Scottish Development International Opens North American Headquarters
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--June 27, 2003--Scottish Development International, a joint venture between the Scottish Executive and the economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, will open its North American headquarters today. The agency provides Scottish organizations with a variety of support services to help them develop and deepen business contacts, market their product and service offerings in North America, and establish relationships with venture capitalists and academic institutions. Scottish Development International will also work with North American companies seeking to source research and development or expand operations in Scotland."Scottish Development International's North American Headquarters will further enhance the already strong link between North America and Scotland," said Mr. Frank McAveety, Scotland's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "The opportunity for collaboration is endless since we share a solid commitment to education, professional growth and economic development."
Though Scottish Development International will assist companies in any industry, it is especially strong in the areas of life sciences, financial services, digital media, energy, optoelectronics, microelectronics and communications technology, where the United States, Canada and Scotland have a renowned and shared wealth of expertise and accomplishments. The agency uses a combination of carefully selected field experts, operating in markets throughout the world, supported by a strategic "back-office" infrastructure based in Scotland.
"Scottish Development International's approach involves bridging the gap between university research and commercialization, bringing Scottish knowledge, skills and innovation to the rest of the world," said Lorna Jack, director of North American operations for Scottish Development International. "Scotland is not simply the home of whisky and golf, but also a business center for high-caliber research, innovation and technology. From the pension system to the ATM to stem-cell research, Scotland has been at the forefront of innovation."
Jack also pointed out that Scotland has long-standing ties with the Massachusetts and the eastern seaboard.:
| -- | Scottish Development International has assisted biotechnology and technology companies such as Massachusetts-based Voxar and Axis Shield who market their products in the United States. |
| -- | Many of New York's and Massachusetts's premier financial services companies, including JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and State Street Bank, have established business operations in Scotland's International Financial Services District. |
| -- | Scottish Development International is incubating a life sciences company in Massachusetts. Pleiad provides product development, planning and regulatory services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies looking to take drugs through testing in the EU or through FDA approval in the United States. |
As part of a global network, Scottish Development International is headquartered in Glasgow and has offices in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to the North American Headquarters in Cambridge, MA, Scottish Development International's other North American office locations include Chicago, Houston, San Jose and Toronto.
The North American Headquarters is located at One Memorial Drive in Cambridge. For more information on Scottish Development International, please visit the web site at www.scottishdevelopmentinternational.com.
Media Inquiries: To find out more about the official opening ceremony for the Scottish Development International North American Headquarters, please contact Anne Coyle at 617-520-7007 or acoyle@webershandwick.com.