Responding to the publication of Shaping Scotland’s Economy, Alastair Sim, Universities Scotland Director, said:
“We’re pleased to see the report recognise higher education’s important role in attracting inward investment into Scotland. Bar London, Scotland has been the top performing nation or region of the UK in attracting inward investment for each of the past seven years and we’re proud of universities’ contribution to that achievement.
“The report has a strong focus on people and skills as a key factor in investment decisions and part of that offering to investors is a highly-skilled graduate pool which is responsive to the needs of business and able to adapt to employer demand. Our global excellence in research, as well as the willingness to work with innovative companies, is a further magnet for investment which the report says pulls in £166m to Scotland every year.
“As we look to the future, universities are eager to have an even bigger role in leveraging investment into Scotland to the benefit of the economy, our researchers and our students. However, we will need the support of the Scottish and UK Governments to see us through the current pandemic so we realise that ambition and play our full part in Scotland’s recovery from COVID.”