Using a £9m award from the UK Government, the University of the Highlands and Islands will collaborate in a city-region deal to establish commercialisation, academic and clinical capacity to deliver projects in health, social care and life sciences.
A custom-built facility on the Inverness Campus will operate as a flexible open access unit, supporting interaction between the health service, the academic sector and commercial partners.
Resulting projects will generate new products and services, business start-ups and licensing deals, as well as service quality improvements and new models for clinical delivery for the NHS.
A key focus is to expand the range and scope of the commercial life science sector in the Highlands and Islands, providing the infrastructure and personnel to draw in new investment and create jobs.