Discover the new Agri Hub on Easter Bush Campus
An introduction to the new Agri-Tech Hub, for Data-Driven Innovation (DDI), part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal, on Easter Bush Campus.
The event on Tuesday 26th November was led by Val Hughes-White, RIC & Agritech Innovation Director and was hosted at Roslin Innovation Centre where guests learned how the new Agri-Tech Hub has evolved, as well as the exciting opportunities for future growth, collaboration, innovation and talent building.
This new space for innovation, has a focus on the A3 sector - Animal Health, Agri-Tech and Aquaculture, and incorporates newly developed office and meeting space, aka the Moss Zone, located on the ground floor of the Charnock Bradley Building. We were also introduced to the recently remodelled Agri Field Station, offering agri research space and located off-site on the nearby Dryden Farm.
Agri-Hub ‘Moss Zone, Roslin Innovation Centre
Val provided us with insight to the background, current and future activity within the Agri-Tech Hub. We heard about research, innovation and education which involves staff and students from across the Easter Bush Campus and the wider University; other DDI Hubs include the Usher Institute, Edinburgh Futures Institute, Bayes Centre, National Robotarium (at Heriot-Watt University) and Edinburgh International Data Facility.
Alongside being an Agri-Tech Hub within DDI, Easter Bush is also a national hub for A3 and One Health for the BBSRC with the Campus being recognised as a BBSRC UK Research and Innovation Campus - the only one in Scotland.
Roslin innovation Centre on Easter Bush Campus
The DDI Agri-Tech programme has a particular focus on Ag-Bio, a sub-sector of Agri-Tech, to reduce animal and zoonotic disease. The importance of One Health research has gained recognition following the Covid 19 outbreak, highlighting zoonotic diseases and the transmission of these between animals and humans.
The Hub is the agri-tech innovation destination for public, private and third sectors and has been set 15 year targets and delivery expectations under the themes of talent, research, adoption, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
Five year targets have been met and were exceeded despite Covid interruptions, this includes 21 new companies being formed across the University (target of 30 in 15 years). An example of activity contributing to this success is the FAST Programme, which helped form three new companies, two of which are current tenants of Roslin Innovation Centre.
BBSRC Innovation Awards for industry has created collaborative activity with placements from industry and into industry, as well as interactions between members. The Campus Innovation Account has allowed companies to pilot activity, try out new technologies on Campus and explore new territories.
DDI Agri-Tech talent has been delivered through MOOCS (Massive Open Online Courses) which are free and open to anyone to participate in, delivering a wealth of online knowledge on production, consumption and human health leading to income generation and collaborative working across the University.
The success of DDI Agri-Tech is beneficial to all of Midlothian Science Zone, and our Partner Science Parks offer different space and facilities with the combined benefit of community, support and facilitation of introductions. Availability of space, particularly lab space which allows for growth of company, is a significant issue. MSZ offers an opportunity for businesses to grow and naturally flow from one site to another depending on their stage of growth; discussions during the Forum highlighted this collaborative nature within the zone.
The purpose of MSZ Business Forum is to create an opportunity for discussion, collaboration and awareness of other businesses 'in the zone'.
If you would like to be notified of future MSZ Business Forum Events or to present at one of our events, please contact Emma McCallum, Project Coordinator.
Did you miss this MSZ Business Forum?
To find out more about research, expertise or business support 'in the zone', and to be kept informed of forthcoming events or opportunities for collaboration, please email Emma McCallum, MSZ Project Coordinator.