Accelerator aims to boost North East life sciences sector

AN accelerator programme is being launched to stimulate growth in the life sciences sector in the North East of Scotland.

Led by private sector economic development body Opportunity North East (ONE) and delivered in partnership with incubator group Bioci- ty, the programme will launch with a boot camp in December followed by a 12-week development programme starting in January.

The boot camp is aimed those who want to explore how to develop their own life sciences start-up idea or to stress test their current company product and business model. The life sciences sector is an important part of North East Scotland’s economy, employing more than 2,500 people and worth around £160 million a year.

Professor Stephen Logan, chair of ONE’S life sciences board, said: “We see the sector as a key component of our regional economy, which is driven by innovation and ambition. Aberdeen has a history of high-quality spin out companies and our accelera- tor programme aims to build upon this to catalyse growth.

“Biocity is an established leader in this field and we are now bringing their unrivalled expertise to the region to help develop ideas from across the clinical, research and commercial base into commercially viable ventures and to accelerate the growth trajectory of established businesses.” 0 Professor Stephen Logan, chair of life sciences board