Scotland, particularly the central belt, is a powerhouse of life sciences talent. This region

boasts a rich synergy between companies, universities, colleges and networks, fostering a

collaborative environment that drives innovation. However, a significant challenge threatens

to stifle this burgeoning sector, the acute shortage of suitable lab space.

A group of former Pfizer employees have successfully created their own businesses based at and supported by Discovery Park, a thriving life sciences community in Kent. 

As the Managing Director of Scotland’s largest vaccine producer, Valneva, I am immensely proud to work in an industry which saves lives and prevents disease. I can track my drive to work in life sciences to one moment from my childhood, when I was around seven years old.  

Perceptive Communicators has announced its appointment to provide strategic communications services for Valneva Scotland, a specialty vaccine company that develops, manufactures, and commercialises vaccines for infectious diseases, addressing unmet medical needs.

As a female founder of a consultancy specialising in science communications, we are always keen to walk the talk, so have established Senior Women in Science, a network to help inspire and support women in this key sector.

Perceptive Communicators has made two specialist appointments, with Sophie Newington joining as Communications Consultant and Jack Hope appointed to a newly created Public Affairs and Public Relations Manager role.

Today and tomorrow, on 15th and 16th March, biotechnologists will gather in Glasgow for this year’s Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) Conference. Now in its ninth year, the conference is the largest industrial biotechnology event in the UK. The theme of this year’s event, ‘Resilience and the Bioeconomy', will explore what resilience means to companies working within the bioeconomy and how the bioeconomy itself can contribute to resilience in industry and society in general.

Perceptive Communicators, the multi-award-winning Glasgow-based communications and PR agency, is teaming up with Cancer Card to provide pro-bono communications support after the charity’s successful application to the firm’s Improving Lives campaign.

On Thursday The Scotsman will host its annual Life Sciences conference with the theme of “Growing Global”. As a global leader in the life sciences sector, Scotland has much to offer both start-ups and more established organisations. With its highly skilled workforce, world-class universities and research and development facilities, Scotland is well placed to continue to lead the way in this rapidly growing industry. 

COP26 has provided the inspiration to live more sustainable lives and to hopefully succeed, quickly, in halting climate change. However, a report published by environmental think tank E3G found that the heavily polluting G20 countries have so far failed to strengthen their plans since COP26 and that “none of them are on track for a 1.5C pathway". In addition, the Environment Agency in England admitted last week that it is minded to rehome at risk coastal communities “away from danger rather than try to protect them from the inevitable impacts of a rising sea level".