The alliance with Scottish Enterprise, Scotland's national economic development agency and a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, will focus initially on sectors like space, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. It is expected to create significant new opportunities for Scottish companies, universities and regions across Scotland.
“This is a blueprint for Boeing working with suppliers and universities in Scotland, harnessing and contributing to the deep expertise already here in advanced manufacturing,” said Sir Martin Donnelly, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland. “Boeing is proud to keep developing new investments and relationships across the UK in our ever-growing partnership. This follows our £100 million joint investment in RAF facilities in Moray. We look forward to new partnerships to come, building on the strength of the impressive Scottish aviation supply chain and excellence in high-tech research.”
Beyond the initial focus on the likes of space, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies, the alliance will also explore joint sustainability initiatives within the aviation sector, which support Scotland’s transition to a net zero economy by 2045, and innovations in developing new solutions to reduce carbon emissions and developing a more circular economy.
“Today’s announcement represents another important milestone in Scotland’s manufacturing innovation journey. This strategic alliance with Boeing creates opportunities for companies, universities, colleges and employment across Scotland,” said Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s cabinet secretary for economy, fair work and culture. “It is a strong endorsement of public sector collaboration, building high value supply chain relationships and embracing academic excellence to deliver for industry. The alliance furthers our vision to see Scotland as a manufacturing nation and validates our decision to invest £48 million in establishing the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).”
One of the initial activities to support this new alliance is an £11.8 million R&D project, supported by £3.5 million of R&D funding from Scottish Enterprise. Boeing is establishing an R&D team in Scotland, aligned to the project, which will look at metallic component manufacturing as the basis for future aircraft components.
Through this project, Boeing also becomes one of the first customers of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). NMIS is a £65 million, industry-led international centre of manufacturing expertise operated by the University of Strathclyde as a national facility for Scotland.
“This Alliance agreement builds on the existing business activity between Boeing and Scotland and is the result of many months of discussion with Boeing,” said David Smith, national opportunities director at Scottish Enterprise. “It’s fantastic news for Scotland and enables us to take forward a wide range of new possibilities with Boeing, starting with the aerospace R&D project.”
