The innovation hub is set to provide start-up, spinout, and scaling life science companies that are addressing contemporary health challenges and issues with offices, incubator laboratories, commercialisation and growth programmes, plus access to mentors, professional networks, and investors.

With the potential to accommodate up to 400 bio-entrepreneurs from life science companies, the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University, and NHS Grampian, the hub has been launched to foster innovation, invention, and investment, thereby accelerating sector-oriented scientific and technological development.

The new ONE BioHub is led and co-funded by Opportunity North East (ONE), with funding from the UK government, the Scottish government, and Scottish Enterprise. The University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian are the hub’s strategic partners, providing the site for the hub at Aberdeen’s Foresterhill Health Campus.

The hub has been formally launched to members of the life sciences community, partners and stakeholders by Scottish government Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead.

Commenting on the hub’s launch, Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, chair of ONE, said: “ONE BioHub will be the transformational place in the North East of Scotland for the entrepreneurial life sciences community and growth sector to meet, share, learn, start up, innovate and grow.

“It will be a new game-changing technology and business cluster in Aberdeen, accelerating life sciences commercialisation, translating research into solutions in the market, improving health and wellbeing, creating high-growth businesses and high-value jobs, and harnessing the potential of science, technology and innovation to diversify the economy.

“This adds an exciting new business dimension to our economy.”

Deborah O’Neil, OBE FRSE — who chairs the life sciences board at ONE and ONE BioHub, and is also the CEO of Aberdeen biotech company NovaBiotics — said: “North east Scotland is serious about its life sciences opportunity.

“The region is home to world-class research and innovation in the University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and NHS Grampian, a thriving community of 2,500 life scientists and a cluster of dynamic biotech, medtech and healthtech businesses.

“ONE BioHub will make more of all these strengths, assets and talented people. It will inspire the next generation of bio-entrepreneurs to commercialise innovation in the city, solve health challenges and create lasting economic value.”

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Richard Lochhead, who launched the £40M life sciences hub, commented: “ONE BioHub will be a tremendous asset for the North East and the whole of Scotland.

“It will allow the already thriving life sciences cluster in the region to continue growing, innovating and succeeding. This includes important work in developing innovative treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and cancer.

“This reflects the key role that life sciences have in our National Strategy for Economic Transformation and forthcoming National Innovation Strategy. And the partnership working that has made ONE BioHub possible exemplifies what is needed for the successful transformation of our economy.

“That is why the Scottish Government has invested £10 million in BioHub through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.”