FIRST MINISTER Alex Salmond opened the University of Edinburgh’s new Informatics Forum during a ceremony on September 3.

The £43 million, six-story building will be dedicated to the study of computer science, artificial intelligence and cognitive sciences. It will bring together 500 scientists and provide a home for what has become the UK’s leading computer science school and among the best four in the world.

As the building is mainly used for research, undergraduate students will rarely see inside it. 

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland has firmly established its place as a world leader in informatics and the development of this impressive new facility reinforces our commitment to research in this area. “This £42 million project will act as a hub for the academic, commercial and civil development of a range of informatics disciplines ranging from e-science and medicine to business and humanities.

“The Scottish Government is committed to promoting excellence and innovation - building on research and scientific excellence in Scotland’s universities to promote sustainable economic growth. I am delighted to officially open this new centre of excellence, it will advance Scotland and the University of Edinburgh’s position as a world leader in the new science of informatics and it will also have enormous benefits to both industry and commerce.”

Professor Michael Fourman, Head of the School of Informatics, said: “We are delighted to formally open the Informatics Forum. Bringing together our first-rate researchers into this collaborative environment will enable new research, building on the successes of the School to date.”

Salmond toured the new building immediately after unveiling this year’s legislative programme to the Scottish Parliament, where there was fierce debate among MSPs over his controversial plans for a Local Income Tax and other policies.