Appointment of Director of Innovation for the Easter Bush Campus

We are delighted to announce the appointment of a Director of Innovation (DoI) for the University of Edinburgh’s Easter Bush Campus, a critical role to continue the growth and recognition of this leading research and innovation community within Midlothian Science Zone.

Val is well known both within the College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine (CMVM) and with the Institute’s strategic funder - the BBSRC. This wealth of experience will ensure the future success of the innovation activity on Campus.

The DoI will be responsible for managing the Roslin Innovation Centre and current tenant companies, ensuring a thriving environment for growth. Val will work to secure further follow-on space to allow expansion of current tenant needs and nurture a welcoming environment for early-stage entrepreneurs on Campus. In support of the development of new innovation initiatives across Campus and Midlothian Science Zone, Val will lead on the University’s Data Driven Innovation agri-tech hub activity, alongside the Director of the Institute. 

The DoI, in partnership with the Director of the Institute, will be responsible for the delivery of the Campus Innovation Strategy; with the key objective being the creation of an innovation eco-system which fosters and supports commercialisation opportunities within Animal Bioscience, Aquaculture and Agri-tech (the 3A’s) and One Health sectors.

In the short to medium-term, Val will be focussing on the development of the EMBED (Engage, Motivate, Bridge, Evolve, Drive) innovation strategy, to progress the innovation ecosystem on Campus for the next generation of entrepreneurs in Scotland’s internationally recognised A3 sector.