Explore investment opportunities in Scotland’s life sciences industry. The sector supports long-term value and provides a strong platform for growth and scale. Learn more and find out how we can help.
Scotland’s life sciences sector offers a strong platform for scale, growth and global impact. In Scotland you'll find a growing pipeline of innovation-led companies, world-leading research and talent, and clusters that help businesses start, grow and scale.
The sector generates £10.5 billion in annual turnover and continues to grow.
We work with investors, companies and partners to strengthen the investment environment, improve infrastructure, and support commercial growth across the sector. We can help you identify opportunities, connect with the right people, and understand the landscape for investment in Scotland.
Scotland’s life sciences sector includes over 725 enterprises across four key subsectors:
Employment has grown by over 30% since 2010, and exports now exceed £4.3 billion annually. Most companies sell into international markets, reflecting a sector moving beyond early-stage activity toward commercial scale and global competitiveness.
Life sciences in Scotland combines assets that support long-term value:
Recent performance shows continued momentum, with life sciences representing Scotland’s largest spinout equity deals.
Timely access to the right capital is critical to scaling companies. We're working to strengthen the investment environment by:
Our focus is to help companies raise the funding they need to reach major milestones, manage cashflow pressure, and grow sustainably – creating stronger opportunities for investors.
Scotland offers cluster opportunities where companies benefit from proximity to research, clinical partners and the infrastructure needed to scale.
Edinburgh BioQuarter is a major centre for life sciences investment and growth, with strong links between research, clinical partners and industry.
You’ll find:
This mix supports opportunities across therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and cell and gene therapy.
Find out more on the Edinburgh BioQuarter websiteopens in a new window
Glasgow offers opportunities across medtech, digital health and pharma services, supported by university research, NHS links and a growing innovation base.
You’ll find:
This cluster is well suited to investors looking for companies building products for global health markets.
Find out more on the Invest Glasgow websiteopens in a new window
Aberdeen is growing as a hub for biologics, therapeutics, digital health and medtech, supported by strong links between academia, clinical partners and industry.
You’ll find:
This creates a strong base for investors looking for clinical and research-led growth opportunities.
Find out more about the Foresterhill Health Campusopens in a new window
Dundee is one of Scotland’s most concentrated life sciences clusters, with strengths in drug discovery, biomedical science, medtech and health innovation.
You’ll find:
This cluster offers opportunities across therapeutics and health innovation, with strong routes to collaboration and adoption.
A key priority for Scotland’s life sciences strategy is making sure companies can access the right accommodation as they scale.
The Life Sciences Accommodation Programme supports development of specialist laboratory and manufacturing space. This helps companies stay in Scotland as they move from early-stage R&D into commercial growth.
For investors, this strengthens delivery confidence and supports scaling within established clusters.
Find out more and apply for the Life Sciences Accommodation Programme
Scotland’s life sciences companies are internationally focused:
We support international scale-up activity, helping companies enter new markets, build partnerships and strengthen their investor readiness.
You’ll benefit from:
This is a sector with depth, momentum and long-term policy support.
We work with investors at all stages of the investment journey.
If you’re exploring investment or partnership opportunities in Scotland’s life sciences sector, speak to us early. We can help you:
