UK health secretary Wes Streeting MP has marked the official launch of the Health Innovation Hub (HiH) in Glasgow, a purpose-built life sciences laboratory facility.
Developed and operated by Kadans Science Partner, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow’s Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine, the 87,000 sq ft centre aims to accelerate the growth of precision medicine and digital health companies.
Developed with investment from Kadans Science Partner and £18.8 million support from UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund, the facility has transformed a former brownfield site within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) into a ‘world-class’ destination for research, innovation and collaboration.
Morrison Construction was main contractor on the project.
Located next to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, HiH is designed to enable companies to embed directly within Glasgow’s Clinical Innovation Zone.
The building is already more than 70% let, with occupiers including the Digital Health Validation Lab (DHVL), a partnership between the University of Glasgow and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, digital chemistry company Chemify, clinical trials specialist Panthera, and biotechnology company Genetix Research Ltd.
The project was initiated following provision of grant funding from the Glasgow City Region City Deal. Funding was used to support preparation of the application for UKRI funding and to meet early costs associated with technical reports, professional fees and statutory consents. Glasgow City Region City Deal will see both the Scottish and UK Governments each provide £500 million of funding for infrastructure projects across the city-region.
HiH provides fully serviced laboratories, shared equipment rooms and adaptable office space. The building also features a community café and collaboration spaces.
The facility has achieved BREEAM Excellent certification.
Wes Streeting said, “Our life sciences sector is one of our greatest national assets and facilities like this one are the jewels in the crown. We’re already leading the way in areas like vaccine development and with the opening of this landmark facility comes the promise that Scotland and Britain will be at the forefront of the precision medicine revolution too. The same postcode that powered Britain’s industrial past is now powering Britain’s scientific future.”
Steijn Ribbens, CEO of Kadans Science Partner, added, “It’s great to officially mark the opening of the Health Innovation Hub, a defining moment for Glasgow and Scotland’s life science sector. Our journey with this project started in 2020 with the creation of the partnership between, University of Glasgow, Glasgow City Council, NHS, Scottish Enterprise, UKRI and many more key stakeholders. Without our partners, this building would not be the success that it is.
“The building is the very embodiment of what can be achieved through public and private sector collaboration. Kadans are exceptionally proud to be supporting the amazing science being undertaken by all of the occupiers within HiH. We look forward to seeing how the building drives further collaboration to deliver real world impact for patients.”
Professor Andy Schofield, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, commented, “The opening of the Health Innovation Hub marks a major milestone for Glasgow and for the University. As the home of our Digital Health Validation Lab and Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine, the Hub has been designed to accelerate the ideas, discoveries and collaborations that can transform health outcomes.
“What makes this development so significant is the way it brings people together. By co-locating researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and our local community beside one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals, the Hub creates the ideal conditions for breakthroughs to move rapidly from discovery into real-world patient care. This is the kind of collaborative environment that allows innovation to flourish and helps address the major health challenges facing Glasgow, Scotland and the UK.”
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said, “Glasgow’s life sciences sector is already world-leading and world-changing, and this landmark investment positions us perfectly to scale that to the truly global. The Health Innovation Hub brings Glasgow’s new economy into the heart of Govan, attracting skilled and technical jobs into a community with a proud industrial tradition, while creating new career pathways for young people. That’s growth and innovation with inclusion and regeneration at their core.”
