A PRIVATE sector partner is being sought for the £1bn BioQuarter “health innovation district” in Edinburgh.
The local council, Scottish Enterprise and Edinburgh University are working together on the scheme which they claim could generate 13,000 jobs and £140m a year to the economy.
Called Edinburgh BioQuarter, it is hoped as many as 200 health companies will be attracted to the site three miles south of the city centre.
EBQ3 Ltd has been formed by the council, university and Scottish Enterprise to find a private sector partner.
BioQuarter has already helped make Edinburgh the number one city in the UK outside of London for foreign direct investment.
The 167-acre site is already home to award-winning health innovation businesses, Edinburgh Medical School and the 900-bed Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
It also includes the new home of the Usher Institute for data-driven health and social care innovation, set to open in 2023.
Scottish Government Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise?Ivan McKee MSP?said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one of the most exciting investment and collaborative opportunities with far-reaching benefits for investors, local communities and global health innovators alike. It shows that Scotland is very much open for business.”
Councillor Adam McVey, Leader of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re proud to be a partner in Edinburgh BioQuarter, a driving force in Scotland’s thriving life sciences sector and already a prime destination in the UK for healthcare delivery, ground-breaking medical research and health innovation.”
And Adrian Gillespie, CEO of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Placemaking and partnership are crucial to ensuring an economy thrives.
“Edinburgh BioQuarter is one of the most significant long-term programmes Scottish Enterprise has undertaken.”
