Insider Media Limited

Business incubator BioCity Nottingham has formed a joint venture company and purchased 130,000 sq ft of laboratories to launch in Scotland.

BioCity Nottingham joined forces with Roslin BioCentre to establish BioCity Scotland. The new company has acquired the former MSD research facility at Newhouse, Lanarkshire.

The building will host growing bioscience, pharmaceutical, med tech and healthcare companies.

More than 130,000 sq ft of purpose-built laboratories and office space will be available on the 23-acre site.

BioCity Scotland's chairman Louis J Nisbet said: "BioCity Scotland is much more than a property proposition – it will be a unique, vibrant community of scientific companies. Just a short drive from Scotland’s two largest cities, it is ideally situated to attract the cream of life science talent.

"BioCity Nottingham’s success in nurturing and growing over 70 new companies since 2003, and Roslin’s expertise in life sciences innovation and facilities management makes this team the perfect commercial partnership. The work starts now, the prospects are boundless.”

Minister for universities and science David Willetts said the expansion of BioCity Nottingham into Scotland was "a boost to both the local economy and the UK life sciences industry".

"It will drive growth and help create new businesses, as well as providing the right environment for existing companies to expand and develop innovative new products and services," he added.