This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Life Sciences top of US agenda
03/04/2006
US pharmaceutical companies and academics heard that Scotland's international reputation has been built on scientific achievement and discovery at a special symposium in New York today.
First Minister Jack McConnell is in the United States for Tartan Week with the aim of promoting the life sciences sector as a key to Scotland's future economic success.
At the New York Academy of Sciences, Mr McConnell said:
"When it comes to the life sciences Scotland is a world leader. Our areas of expertise include cardiovascular, diabetes, oncology and reproductive medicine among many others.
"The industry in Scotland has grown at an average of 20 per cent over the last four years. This is significantly above the rate for the rest of Europe. We are home to 21 per cent of the UK's biotech companies and are the fastest growing region for start-ups.
"Scotland has a very proud life science and medical history. Beta blockers, MRI scanners and penicillin are among the many breakthroughs that Scotland has given the world. Scotland's international reputation has been built on science and discovery and I am clear that life sciences will be a key building block of Scotland's future economic success."
"This is why I am making so much time in my diary this week to focus on the life sciences sector. I will be meeting with the likes of Johnson & Johnson and Cognia who already have a presence in Scotland but we will also be looking to build new partnerships.
"This sector is a top priority for us. America readily associates Scotland with assets like a world renowned financial services industry and some of the finest food and drink in the world. I'll also be doing business on these fronts this week. But life sciences is a real focus for this visit and it is increasingly being regarded as one of Scotland's strongest cards and rightly so. I want to build on that this week and in the years ahead."
Scotland's life science research and technology base which includes more than 500 organisations with more than 28,500 employees
In 2005, 20 per cent of European life science IPO were Scottish organisations.
Scotland's primary focus is on human healthcare with 71 per cent of the life sciences organisations based in Scotland involved
Scottish drug development companies have approximately 24 candidates in late stage clinical trials to treat conditions ranging from infertility, osteoporosis and leukaemia to fungal and bacterial infection
There are currently over 100 courses in biotechnology and related subjects available to students in Scotland at MEng, BEng, BSc, Udip and HND level.