Life sciences will create high-value jobs | ONE

In this article, Professor Stephen Logan, chair of the ONE Life Sciences sector board, reflects on the economic value of the sector in north east Scotland its role in economic recovery.

The unprecedented events of 2020, driven by COVID-19, have underlined the enormous value and potential – health, societal and economic - of the life sciences industry in north east Scotland.

Academics, researchers, clinicians and companies in the region are collaborating across multiple research projects targeting coronavirus-related challenges. Their work includes the development of new methods of testing and screening, creating new surveillance models to map the needs of the most vulnerable individuals in society, and examining the impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers.

Our life sciences community across our companies, two universities and NHS has also demonstrated resilience and continued to collaborate, innovate and commercialise therapies and solutions for global health challenges, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease, despite the disruption caused to research, clinical trials and day to day business by the pandemic.

Our regional research and commercialisation strengths in areas including biologics, digital healthcare and medtech are more relevant than ever in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. These are the disciplines and fields of expertise at the forefront of new drug development and digital healthcare.

Developing the sector is vital for regional economic diversification and recovery and to national economic recovery. Growing established and new life sciences enterprises in Aberdeen will anchor high-growth activity and high-value jobs here and realise the opportunity to create an innovation-led health and wellbeing economy.

To achieve these goals, we have to accelerate the pace of commercialisation for research and ideas. We need a pipeline of innovative research that will translate into therapies, products and solutions for use in clinical and other healthcare settings. Success in achieving this will help to transform outcomes for patients, evolve how we diagnose and treat illness, and change the way that clinicians interact with patients inside and outside clinical settings.

Life sciences is a recognised economic strength that the region is building on. Putting in place the right support and infrastructure to enable company creation and growth is at the core of our sector plan.