Construction is set to begin on “the world’s first MTB Innovation Centre based in Innerleithen, Scotland” this spring, 2026, with completion expected in 2027. A £15.5 million funding package (approximately $20.77 million USD) from the UK government was approved by the Borderlands Partnership Board for the development, the BBC reports. South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS), and Edinburgh Napier University have been working for years to secure £19 million ($25.5million USD) of Borderlands Inclusive Growth deal funding, but according to the BBC report, £15.5 million has been awarded so far.
The goal of the new centre is to create an estimated 401 jobs in Scotland and the Tweed Valley and “stimulate research into sustainable new products and practices for the industry,” according to DMBinS. They estimate that the centre will generate £141 million ($189 million USD) in economic value in the South of Scotland.
“This investment will take the work of the Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland to the next level, helping to drive innovation and support product research and development, whilst working with local and international companies,” said Professor Nick Antonopoulos, Vice Principal for Research and Innovation at Edinburgh Napier University.
45 MTB businesses projected to move to the South of Scotland
The new innovation centre is being built in the epicenter of UK mountain biking, and one of the top mountain bike destinations in Europe: the Tweed Valley. The region already has endless kilometers of incredible trails, and now, this innovation centre will double down on mountain bike industry support.
The centre is designed to grow a mountain bike industry cluster in the region by fostering R&D and providing commercial support to brands. “It will host bike brands with office spaces and offer a unique range of services from groundbreaking research to testing and prototyping,” according to DMBinS. They estimate that 45 businesses will relocate all or part of their operations to the South of Scotland.
While the mountain bike industry in Scotland is undoubtedly strong and will only get stronger with this new investment, this news comes hot on the heels of one of Scotland’s most established mountain bike brands’ departure from the country. In January, news broke that Endura had made many of their Scottish employees redundant following two consecutive years of financial losses. They’re relocating the remaining roles to a London office.
Pairing tourism with industrial development
In addition to building a massive industrial complex, there will also be an adjacent bike park and “trail lab” development, “which not only facilitates easy bike testing and development but attracts companies to live and work next to outstanding trails and support our rural communities to prosper in a sustainable way,” according to DMBinS. They’re calling this effort to “combine tourism with innovation” a “global first.”
Estimates call for 160,000 visits per year to “Scotland’s first bike park” and 40,000 additional bed nights by 2027.
“The innovation centre and adventure bike park will help grow the area’s profile and encourage sustainable business growth and development,” said Ed Shoote, Economic Development Specialist for SOSE. “The adventure bike park will deliver much-needed investment in infrastructure to manage the growing number of visitors to the area, while protecting and adding to the already fantastic trail network and attractions to ensure visitors spend more time in the area.”
“There is still a lot of work to do to realise this vision, and we will continue to work with the project partners and the local community to deliver the best project for the region,” said Shoote.
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