Symbolising the green credentials of ACE, Mr Finnie unveiled a plaque made from recycled yoghurt pots, using a drape made from 100% recyclable materials.

The centre will provide expert help in developing new, more environmentally friendly products and services, benefiting sectors such as manufacturing, food and drink, tourism and culture and leisure.

Abertay was ranked as the best university in Scotland for environmental science research, and among the top five in the UK, in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, with the environmental science team attracting more than £7 million in external funding in the last four years.

Mr Finnie enthused, “The Abertay Centre for the Environment demonstrates what can be achieved when the interests of academia, enterprise and the environment come together.

“The centre is developing ideas which make a real difference on the ground.

“Through using their imagination they are deriving real answers to the questions of how to make our planet more sustainable.

“The resources being developed at Abertay are making a real difference to businesses here in Dundee and further afield. I wish this unique collaboration every success.”

ACE, which has been operating since last year, is helping more than 100 companies, creating or protecting upwards of 100 jobs across eastern Scotland.

Director of ACE Professor Kevan Gartland, said, “We are working to help Scots businesses of all types to realise the economic and environmental benefits that can be achieved.

“At the same time, we are also helping Scots firms secure a share of the rapidly-growing global market for environmental technology, currently estimated to be worth some 355 billion dollars a year but predicted to grow to at least 620 billion dollars by 2010.

“The Scottish Executive has always promoted sustainable development through bodies such as the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum, and ACE works within this national framework to help Scottish businesses play their part in achieving sustainability.”

Professor Bernard King, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay, added, “This week, of course, is G8 Scotland at Gleneagles, which will be much concerned with discussions on environ-mental sustainability and the efficient management of natural resources.

“I have no doubt that, post-G8 Scotland, we will need to develop even further our national agenda on these very important issues and I look forward to the contribution that ACE and Abertay can make in this regard.”

Mr Finnie met representatives of companies, ACE scientists and other local business people, before touring the centre’s laboratories.

Abertay set up ACE with £2.13 million in grants from the European Regional Development Fund.

The university plans to invest a further £2.5 million in developing ACE as a knowledge centre to help SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) produce new, more environmentally-friendly products and services, by providing access to Abertay’s 85 environmental science research and development staff.

These include experts in the SIMBIOS bio-modelling centre, the Urban Water Technology Centre, and research teams in plant bio-technology, microbiology, environmental chemistry and medical bioscience.