The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, marked his first official visit to the University of Edinburgh by touring some of its world-leading research and data innovation hubs – Edinburgh Futures Institute and Roslin Institute at Easter Bush.
Mr Murray, a Social Policy and Law alum from the University, was welcomed to Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) and the Roslin Institute to learn more about our ground-breaking work.
Mr Murray was greeted by Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Kev Dhaliwal, Interim Director of the Futures Institute, who showed him around the recently-opened building.
He met with team members from Smart Data Foundry and Scottish Prevention Hub, two projects co-located in the Institute that are working with partners to use data to drive social and economic improvements.
It was fantastic to experience first-hand the excellence in innovation being pioneered at the University of Edinburgh. There’s some fantastic work being done, particularly in the fields of bioscience innovation at the Roslin Institute and through advances in data sharing at the Edinburgh Futures Institute that will enable social change. Scotland’s world-class universities are keeping us at the sharp end of innovation, something that is vital to the UK Government’s mission to secure growth in all parts of the UK.
– Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
Open to all
Since opening to the public in early June, the Futures Institute has welcomed people through the original doors to the building – where the hospital’s old motto reads ‘Patet Omnibus’ – open to all. Making good on this sentiment, the Institute is open to the public and offers a range of publicly accessible spaces for collaborative encounters – with students, staff, local community, and businesses and partners. The Edinburgh International Book Festival which is hosted by the University in the Futures Institute saw over 70,000 visitors this summer.
The first wave of organisations to take up office and research space are working with the Institute’s core themes and sectors – including data and AI, sustainability and future infrastructure, and in key sectors for Scotland – tourism, financial services, public services and creative industries.
Roslin Visit
The Secretary of State also toured the Roslin Institute at Easter Bush, which conducts pioneering animal bioscience research to enhance both human and animal health.
Meeting with Professor David Argyle, Professor Bruce Whitelaw and Professor Lisa Boden, Mr Murray was also shown Roslin Innovation Centre, a hub which provides facilities for animal research firms.
We are pleased to welcome the Secretary of State for Scotland to see our world-leading research and hear more about how it is delivering economic growth and helping support communities. We welcome his interest and that of the UK Government, and value the opportunity to work with them to continue our innovative work to benefit public services, industry and society.
–Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor
