impact

Delivering economic impact in a supportive ecosystem for business

Roslin Innovation Centre provides a supportive ecosystem for businesses, fostering collaboration, and generating significant returns for investment. 

By connecting businesses with world-leading researchers, Roslin Innovation Centre encourages innovation in Animal Bioscience - Health, Agri-tech and Aquaculture (3A), to deliver economic impact for the Midlothian region, and support the economic growth for Scotland and the UK for our sectors of focus.

A Catalyst for Delivery of Economic Growth

Roslin Innovation Centre acts as a catalyst for the delivery of economic growth by seeking to:

  1. Increase the number and scale of collaborative projects between Easter Bush Campus staff and companies within the 3A and One Health sectors.
  2. Increase the number of start-up and spin-out companies on Easter Bush Campus in the 3A and One Health sectors, in order to maintain the concentration of science and our international reach.  
  3. Through outreach and active community public engagement, enable business entities to contribute to the education of data and lab skills in the region.   
  4. Consolidate and expand the business community within the Campus and surrounding Midlothian Science Zone, in order to create and maintain jobs in the region and attract inward investment. 

Roslin Innovation Centre exterior of building

open for business

Following £30 million investment by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)), the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government,  Roslin Innovation Centre opened for business in August 2017 as the innovation gateway to Easter Bush Campus.

Front cover of BBSRC report on Roslin Innovation Centre

economic benefit

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Roslin Innovation Centre and the Roslin Institute commissioned an independent review in 2022 to identify and demonstrate the emerging outcomes, benefits and impact from investment.

It is estimated that over the first five years of operation, Roslin Innovation Centre has delivered economic benefit estimated to be equivalent to £2.86 for every £1 invested in its development, creating jobs and attracting private investment for tenant companies, and supporting the broader Easter Bush Campus ecosystem. 

Read the Roslin Innovation Centre Report - UKRI

investments

Since taking up occupancy, tenant companies have received, on average, one or more investments totalling over £100k within first year of tenancy. 

There are now several examples of inward investment from outside the UK of £3M to £8M per entity among our tenants.

30+ Tenant companies 

Roslin Innovation Centre has a dynamic mix of innovative companies at various stages of the business lifecycle and growth, from start-up to micro and SMEs; social enterprises and internal University business units, with a spread across our focus area of animal health, agri-tech, aquaculture and One Health sector.

  • Tenants/Members total 36, with 22 in A3 and 14 in One Health
  • 300 jobs have been brought to Midlothian region via tenant employment
  • 50% of our tenants are staff/student startups – the other 50% have joined us due to innovation ecosystem opportunities
  • One third of tenants/members have Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in place which utilise scientific services on Campus or elsewhere across The University of Edinburgh 

View our Tenant Directory

multi-Location

Five companies have opted to split their R&D across UK/Europe/Global in order to retain a footprint at Roslin Innovation Centre to gain access to our innovation ecosystem, expertise and scientific facilities:

  • Askbio Ltd (USA, Europe, UK)
  • Benchmark Genetics (USA, South America, Southeast Asia, Europe, UK)
  • Axol Bioscience (Europe, UK)
  • Macomics (Europe, UK)
  • Oxitec (USA, South American, UK)

follow on space 

We work in partnership with BBSRC Research and Innovation Campuses and Midlothian Science Zone to ensure there is an appropriate ecosystem for support/follow on growth for the A3 and One Health sector.

Examples include Beta Bugs Ltd, which relocated from Rothamsted to Easter Bush Campus for the A3 genetic expertise, and two companies that have since outgrown Roslin Innovation Centre have moved to follow on space in Midlothian Science Zone (Pioneer - Edinburgh Technopole) during 2025.     

50,000 SQ FT 

Roslin Innovation Centre offers 50,000 square feet of multi occupancy and multi purpose space, with flexible office and Cat2 lab space on Easter Bush Campus, and agriculture and engineering space at the Agri Field Station on Dryden Farm. 

View a Summary of our Space