Biotechnology and Life Sciences in West Lothian
Today, 20 percent of the UK’s life science companies are based in Scotland, employing over 25,000 people.Edinburgh and the Lothians have a long and proud history of innovation in medicine, science and technology. The great innovators who have lived and worked in the city include those such as Alexander Graham Bell, James Clark Maxwell and Joseph Lister. Their tradition of pioneering excellence continues with the cloning of Dolly the sheep, the latest and most high profile of a series of scientific breakthroughs. Given this background it is hardly surprising that the area has developed into a uniquely successful location for biotechnology
and the life sciences, with over 45 biotechnology, life science and support companies who generate turnover in excess of £100m. With its strong manufacturing history and growing knowledge-intensive industries, West Lothian has made a major contribution to the growth of this sector. The companies operating in West Lothian represent multinationals as well as much smaller firms and employ over 3,500 people. Bausch & Lomb is a leading eye health specialist and one of West Lothian’s largest employers. From its base in Livingston, where it has operated since 1996, the company services more than 100 countries worldwide, as demand for its contact lenses grows. One of the most respected healthcare brands in the world, the company is headquartered in Rochester, New York and employs over 2000 people in West Lothian. Quintiles located in Scotland in 1995, and since then the company has expanded in breadth and scope of activities. Quintiles now occupies five sites in West Lothian and Edinburgh, employing over 1,300 people in the area. The Livingston operation has recently been sold to US drug development firm Aptuit which has plans to invest nearly £30m over the next three years. J&J Medical is a leading global medical device company within the Johnson & Johnson Group, and manufactures surgical sutures and other medical products. Intercell is a young Austrian company with a multinational workforce specialising in the formulation of novel vaccines. The biologics manufacturing plant in Livingston is used for the manufacture of late-stage Japanese Encephalitis vaccine and for the vaccine pipeline resulting from bacterial Antigen Identification research and development programs. Dynamic Imaging is dedicated to diagnostic ultrasound, from design to manufacturing and marketing worldwide. Founded in 1983, the company exemplifies Scotland's national characteristics of innovation and internationalism and its reputation for excellence in electronic design and manufacturing. Encap is a world leader in the provision of liquid fill hard capsule technology. Based in Livingston, the company has been providing development (formulation and process) and manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry for 14 years. “The infrastructure and quality of staff within West Lothian provides an excellent environment for companies such as Quintiles Transnational to expand, innovate and maintain a competitive advantage.”
Angus Bell, General Manager, Quintiles
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a skilled workforce, thanks to West Lothian’s proximity to nine universities. Add to this affordable business premises and excellent transport links and you have a winning formula for science-based businesses looking to grow from a Scottish base.
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