T he Al e xa n de r G r a ha m Bell C e nt r e
The Alexander Graham Bell Centre Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the co-operation of many minds. Alexander Graham Bell, 1847-1922. The new 6.5 million, custom-built Moray Life Science Centre, officially named The Alexander Graham Bell Centre, will be a centre for excellence in life science for the North East of Scotland and beyond. Jointly funded by Moray College UHI, NHS Grampian, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund, the Alexander Graham Bell Centre will provide facilities for, and expertise in, life science research and education, within a space specifically designed to encourage innovation and knowledge transfer amongst the academic, health care and business worlds. The centre, based in Elgin, offers an exciting opportunity to co-locate with like-minded businesses and potential partners in the digital health field. It was designed to create an environment that stimulates commercialisation opportunities by bringing together health and technology research, education, training and patient care which will lead to new products and services in the marketplace. Further benefits include access to a community of expertise, networking and events, together with business development support from public and private sector agencies including access to finance and advice. In addition to the space occupied permanently by Moray College UHI and NHS Grampian, there will be commercial units available for lease by SMEs, and fullyequipped conference facilities will also be available for hire by external organisations. The Alexander Graham Bell Centre is a critical project for the Moray area, playing a key role in the ambition to diversify the local economy and meet the aims of the Moray Economic Strategy.
Investment partners The following local partners came together to jointly fund this project with match funding awarded from the European Regional Development Fund. Moray College UHI Moray College UHI, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, teaches around 6,000 students, with provision ranging from bespoke pre-employment short courses to PhD study. The advent of the Alexander Graham Bell Centre offers new and exciting opportunities for staff and students of the college, and those studying within relevant health areas will learn in this state-of-the-art facility. The co-existence of the college, NHS Grampian and other organisations within the centre will encourage greater synergies in teaching and research and build on the existing close working relationships with senior clinicians at Dr Gray s Hospital in Elgin. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Moray Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government economic development agency for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Its purpose is to generate sustainable economic growth and the organisation is dedicated to creating strong communities and a vibrant economy. HIE prioritises seven key sectors of which life sciences is one. This is because it is a significant growth sector in Scotland, which is rapidly developing a reputation for excellence regionally, nationally and globally. HIE is able to engage in investment in a variety of ways, by providing infrastructure, financial assistance and access to experienced and knowledgeable staff including specialists in life sciences. NHS Grampian NHS Grampian, which is one of the 10 principal Health Boards in Scotland, provides healthcare services to the North-East of the country, covering the local government areas administered by Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Morayshire Councils. It employs around 17,000 staff who deliver services to half a million people spread across 3,000 square miles of city, town, village and rural communities. NHS Grampian has extremely close links to academia, which have made the board a centre of pioneering medical research in a number of fields. Elgin in Moray is the site of Dr Gray s Hospital and the principal general hospital is in the west of Grampian. In addition, there are a further 14 community hospitals, situated in each of the main towns.
Why Moray? The Alexander Graham Bell Centre is located in Elgin on the Moray College UHI campus. Elgin is the principle town in Moray, one of the smallest regions in Scotland, but despite its size Moray offers spectacular scenery, a wide range of facilities and an excellent quality of life. Traditional industry plays a large part in Moray s economy, operating hand-in-hand with new industrial and commercial industries. Food and drink are significant with the presence of global brands such as Walkers and Baxters, and the many distilleries making Moray the whisky capital of the world. The region s other main industries include tourism, arts, culture, and agriculture, all of which play an important part in the economy of Moray, both now and in the future. In contrast to these more traditional industries, Moray is experiencing rapid growth in life science activity, with particular strengths in digital healthcare. The region benefits from a collaborative approach to healthcare, essential in delivering health, social and economic benefits. Moray is striving to become an international centre of excellence in digital healthcare, offering a wealth of opportunity for business growth in a thriving and progressive environment with access to world-class expertise and capabilities. Leading edge digital health solutions are being developed in the Moray area, strengthened by a growing mass of activity along the A96 Inverness to Elgin corridor, which can now be seen as one of the world s first true digital healthcare clusters, comprising 40 organisations, including private companies, non-government organisations, health boards and academia. Moray has a full health system from hospital to primary care practitioners and social care, with the perfect mix of urban and rural communities coupled with an advanced demography, involved patient group and world-class clinical and technical expertise. Moray also offers high employee retention rates with skilled local workforce, including personnel currently based at RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks who provide a broad occupational base and have proven transferable skills.
How the Alexander Graham Bell Centre can benefit your organisation The Alexander Graham Bell Centre is located in the heart of Elgin and offers three floors of state-of-the-art facilities with the flexibility to meet a great variety of business needs. The centre has been designed to assist businesses in developing new ideas, thinking, products and services by bringing together the necessary disciplines under one roof. Business support is available from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and partners in the form of advice in developing, financing, marketing and growing your business as well as discretionary financial assistance towards business development and growth through grants, loans and equity. This supportive environment also provides access to other sources of public and private funding and the ability to forge effective connections in the digital health field and beyond. There is a wealth of pioneering innovation, research and commercialisation activity evident in the Moray region, where the digital health and life science communities are highly networked and collaborative. Businesses, academia and healthcare exchange best practice, experiences, and world-class knowledge for the betterment of health and wealth creation.
Facilities and resources There are a range of resources located within the centre which is built over three floors comprising: Ground floor A light and spacious entrance with gallery exhibiting the work of Moray School of Art students and local artists A reception area located just off the gallery space, with a comfortable and spacious café High quality conference facilities with breakout room, capable of accommodating up to a maximum of 220 delegates. These facilities are available for booking. Bespoke catering packages from the Hospitality and Tourism Academy are also available. First floor Well-equipped classrooms and video conference suites A mezzanine balcony with a comfortable seating area for informal meetings and opportunities for knowledge transfer Second floor NHS research and training rooms A suite of five research and commercialisation rooms available for lease The centre also benefits from a number of small informal breakout areas, interview rooms and a relaxing garden. Research and commercialisation rooms for lease There are five research rooms, each able to accommodate up to eight people and capable of being used flexibility to satisfy a range of learning and research requirements. The rooms vary in size from 42.15 m 2 to 47.21 m 2. Each has been furnished to accommodate combinations of two, four and six people with high quality ergonomic desks, operators chairs, filing cabinet, and IT connectivity. The layout of the furniture can be altered to meet individual specifications. Rooms are available for lease from a minimum of one year to a maximum of five years. Individual requirements may be discussed.
C o n tacts For further information and bookings in the Alexander Graham Bell Centre please contact: Hilda Puskás, Moray College UHI on (01343) 576475 or hilda.puskas.moray@uhi.ac.uk Moray College UHI, Moray Street, Elgin, Moray IV30 1JJ