SCRI, based at Invergowrie near Dundee, generates an estimated £160 million of business every year in the farming, manufacturing and retail sectors in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Experts say the figure could be as high as £227 million.
The scientists working with cereals, potatoes and soft fruit get their funding from the Scottish Executive, the European Union and commercial enterprises. But the economists say that original investment is multiplied twelve fold when the benefits of research, innovation and new products are reflected in the economy.
It’s equivalent to £30 for every man, woman and child in Scotland or the cost of building a new hospital each year!
The Scottish Executive’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said: "SCRI is a great success story for Scotland, providing vital scientific services for agriculture and bringing benefits for the Scottish economy through the farming, food and retail sectors both in Scotland, and beyond.
"The new Scottish government is committed to making Scotland a greener, smarter and wealthier country, and recognises the contribution that research can make."
"The new Scottish government is committed to making Scotland a greener, smarter and wealthier country, and recognises the contribution that research can make." - Richard Lochhead
The DTZ report highlights the value to Scotland of the successful life sciences sector. The analysts also argue that SCRI is providing research services the private sector cannot support.
SCRI’s researchers work to improve the performance, productivity and nutritional quality of a range of crops from barley for the whisky industry through potatoes for the big supermarket chains to the raspberries, blackcurrants and blueberries that make up the current “berry bonanza”.
Based on return on investment, the market performance outstrips many other sectors in the Scottish economy including the higher education sector. It also beats international agriculture research agencies.
In addition, the DTZ economists say SCRI is a likely world-beater in areas that are more difficult to capture by market pricing methods. The Invergowrie scientists help society through:
- Human health and nutrition benefits
- Benefits to international economies (SCRI has 580 licences in 23 countries)
- Conservation of biological resources (e.g. Commonwealth Potato Collection)
- Reduced pesticide use leading to fewer vehicle movement and reduced potential pollution
- Improved fertilizer usage and therefore reduced potential pollution
- Slope stabilization and reduced erosion, conserving the natural resource capital
- Education and training / knowledge conferred in publications
- Promotion of good land stewardship.
Other benefits include the promotion of education and training.
SCRI’s Chief Executive and Institute Director, Professor Peter Gregory said:”This report demonstrates that SCRI’s partnerships with commercial companies result in products that the public wish to buy and which contribute significantly to the Scottish and UK economy. Through these products, knowledge and innovation generated in Scotland reach a global market and Scotland’s reputation for biotechnology is enhanced.”
Part of the SCRI success story is built upon its commercial subsidiary, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS). It transfers much of SCRI’s knowledge and innovation to industry. The DTZ researchers found high levels of satisfaction among customers…particularly in the area of knowledge transfer to the private sector.
SCRI successfully converts
money into knowledge
(“science”) while MRS
converts that knowledge into
money (“innovation”). That
money is invested in further
science at SCRI”.
- Dr Nigel Kerby, MRS.
The Managing Director of MRS, Dr Nigel Kerby, said: “Innovation is central to wealth creation, competitive advantage and government policy. SCRI demonstrates that it is a world leader not only in the knowledge economy but also in innovation and enterprise. SCRI successfully converts money into knowledge (“science”) while MRS converts that knowledge into money (“innovation”). That money is invested in further science at SCRI”.
Donald R Webb, Associate Director at DTZ commented: “We were impressed with the return on investment generated by SCRI. They obviously run a tight, efficient operation. Through years of research that the private sector would never have paid for, they have developed a unique range of products that are now coming into their own in terms of consumer health, taste and quality.”
Jill Farrell, director of operations at Scottish Enterprise Tayside, which part-funded the study, said: "Tayside, as well as Scotland generally, is rapidly strengthening its reputation as an international leader in research and development in the areas of bioscience and biotechnology, as well as the food and drink sector.
"Much of this is thanks to the excellent work being done by the SCRI and other research bases, often with the support of Scottish Enterprise, which are constantly striving to improve upon existing products as well as develop new ones for market. We are seeing clear and tangible benefits for the Scottish economy as this study underlines."