‘Ambitious’ initiative set to build ‘deeptech’ supercluster in Scotland

An initiative has been launched in a bid to make Scotland “one of the world’s best places” for deeptech start-ups.

Announced by chief entrepreneur Mark Logan on LinkedIn, the new multi-year programme will create scaling pathways for deeptech spinouts, start-ups, and SMEs.

Deeptech refers to advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, based on some form of substantial scientific or engineering innovation.

Delivered in phases, the initiative will offer affordable deeptech advanced manufacturing pathways across technology domains to allow prototyping to move into limited-scale manufacture in Scotland.

On his LinkedIn post, Logan said: “Such a capability would sit alongside and integrate with Scotland’s other tech ecosystem assets such as Techscaler, Filament STAC and our range of accelerator programmes. It would also stimulate more spinout creation, and the flow of more private capital into Scotland, which should instigate a virtuous cycle.”

It is hoped the programme will fix the scale-up support gap in Scotland, which David Hughes, founder of sensors specialist Novosound described as the “valley of death” for companies trying to grow in an interview with Holyrood earlier this year.

It is understood the lack of resources is forcing companies to relocate elsewhere or remain in the prototyping stage.

Logan said the supercluster vision was “bold” and would “take several years to make,” but added it was “an important step” to establish Scotland as a world-leading deeptech innovation hotspot.

Individual advanced manufacturing pathways will include from robotics, pharmaceuticals, and biotech to nanotechnology and compound semiconductors.

The initiative will be delivered in phases, growing “one location at a time,” with the model first being tested for advanced robotics technologies.

Scottish Enterprise and Strathclyde University will lead the initial phase, which will be located at the AMIDS (Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District) in Renfrewshire.

As part of phase one, the initiative will build a facility for manufacturing line set up will be built and deploy shared services for supply chain discovery support and process engineering.

It will also introduce a voucher scheme through which qualifying start-ups can access expertise from contract manufacturers, providing start-ups with the skills required to bring the prototypes “to life.”

There are currently eight “early and pending” partners which include the Scottish Government, the National Robotarium, and various Scottish universities, but it is hoped the consortium will expand as phase one progresses.

It is expected that the funding approvals process will conclude early next year.