An Lòchran

An Lòchran, an enterprise and research centre

An Lòchran is HIE's Inverness office and we're co-located with UHI teams, the Science Skills Academy and Wave Energy Scotland.

About Highlands and Islands Enterprise

We work in a diverse region which extends from Shetland to Argyll, and from the Outer Hebrides to Moray, covering more than half of Scotland’s land mass. We have offices across the region helping communities and businesses to develop and grow.

As the economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland, we focus on three priorities:

We grow successful, productive and resilient businesses
We create the conditions for growth in a region that is well connected and well placed to maximise opportunities
We build strong, capable and resourceful communities

In addition to HIE staff, a number of the organisation’s partners, including Wave Energy Scotland (WES) and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, are also based beside us in An Lòchran.

We are the lead developers of Inverness Campus - and it's coming to life quickly. Our vision is to create a place where businesses, academia, the public sector and the community can all thrive.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Girls with microscope in STEM Hub at Inverness Campus

Science Skills Academy

The Science Skills Academy is a great opportunity to enthuse children in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths. The Newton Room is a purpose-built facility within An Lòchran. These subjects are all major priorities at both school and higher education level, and are pivotal in developing our future workforce and highlighting new, exciting job opportunities for young people. It's also a great avenue for raising awareness of the types of job opportunities that are available across our region, supporting sectoral developments and building a sustainable region.

Science Skills Academy

UHI research and innovation

UHI Division of Biomedical Sciences is co-located between An Lòchran and the nearby Life Sciences Innovation Centre on Inverness Campus.

The Genetics and Immunology department, based in the laboratories at An Lòchran, consists of research groups focusing on cancer and schizophrenia. The cancer research team has expertise in the genomics of melanoma and related cancers, while the schizophrenia research team is investigating various abnormal immune or cellular responses that might influence susceptibility to developing the disease.

UHI Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation

The Institute for Biodiversity and Freshwater Conservation, co-located between An Lòchran and UHI Inverness on Inverness Campus, is a research centre dedicated to understanding how biodiversity is generated, maintained and responds to environmental change, with the goal of guiding its conservation and sustainable management.

The Institute specialises in molecular-genetic research, including population genetics and environmental DNA (eDNA) methods, to monitor freshwater ecosystems, characterise priority species, and provide evidence for effective conservation and management decision-making across rivers, lochs and other habitats.

Working collaboratively with UHI partners, government agencies, conservation managers, businesses and local communities the Institute translates cutting-edge science into real-world impact.

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