Prince Andrew Opens Scottish Development International Office in Silicon Valley.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2002

HRH Prince Andrew, The Duke of York formally opened a Silicon Valley office today for Scottish Development International to further expand existing international trade and investment ties between Scotland and California and the Western United States. The San Jose office, run by Scotland's national economic development agency, offers a variety of services to Scottish companies looking to conduct business in the Western United States and parts of Canada. It also promotes Scotland to technology companies in those same areas, not only as an attractive strategic partner, but also as an ideal investment location.

"I am pleased to be here in San Jose on behalf of Scottish Development International," said HRH The Duke of York. "This office will further enhance the already strong links between Silicon Valley here in California and Silicon Glen in Scotland, which are both hubs of technological innovation. It will also further enhance the well developed links between Scotland and the whole of the Western United States."

Scotland already has longstanding ties with Silicon Valley and the state of California:

-- More than 90 California-based high technology companies, including Sun
Microsystems, Cisco Systems and Solectron have significant operations in
Scotland.

-- Many of Scotland's premier high tech companies including Kymata, Pixcel and
Scottish Power are doing business in California.

-- Geron, of Menlo Park, California owns and operates the world-renowned Roslin
Institute in Scotland. Roslin is one of the world's leading biotechnology
research and development entities.

-- Edinburgh University recently entered into a five-year collaboration with
Stanford University to work on speech recognition technology.

-- During a 1999 visit to Scotland, California Governor Gray Davis signed an
agreement to stimulate profitable business alliances between California and
Scottish technology companies.

-- Scotland opened its first economic development office in California in 1980.

"We are honored that the Duke of York could join us to launch this office. His visit is helping focus attention on Scotland not simply as a high value-added manufacturing and marketing springboard into Europe, or producer of exports, but as a hub for high-caliber research, innovation and technology," said Ellen Stallins, acting director of North American operations for Scottish Development International. "With real skills and strengths in semiconductor design and development, world renowned medical and biotechnology excellence and an emphasis on the value of R&D, locating in Scotland is already an attractive business proposition."

Scotland is taking a radical new approach to selling itself as a business partner in today's global economy by shifting its focus from concentrating solely on exports and securing traditional inward investment to focus on the principles of "knowledge in" and "knowledge out" of Scotland. The goal is to raise Scotland's profile as a world-class center of technological innovation and research. Wendy Alexander, Scottish Minister for Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport, will visit California in early April to further this agenda.

"Scotland has a long tradition of inventiveness," said Stallins. "From the television and the fax machine to discovering the p53 tumor suppressor gene, Scotland has been at the forefront of technological innovation. Our new approach involves bringing Scottish knowledge, skills and ideas to the rest of the world with the aim of getting more Scottish companies, organizations and academic institutions engaged in the global economy through alliances, strategic partnerships and trading links."

As part of a global network, Scottish Development International is headquartered in Glasgow, has offices in the U.S., Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region. Within the U.S., Scottish Development International has offices in Stamford, CT, Chicago, IL, Herndon, VA, Houston, TX, Orlando, FL and San Jose, CA. Each office provides Scottish companies with a variety of "STAR Center" support services to help them develop business relationships and market their technology and products in North America and develop contacts with U.S. venture capitalists and academic institutions. The offices also work with North American companies that are seeking to source research and development or expand operations in Scotland.

The San Jose office serves the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Located at 226 Airport Parkway, its field staff is led by Kevin Doyle, Jaclyn Mason and Patrick Johnson. The office phone number is 408/436-5520.

For more information on Scottish Development International, please visit the web site at www.scottishdevelopmentinternation.com.

For high resolution photographs of the Scottish Development International San Jose office opening, please contact Jason Khoury 415/354-8391 / [e-mail].