An innovation hub supporting 13,000 jobs will be built at Queen Margaret University in East Lothian, the university’s principal professor has confirmed.

The university intends to submit plans to East Lothian Council for the £80 million development adjacent to the university campus, which it says will drive sustainable economic development in the area.

The university says it has identified food and drink, entrepreneurship and creative industry, and biomedical and enabling technologies for rehabilitation as key areas of innovation and growth.

The development will begin with the construction of a 5,000sqm “innovation centre”, followed by a range of other commercial and residential facilities.

QMU principal and vice-chancellor Petra Wend said: “We have drawn on international best practice in developing our plans.

“A £1 billion city region deal bid has been submitted by Edinburgh and the south east area of Scotland which concentrates on the region’s strengths of knowledge culture and technology.

“Although still in its early stage, we are confident that if the deal progresses our proposals would be relevant for inclusion.

“QMU has a key role as a catalyst to attract high growth SMEs to East Lothian and to work with them to achieve Scotland’s economic aspirations in partnership with industry bodies, other learning institutions and Government Agencies.

“To achieve this potential, the land adjacent to our campus must be retained for the development of specialist facilities needed to support business growth.”