Key Industry
Assets
Digital Business Services
Emerging Digital District
Clackmannanshire Council and its partners are pushing forward plans to deliver a Digital Hub, as part of the City Region Deal, in the heart of the county. A Digital Hub will provide high-quality and tailored space for digital tech businesses to develop products, grow their business, receive sectoral advice and support and collaborate with peers and academia.
Sciences
Intergenerational Living Innovation Hub (ILIH)
A partnership between Clackmannanshire Council and the University of Stirling under the City Region Deal, The ILIH is a multi-million pound research and development platform that will respond to the demands of an ageing population, transforming the narrative from one of challenge to opportunity. Through pioneering novel approaches to ways of living, working and socialising, the hub will co-create the solutions necessary to support an ageing society in adapting to its changing demographics.
Energy Transition
Regional Energy Masterplan
Supporting the region’s vision for a strategic whole systems approach to energy, the Scottish Government will support the development of a Regional Energy Masterplan. This will be developed by Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils, in close consultation with the Scottish Government, to identify opportunities with clear economic potential building on previous work.
Film & Television
Clackmannanshire has magnificent scenery and a range of monuments and backdrops to complement any production. Clackmannanshire has already featured in Hollywood blockbusters like Cloud Atlas, and a variety of television series, and our proximity to Stirling’s new film studios and other production centres in central Scotland mean that Clackmannanshire has much to offer.
Transformation of Chemical Industries
Diageo Brand Technical Centre work is underway to increase the proportion of recyclable packaging of Diageo products to 100%, while efforts around biodiesel for glass production demonstrates potential synergies across industrial sectors within the county.
O-I Glass as part of global efforts to reduce glass waste, the creation of glass is increasingly utilising reclaimed glass for recycling into new glass products, with an ambition for 50% recyclate content in furnaces by 2030.
Air Products is a new business to Clackmannanshire, located adjacent to the O-I glassworks in Alloa. Their production process separates Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon from air for industrial processes. Local production of these elements will strengthen the local supply chain, reducing emissions from transport.
A Powerhouse of Innovation and Invention
Clackmannanshire’s ideal location, supportive business infrastructure and dynamic workforce provide businesses like yours with the flexibility it needs to think outside the box and discover new ideas. From chemical sciences to digital technology to manufacturing, the county’s versatility provides fertile ground for collaboration, innovation and discovery.
Traditional strengths in hydrocarbons have opened opportunities to forge a new energy future for Scotland and the wider world. The area is home to a growing cluster of renewable energy businesses that are pioneering the way towards a low-carbon economy.
Innovating for Sustainability
Local examples include:
Green Skills Training Limited – Established in August 2024, Green Skills Training Limited is proudly rooted in the heart of Clackmannanshire, serving as a pioneering training academy dedicated to building skills for a sustainable future. Responding to the growing demand for quality training, we specialise in health & safety, installation, and servicing across the onshore wind, retrofit, environmental, and construction industries. Our state-of-the-art facility will serve as Clackmannanshire’s first fully operational green commercial property, showcasing cutting-edge renewable technologies such as underfloor heating, heat pumps, solar panels, battery storage, and EV charging. Green Skills Training are already shaping the workforce of tomorrow with accredited training in onshore wind apprenticeships, drone operations, and domestic energy assessments—equipping individuals with the expertise to power both community prosperity and the renewable energy transition.
GreenPower – Formed in 2000, GreenPower is one of the leading independent renewewable energy developers in the UK, developing, owning and operating renewable energy technologies including onshore wind, solar, hydro and green hydrogen.
Technological Advances in Lateral Flow Development
Lateral Dx is ideally located within Clackmannanshire’s emerging biotech hub, alongside Accubio and LumiraDx. The company specialises in the development and manufacture of lateral flow tests for a wide range of industries. With a focus on high-quality, cost-effective solutions, Lateral Dx supports businesses and academic groups through tailored development, manufacturing, and consultancy services. Their team brings extensive expertise across veterinary, human clinical, environmental, and aquaculture applications. Continually innovating, Lateral Dx ensures customers have access to the latest advances in rapid diagnostics, helping accelerate the journey from concept to market.
Investment in Innovation
As part of the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, the UK and Scottish Governments will commit £39 million to support the development of innovation initiatives, including:
Scotland’s International Environment Centre (SIEC) – A collaboration between the University of Stirling and Clackmannanshire Council, SIEC is driving the creation of a net-zero regional economy across the Forth Valley, developing a global exemplar of low-carbon growth. Based in Alloa, SIEC is unlocking new opportunities for employment and skills development.
Bringing together scientists, practitioners, policy makers and business with state-of-the-art research, business incubation, education and training facilities, SIEC places collaboration at the heart of efforts to develop regional growth in Clackmannanshire, and throughout central Scotland.
Clackmannanshire Digital Hub will create an educational eco-system with digital skills and inclusion at its heart. The hubs will build upon other recent local successes in this sector and enable further growth of local digital companies.
