Aberdeen's Thriving Sectors

Located on Scotland's north eastern coast, Aberdeen is the energy capital of Europe, home to Scotland's oil and gas industry, and the centre of Scotland's renewables revolution as the innovation that has fuelled the oil and gas industry is focused on a new green goal.

But Aberdeen offers much more than just energy and is a leading global Life Science research centre. Aberdeen has a history of academic excellence, innovation and scientific advances through its leading research centres and world class Universities.  Past inventions include the life-saving drug insulin, the development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the discovery of partition chromatography.  The region boasts the highest concentration of health and life scientists anywhere in Europe and through collaboration with local industry and business leaders, Aberdeen continues to be a pioneer and force for change.

• Health and Life Sciences
• Energy, Environment and Sustainability
• Aquaculture and Marine Sciences

Health and Life Sciences

Aberdeen is home to leading life sciences research in biologics, imaging and digital health data analytics. The region's goal is to harness these strengths and related asset base to develop one of the most exciting commercial life sciences clusters in the world. And create an international centre for excellence in biologics, digital health and imaging that delivers innovations to build a healthier nation and address modern health epidemics. Aberdeen is home to 75% of Scotland's late-stage drug development companies and has Europe's largest hospital complex at Foresterhill, which combines clinical care and advanced research as well as the highest concentration of health and life scientists in Europe. Famously the birthplace of Insulin and the globally used MRI scanner, Aberdeen is a city with a focus on the future. 

Aberdeen's Life Science and Health community:

• The James Hutton Institute, a world-leading research institute for land, crops, water and the environment.
• Novabiotics
• Aberdeen University Institute for Applied Health Sciences
• Aberdeen University Bio-medical imaging centre 
• Aberdeen University Centre for Genome-Enabled Biology and Medicine
• The Centre for Health Data Science is a partnership between the University of Aberdeen, NHS Grampian and NHS Research & Development North Node.
• The Institute for Complex Systems and Mathematical Biology (ICSMB) has as its unifying intellectual theme the study of complex dynamics and its applications.
• The Rowett Institute plays a major role in the UK research capability in nutrition and human health. The Institute has made a significant impact on animal health and human nutrition.

Energy, Environment and Sustainability

Aberdeen has been known as the energy capital of Europe ever since oil and gas were discovered in the North Sea in the 1970's. That discovery sparked a rush of investment and innovation in Aberdeen, the city that has become the home port for much of the offshore operations. In the decades since, Aberdeen has become global hub for energy innovation as companies have had to adapt to the challenges of operating in the harsh North Sea environment, expertise that is now exported globally. But as the world shifts to a greener economy, Aberdeen is set to continue as an energy rich city, with considerable investment in harnessing the potential of renewables and pointing Aberdeen's innovative minds at a new challenge.

Aberdeen's energy leaders include: 

• The Oil and Gas Technology Centre
• Aberdeen University Institute of Energy
• The European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre - home of the worlds largest offshore turbines.
• The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Research Group
• Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group
• Aberdeen University Centre for Energy Transition

Aquaculture and Marine Sciences

Aberdeen is a maritime city, located on Scotland's east coast, with strong North Sea links to Scandinavia, and a history as a port and fishing city. While Aberdeen's harbour is now dominated by engineering, the city's remains a key research hub for the region in aquaculture, marine research and planning, and marine biodiversity with a specialist interest in marine biodiscovery, looking for chemicals and compounds in sea life that have biological applications, particularly novel biomedicines. The sea remains a vital and rich source of resources, as well as an environment that needs care and protection.

Aberdeen's marine specialists include:

• Aberdeen University Marine Biodiscovery Centre
• The James Hutton Institute, a world-leading research institute for land, crops, water and the environment.
• The Northern Rivers Institute
• Centre for Bacteria in Health and Disease
• International Centre for Aquaculture Research and Development