Scientific service finds new home at Hutton Aberdeen campus

“The Institute is committed to ensuring our research makes a difference and the new co-location will bring research and scientific benefits to both partners”

Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (ASSL), which is operated by Aberdeen City Council, is to relocate from Old Aberdeen to the James Hutton Institute's Craigiebuckler site. 

The move is expected to consolidate the city's position as a scientific powerhouse in food safety and security, land use and environmental management. 

A £350,000 redesign to create specialised microbiology, chemistry and instrument laboratories is due to be completed this month ahead of the transfer in April.  

ASSL's current facilities on Dunbar Street – where 19 scientists and support staff are based – are no longer fit for purpose.

Aberdeen City Council leader, councillor Jenny Laing, said: “Both organisations will benefit from ASSL becoming part of a wider scientific campus – through partnership working and by leveraging commercial know-how to create new income-generation opportunities. 

“The co-location will also help cement the city's reputation as a pioneer in the fields of public health, ecology and life sciences. 

“By combining activity and research across a range of disciplines, ASSL and Hutton can increase our understanding of the world around us and in turn add to Scotland's knowledge economy." 

Professor Deb Roberts, Deputy Chief Executive at the James Hutton Institute, added: “We are excited to welcome ASSL onto our Aberdeen campus.  

“The Institute is committed to ensuring our research makes a difference and the new co-location will bring research and scientific benefits to both partners.”  

Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive Officer of Food Standards Scotland (FSS), said: “FSS values the science delivered by ASSL and Hutton, which play an important role in enabling us to assess the safety and standards of our food chain.  

“The long term under investment in local authority scientific services laboratories has threatened their future viability, and this partnership is a positive development which will help to safeguard this vital service and strengthen scientific capability for the benefit of Scotland.” 

ASSL is one of four Scientific Services across Scotland and is the only local government laboratory that is part of the Food Authenticity Network.  

Local and national private sector clients also benefit from the laboratory’s expertise in food, water and other testing which is coupled with extensive legal and scientific knowledge. 

Staff fulfil the statutory roles of Public Analyst and Food Examiner for Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, and Agricultural Analyst for Food Standards Scotland.   

ASSL also provides a testing and analysis services for the private sector in food and beverage, water, agriculture and manufacturing.