Research and development
Of the £521m spent on research and development
(R&D) in Scotland in 2003, just under 60% of it was in
Edinburgh City Region and 21% in the city of Edinburgh.
Two thirds of this Scottish R&D investment
was concentrated in four sectors - pharmaceuticals (37%), precision
instruments (12%), radio, television and communications equipment
(9%) and machinery and equipment (8%).
Key R&D specialisms in Edinburgh include
biotechnology, engineering, electronics,
informatics and genomics at The University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University's Centre of Excellence in
Science, Engineering and Technology, including bio-technology and
optoelectronics.
Both universities are involved in a number of
collaborative research partnerships and initiatives with industry,
including the Scottish Institute of Sustainable Technology and
Scotch Whisky Research Institute.
