A US based optical components company, Kaiam Corporation, will generate 103 new jobs in Livingston, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced today (April 6, 2014) during Scotland Week.
Kaiam Corporation, headquartered in California, will relocate production facilities to Scotland from China and expand its existing Livingston site.
The project is being supported by an RSA grant of £850,000 from Scottish Enterprise.
Speaking from New York, the First Minister said:
“Scotland has a successful culture of private-public-academic collaborations, and this is continually proven to be a successful model for attracting inward investment across high growth industries. International companies recognise the benefit of our highly skilled workforce, continuous innovation and lower costs, teamed with extensive public sector support.
“In Scotland, there are 12 universities with over 400 researchers engaged in optoelectronics research. Today’s announcement will undoubtedly be a boost for the Livingston area and enhance Scotland’s optoelectronics industry.
“We are committed to support job growth and investment in this sector, an area where Scotland has been historically strong and will continue to strengthen. This is a company that clearly has global ambitions and I am delighted that Kaiam has decided to further invest in Scotland and in doing so securing jobs in Scotland for the long term.’
Minister for External Affairs Humza Yousaf will meet representatives from Kaiam Corporation as part of a visit to Vancouver and San Francisco to mark Scotland Week.
Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Enterprise, Lena Wilson, said:
“We’ve worked closely with Kaiam to support the expansion of their Livingstone facility with a £850k Regional Selective Assistance grant which in turn will create 103 new jobs and safeguard another 65.
“With Scottish universities undertaking about 50% of the UK’s Optoelectronics / Photonics research we have no shortage of graduates in this area, making us an ideal location for Optoelectronics / Photonics inward investment. We have 39 optoelectronics companies operating in Scotland, employing around 3500 people and generating a turnover of £660 million, making this a significant industry for Scotland’s economy. By investing in Kaiam’s future now, the company can accelerate its growth plans in Scotland and create real value for both the local community and Scotland’s economy as a whole.”