Tay Cities Deal: £25M investment in Growing Tayside Biomedical Cluster

The project aims to make the region one of the most attractive and sought after biomedical locations in the UK. Funding will stimulate a step change in innovation led growth and create new jobs for the region.

Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, has welcomed the news that the Tay Cities Deal has agreed to support the two bids which was revealed today in the Heads of Terms Agreement. Professor Downes said, “I am delighted to see our bids included in the Heads of Terms agreement. This will be an investment in the proven excellence we have developed in life sciences, plant sciences, medicine and forensic science research. We have world-leading innovation in these areas and the Tay Cities Deal will allow us to build on these strong foundations.

“This agreement of the Tay Cities Deal will have a great impact on Dundee and the surrounding areas, creating new jobs and attracting further inward investment. The city continues to move from strength to strength, with the University at its heart, and we are delighted to be working with local partners and both the UK and Scottish governments to further strengthen the economy in the Tay Cities area and stimulate innovation and enterprise. The hard work of delivering the projects can now start in earnest. We are in close contact with both governments and will be seeking to progress the delivery of the projects as soon as possible. We would hope to see a timetable for delivery in place within the next three months.”

The proposed Tayside Biomedical Cluster aims to build on Dundee’s world-renowned reputation for Life Sciences research, drug discovery and MedTech innovation. Incorporating the University of Dundee, NHS Tayside and Dundee & Angus College, the project promises support and grow new BioTech and MedTech companies, as well as providing high quality life sciences workforce development. 

Professor Mike Ferguson, Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee said, "We greatly welcome the announcement of the Tay Cities Region deal. Tayside is home to outstanding life sciences research and we are committed to ensuring our research has a significant impact on the quality of people’s lives. New companies generated in Dundee are at the forefront of life sciences innovation for example in the automated design of new medicines and in creating data management systems to manage scientific and clinical data. The Biomedical Cluster project aims to catalyse a sustainable step change in innovation-led growth and the Tay Cities deal will enable us to accelerate company formation, company growth and deliver new jobs for the region. We look forward to working on the next stage of delivering the programme."

Professor Dilip Nathwani and Professor Graeme Houston from the Academic Health Sciences Partnership welcomed the bid. They said, “Tay Cities Deal investment in the Growing the Biomedical cluster project will enhance the significant impact of medical technology research and development in Tayside through the Academic Health Sciences Partnership (AHSP) between the University of Dundee, NHS Tayside and Tayside colleges. Tayside has leading basic sciences, clinical research and training staff and facilities, which work closely with industrial partners to bring new technologies through to new treatments for patients. The Biomedical Cluster will offer an innovation platform to rapidly take new technologies to a clinical setting by attracting inward large commercial partners as well as new companies to Tayside.

Grant Ritchie, Principal of Dundee and Angus College said “ We greatly welcome the Tay Cities deal and the opportunity to develop a responsive, relevant and flexible curriculum offer which is informed by local need. Dundee and Angus College is  ideally placed to help deliver the skills and training needed to help support the growth in the Life Sciences Sector in Tayside.”