Research and innovation at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences
Our knowledge sharing and place-based innovation strategy employs a quadruple (government, industry, academia, and civil society) helix approach that maximises impact for the natural economy in Scotland and beyond.
SRUC Research areas
At SRUC, we bring together academic, industry, and policy experts in collaborative research work that addresses some of the world's most significant challenges.
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Knowledge exchange projects at SNSS
Rural Policy Centre
Our Rural Policy Centre is a knowledge hub for rural Scotland. We engage and collaborate with researchers, businesses and communities to exchange ideas, share experiences and contribute evidence-based research to rural policy in Scotland.
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Vertical Farm
The Vertical Farm is an exciting, innovative farming solution at our King’s Buildings campus in Edinburgh that provides a fully controllable facility for researching crop growth.
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ONE Seedpod
ONE SeedPod is Scotland’s Food & Drink Innovation Hub operated by Opportunity North East (ONE) and opened with its first tenant in July 2025. It is a home for ambitious food and drink businesses to innovate, commercialise and grow faster.
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Dandelion Project
With the aim of re-establishing Harvest as an event on the national calendar, Dandelion brought together community development, horticulture, live music, learning, sustainable thinking and innovative arts practice to support the people of Scotland to sow, grow and share together.
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Principal's Research Group
The Principal's Research Group brings together plant breeding expertise from across SRUC to boost the productivity, sustainability and resilience of food systems across the world.
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SRUC Innovation Centres
With targeted teaching, research, and commercial programmes that develop practical skills and innovative mindsets, SRUC Innovation Centres combine new and existing innovation infrastructure projects across SRUC in order to deliver on our strategic goal of fostering a culture where sustainability and entrepreneurship are integrated into every aspect of learning, research, and enterprise.
More information on SRUC Innovation Centres is coming soon. In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about what our innovation centres are and what they can offer you, please get in touch with:
Malcolm Hosie, Head of Commercialisation and Innovation
Email: malcolm.hosie@sac.co.uk
Phone: 0131 603 7522
More from across the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences:
Study at SNSS
The SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences offers courses and programmes at all levels and uses innovative teaching methods to prepare students for work in horticulture, agriculture, business, natural capital, the food industry, and beyond.
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About SNSS
At the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences, we take a systems-based approach to addressing barriers to change in the natural economy. Our academic offerings, alongside research and industry, couples natural and social sciences to address development goals in Scotland, the UK, and across the globe.
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Explore more at SRUC
Study with us
With hundreds of courses across more than 20 disciplines, we provide the skills, experience and confidence you need to create a successful career.
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Business services
Our business services work across food supply chains and the natural economy to help clients rise to the challenge of climate change and scientific and technological transformation.
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Research
Working with industry and policy makers, our staff and students design, develop and deliver real-world change to benefit the global natural economy.
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