The ‘Boeing Scotland Alliance’ will explore opportunities for Boeing and Scottish Enterprise to work together in Scotland, with the aim of doubling Boeing’s supply chain – which could be worth tens of millions of pounds to the Scottish economy – and creating 200 new quality jobs over the next five years.
The Alliance with Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and the USA’s largest manufacturing exporter, is expected to create significant new opportunities for companies, universities and regions across Scotland to benefit the wider economy.
The Alliance will focus initially on sectors like space, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies. It will explore joint sustainability initiatives within the aviation sector which support Scotland’s transition to a net zero economy by 2045. The Alliance will also explore innovations in areas such as reducing manufacturing time, materials waste and energy usage that lead to lower aircraft weight and lowering carbon emissions through greater fuel efficiency.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “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.
“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).”
Sir Martin Donnelly, president of Boeing Europe and Managing Director of Boeing UK and Ireland, said: “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. Boeing is proud to keep developing new investments and relationships across the UK in our ever-growing partnership.
“This follows our £100m 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.”
David Smith, national opportunities director at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “This Alliance agreement builds on the existing business activity between Boeing and Scotland and is the result of many months of discussion with Boeing. 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.
“Deepening our strategic partnership with one of the world’s largest manufacturing companies will lead to new jobs and increased opportunities for Scottish SMEs, which will directly benefit the people, families, communities and regions of Scotland.”
One of the initial activities supported by this new Alliance is an £11.8m R&D project between Boeing and the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland. The project is supported by £3.5m of R&D funding from Scottish Enterprise and will see Boeing establish an R&D team in Scotland to look at metallic component manufacturing as the basis for future aircraft components.,
