Moves to turn Dundee into leader in forensic science

Ambitious plans to turn Dundee into a world leader in forensic science and cyber security could be realised after the Tay Cities Deal was finally signed yesterday.

The deal will see the Scottish Government invest £200 million and the UK Government £150m to support a range of projects intended to transform the Tayside economy.

The heads of terms agreement focuses on job creation and the Scottish Government has said it will invest up to £20m to support the Tay Cities Skills and Employability Development programme.

The Scottish Government is also prepared to contribute £25m to help develop the Tay Biomedical Cluster, which already supports more than 4,000 jobs in Dundee.

It will be supported by a complementary training package within the Tay Cities Skills Development programme.

Millions of pounds will be ploughed into turning Dundee into a world leader in cyber security and forensic research.

The Scottish Government will contribute up to £6m and the UK Government £5.7m to create a Cyber Security of Expertise, which will build up the work being done on ethical hacking at Abertay University and in Dundee’s digital industries.

There are also plans to build upon the work carried out by the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at Dundee University.

The UK Government has said it will commit up to £15m to create JustTech, the UK’s first forensic science research centre, which will be housed in a new building on Dundee University campus.

The agreement also promises Scottish Government support to create a decommissioning centre at Dundee Port.

Professor Sir Pete Downes, principal and vice-chancellor of Dundee University, said: “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.”

Significant sums are also being set aside to build upon the success of V&A Dundee.

The Scottish Government has said it will invest £37m in a regional culture and tourism investment programme.

Dundee Airport is set to receive up to £9.5m from the Scottish Government.

This agreement of the Tay Cities Deal will have a great impact on Dundee and the surrounding areas ... PROFESSOR SIR PETE DOWNES OF DUNDEE UNIVERSITY