in the successful completion of this first phase. 

"This first phase of the project is already providing first class training and meeting facilities, but the completed project has the potential to deliver even more. Once complete, this will be a real hub of excellence, bringing together health treatment, cutting edge research and innovation in a unique way. I look forward to seeing the centre develop in the months and years ahead."

The centre lies beside Raigmore Hospital and following completion earlier this year, is already providing a state-of-the-art nurse and midwifery training centre, a new library for the Highland healthcare workforce and top class facilities for healthcare meetings and conferences.

The project has required a seven-way partnership between HIE  and NHS Highland; NHS Education for Scotland; Stirling University; UHI Dept of Diabetes; the Centre for Rural Health (Aberdeen University/UHI) and Lifescan Scotland Ltd.

A second phase of building will begin shortly to create premises for a new clinical skills centre, a dental institute, centre for rural health and a bio-med incubator space. A third and final phase, due for completion in March 2008 will see a unique diabetes institute created, comprising a clinical research facility and two professors of diabetes leading 50 scientists in working on new concepts for treating the condition.

Area director for HIE Inverness and East Highland Stuart Black explained that in addition to the 370 jobs the facility would create, there are far wider implications of having such a flagship research and service delivery centre in the region in terms of the benefits it brings right across the Highlands and Islands.

His views were fully backed by NHS Highland chairman Gary Coutts: "This plays a vital role in our strategy. It enables us to make sure we can train people to the highest standards and attract the best quality of staff who want to continue training in the Highlands, thereby ensuring the region has the best staff for healthcare."

One of the first to take up residence in the new building is one of the project partners, Stirling University, which currently educates more than 400 nursing and midwifery students in Inverness.

The University's Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Christine Hallett said: "The centre's state-of-the-art facilities will transform the learning, teaching and research environment for our nursing and midwifery students and staff.

"It also provides ideal premises for housing conferences and meetings, while its location continues our presence in the grounds of Raigmore Hospital with which we have always had close links. Our health services library has also benefited from the move into the new modern facilities and continues to be a fantastic resource for our staff and students, as well as NHS Highland staff and Highland Council's Social Work Department. We hope to extend this service to other tenants as the centre expands."

NHS Education for Scotland Chair, Ann Markham also welcomed the new centre, saying:  "Education is key to the future sustainability of remote and rural health services in Scotland and the Centre for Health Sciences will play a pivotal role in developing a well trained workforce for those services. 
 
"Of course, this is only phase one of the development, with more exciting developments to come close on its heels.  Phase two will have modern clinical skills facilities for all healthcare professionals and a dental "teach and treat" centre which will have dental students from Dundee and a new degree level dental therapist course in partnership with the UHI.  This course will eventually extend to involve students in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
 
"We look forward very much to working with our partners and colleagues to develop even further high quality interprofessional education and training."

During his speech at Friday's official launch, HIE chairman William Roe thanked Mr McConnell for launching the facility.

"This is one of the most exciting projects undertaken by HIE during my chairmanship. It fulfils every objective that HIE works so hard to achieve - it brings business growth, promotes global connections, develops skills and will strengthen communities. I thank all our partners for making this ambitious proposal a reality."

At the start of the opening ceremony internationally renowned musician Julie Fowlis from North Uist sang a Gaelic air 'Biodh an deoch seo 'n làimh mo rùin', in recognition of the part the event played in Highland 2007's science strand.