The University of Dundee is set to embark on a major building programme thanks to a £25m investment from the Scottish government.

Work on overhauling facilities linked to the biomedical department is due to start in January 2022 and be completed by the summer of 2023. The planning application is due to be reviewed at the end of April.

The ‘Biomedical Cluster’ scheme is one of 26 being funded by the Tay Cities Deal, a £300m investment collaboration between the English and Scottish governments to fund large-scale projects worth a total of £700m in Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross.

Professor Sir Mike Ferguson, Regius Professor of Life Sciences and co-lead of the Growing the Tay Cities Biomedical Cluster project, said: “The Tay Cities Deal will make a profound difference to the local area, but the impact of this particular project will also be felt across the globe as companies and collaborations formed in Dundee influence the future of healthcare by developing new drugs, treatments and medical innovations.”

Central to the project is the creation of a £20m Innovation Hub at Dundee Technopole, adjacent to the University’s School of Life Sciences. This will fill a critical gap – the ability to house new high-growth spinout companies generated from the region’s burgeoning research activity.

A strong pipeline of new companies will be accommodated and supported through their high-growth phase. Company formation will be powered by inward investment and will provide high-quality employment, backed by training opportunities delivered by the Tay Cities higher education sector.

The funding will also enable the transformation of Wilson House in Dundee Medipark near Ninewells Hospital into a cutting edge innovative and collaborative environment where students, staff, clinicians, designers, engineers and data scientists can develop disruptive technologies for the healthcare industry.

The third main development will see the Thiel Cadaver Facility at the university’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification expanded.

Thiel is a form of cadaver that most closely approximates to ‘life-like’ patient simulation. This embalming system is not available at scale anywhere else in the UK. Investment will be made to increase capacity to meet growth in demand from industry for device testing and development.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “The Scottish Government is providing £25 million to support the university’s world class reputation in the sector with a project which promises to bring jobs and investment to the region.

“This project will support local suppliers, work with local schools and is committed to our Low Carbon future. Inclusive growth is central to this project, creating opportunities for local people, including those from our more deprived areas.”