Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC)
Opened in 2024 by HRH The Princess Royal, the Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre (RAVIC) is SRUC’s new £12.5m facility developing new links between science and industry to help address planetary health challenges and grow the natural economy.
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RAVIC will provide critical expertise and infrastructure to better manage planetary health challenges including antimicrobial resistance, zoonoses, and the effects of climate change through applied research, innovation, education, and consultancy.
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RAVIC is an SRUC flagship initiative at the interface of farming, aquaculture, animal and human health, creating opportunities for collaborative entrepreneurship, commercial development and education.
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RAVIC will complement the vibrant, thriving life sciences sector already established in Inverness, providing opportunities for synergy and collaborations between local knowledge-based institutions, regional businesses and national partners looking to develop activity in the region.
Current residents
RAVIC houses SRUC’s existing Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health, providing world leading expertise in data science, epidemiology, animal health, infectious disease control and zoonotic disease. This team works closely with colleagues in teaching, SAC Consulting and SRUC Veterinary Services to capitalise on emerging applied funding opportunities, helping sustain rural communities and businesses by creating and retaining high value jobs.
RAVIC also forms a part of SRUC’s new Veterinary School of Medicine enabling place-based learning opportunities for the next generation of veterinarians, addressing longstanding regional employment shortages in the sector.
An eco-friendly building
Sustainability was central to the building’s design, reflecting SRUC’s commitment to preserving Scotland’s natural economy and resources. The energy used for heating is 10% that of an equivalently sized building due to high levels of insulation, airtightness, and heat recovery units. Altogether this translates to annual carbon emissions that are 50-75% lower than those of notional buildings of a similar size, and a lifetime reduction in carbon emissions exceeding 335,000kg. The design of the building was undertaken by Inverness-based Threesixty Architecture.
Onsite expertise
RAVIC, part of the SRUC School of Veterinary Medicine, provides a base for SAC Consulting and SRUC Veterinary Services across the North of Scotland and is home to SRUC’s Centre for Epidemiology and Planetary Health Research (CEPH).
Brochure and contacting us
RAVIC brochure
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Contact RAVIC
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Accessing RAVIC
Learn about the options for accessing RAVIC.
Virtual Membership
Minimum monthly fee, low barrier to entry. Great fit for entrepreneurs, new start businesses and SMEs. It is ideal for intermittent access to RAVIC facilities and expertise.
Hot desking
Up to 8 desks available in a communal office. It provides a flexible, secure base of operations, with daily or monthly hire options available.
Tenancy
Five fully serviced, secure business units for those requiring larger space and regular building access. We have six month+ lease options available, with 24/7 entry.
RAVIC in SRUC news:
Royal opening for RAVIC
RAVIC, pioneering new hub established to drive innovation and job creation in Scotland’s health, agriculture and aquaculture sectors, has been officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in Inverness.
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Innovators wanted to help boost rural economy
Businesses and entrepreneurs are being sought to take up residence in a multi-million pound innovation centre creating new links between science and industry in rural Scotland.
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Rural Enterprise Hubs: creating a home for business and communities
Supporting Scotland’s rural and island communities in ways that make financial sense while also benefitting those living and working locally requires a thought-out approach and careful planning. That’s where Rural Enterprise Hubs can come into their own.
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Inverness Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre takes next step
SRUC has submitted a planning application for its Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre on the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) Inverness Campus.
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SRUC Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre gets go-ahead
Highland Council has approved plans for the development of an £11 million Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre for SRUC on the Inverness campus.
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