Regional Enterprise Council visit to Easter Bush Campus

Thursday 2nd October 2025, 1:00pm

On 26th September, we hosted a visit by the Regional Edinburgh Council, the governing bodies of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland (ESES) City Region, which are the Joint Committee and the Regional Enterprise Council (REC).

The purpose of these bodies is to drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth for the wider region through a partnership between local authorities, businesses, and other stakeholders.



Members of the Regional Edinburgh Council on a visit to Roslin Innovation Centre with RIC Director

impact with investment 

As key stakeholders for future funds for innovation activity, this visit to Easter Bush Campus was an important one. It allowed us to showcase the impressive economic activity taking place on Campus, and to demonstrate the impact that has been achieved as a result of the investment.

It was also an opportunity to  highlight the benefit of our activity to the regional economy and to outline what more we could achieve with further strategic support for future initiatives.




REC Investment has contributed to:

  • Creation of the Agri Hub through conversion of the ground floor space in the Charnock Bradley Building for Roslin Innovation Centre tenants and members
  • Enterprise  initiatives, such as accelerators and other activities run by Edinburgh Innovations, which are accessible to Roslin Innovation Centre tenants
  • Staff and facilities have benefited in Talent, Research and Adoption activity on Campus and this has been used to leverage other activity    



The REC group were met  by Mark Stevens and Val Hughes-White for visits with Roslin Institute researchers in areas of engineering biology and aquaculture before meeting with a selection of tenant companies at Roslin Innovation Centre. 

Prozymi Biolabs, Axol Bioscience, Excellio Biolabs, Cytochroma, Carcinotech and Askbio provided an insight into the science and focus of their company. 

Over lunch, the group were joined by Susan Jarvis, DDI Talent Lead, and representatives from Roslin Technologies and Beta Bugs. This was followed by several presentations and Q&A sessions.

Val presented on the performance of the Agri-tech Hub to date and provided an introduction as to where this fits in to the innovation ecosystem regionally and nationally. Susan provided an overview of Talent and Outreach activity and Mark provided an overview of Research and Adoption activity.

The event ended with company presentations from Roslin Technologies, Oxitec and Beta Bugs.



“It was great to see the amazing work of the Roslin Institute and Roslin Innovation Centre up close. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to those involved. 

"To have world class research such as the work being led by Professor Mark Stevens,  as part of our portfolio alongside the country’s only super-computer was great to see firsthand.”

Neil McLean, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Academy

"The tour was so enjoyable and inspiring. It was an extra special day and I think ‘mind blowing’ was the most common comment I heard afterwards. There were so many world-class aspects including gene editing in animal health and medical research.

"There was considerable reference to the difference that the City Region Deal funding and collaboration has made – and much for the City Region and indeed the REC to be proud of.  

"I must thank our hosts, Val Hughes-White and Mark Stevens, who were very generous with their time and brought together an impressive cast."

Graeme Rigg – ESES  programme office, Edinburgh City Council


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