Boeing and Scottish Enterprise (
www.scottish-enterprise.com) have signed a strategic agreement — called the Boeing Scotland Alliance — that will explore opportunities to collaborate and double the size of Boeing’s supply chain in the country.
This could be worth tens of millions of pounds to the Scottish economy and could create 200 jobs over the next five years.
It is expected to create significant new opportunities for companies and universities across Scotland.
The Alliance will initially focus on sectors including space, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies; it will also explore joint sustainability initiatives in the aviation sector to support Scotland’s transition to a net zero economy by 2045.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This announcement represents another important milestone in Scotland’s manufacturing innovation journey.
“It is a strong endorsement of public-sector collaboration, building high-value supply chain relationships and embracing academic excellence to deliver for industry.”
Martin Donnelly, president of Boeing Europe and managing director of Boeing UK and Ireland (
www.boeing.com), 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 in 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.”
One of the initial activities supported by this new Alliance is an £11.8 million R&D project between Boeing and the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre.
This will see Boeing establish an R&D team in Scotland to look at metallic component manufacturing as the basis for future aircraft components.