Tag: Scotland’s National Innovation Week

New partnership to support innovation and entrepreneurship

Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College announce collaboration

A new effort to support innovation and enterprise across the south-east of Scotland has been announced by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU), Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College, as part of Scotland’s National Innovation Week.

The three institutions have agreed a collaborative partnership with the aim of developing the region’s innovation, enterprise and skills through improved connectivity with academic expertise and support.

The focus of the partnership will be to support innovation and entrepreneurship in line with nationwide plans to boost Scotland’s economic development.

The agreement will enhance work towards ambitions laid out in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland Regional Innovation Action Plan, the Scottish Government’s National Innovation Strategy and its Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint, by strengthening entrepreneurial skills and networks across Scotland.

There will also be increased collaboration around knowledge exchange and innovation projects, which aim to bring academic expertise to businesses and organisations that could benefit from it.

This new agreement follows the recent expansion of ENU’s enterprise hub Bright Red Triangle (BRT), to offer specialist support to Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh College students and alumni. Since its formation in 2005, BRT has supported more than 1,000 start-ups and freelancers from the ENU community from its Start Up Studio in Edinburgh.

Some of the early collaborative work as part of the partnership will include:

  • Entrepreneurial support to our collective community of over 60,000 students, building on the successful BRT partnership launched in October 2024
  • Regional upskilling and innovation to support SME and public sector bodies
  • Delivery against the Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint
  • Pilot of a Knowledge Exchange Concordat across the partner institutions

Professor Gary Hutchison, Assistant Principal (External Engagement) at Edinburgh Napier University said: “We are delighted to commit to this new partnership between our institutions – building on our shared enterprise services by developing an integrated innovation pathway to support the region’s companies and public sector agencies.

“Edinburgh Napier University has a strong track record of supporting entrepreneurs to take their innovative ideas to the next level.

“This collaboration will build on the expertise of all three institutions, with an overall aim of contributing to Scotland’s economic development, while benefiting our students, communities and industry partners.”

Professor Richard Butt, Deputy Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting partnership which will elevate the role of skills development as a pathway to innovation – whether that be through support for student, graduate and staff enterprise or research and knowledge exchange collaborations across our HE and FE colleagues, local businesses and organisations.

“The new partnership also allows us to focus on delivering impact in community wealth building, to support the generation, circulation and retention of wealth in our local economy.

“We look forward to working with our Edinburgh Napier University and Edinburgh College colleagues to enhance our collaborative approaches and improve our economic impact locally, regionally and nationally.”

Mike Jeffrey, Vice Principal Corporate Development at Edinburgh College, said: “This new partnership presents an exciting opportunity for Edinburgh College to strengthen our existing support for entrepreneurship and innovation across our student body, alumni network, and wider industry connections.  

“In today’s fast-paced economy, it is essential to equip students with entrepreneurial capabilities alongside technical and vocational expertise.

“r4At Edinburgh College, we work with a broad network of organisations to ensure our students are not only prepared to excel in their chosen professions but are also empowered to become the innovators who will shape the future.

“Through collaborating with our university partners to share knowledge, resource and expertise, we look forward to further embedding a culture of knowledge exchange throughout our college community.”

Scotland’s new health and social care app

MyCare is set to be rolled out to Scots in Spring

MyCare.scot, Scotland’s new health and social care online app, will be made available to everyone across Scotland from April 2026, following an initial launch in Lanarkshire in December.

The new online service will transform how people access and interact with health and social care services. Users will be provided with a secure digital identity, access to some personal information and the national service finder from NHS inform.

The initial launch in Lanarkshire will be targeted at dermatology outpatients. It will be evaluated thoroughly, with the app’s development reflecting user feedback and experience before being rolled out progressively across Scotland from April.

Following initial roll-out, MyCare will be expanded to hospital-based services, before including other areas of the health and social care system, including GP practices, pharmacy, social work and social care.

Today’s announcement coincides with the final day of Scotland’s National Innovation Week. Once the rollout is complete, MyCare will be the most wide-ranging app offered to patients anywhere in the UK.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “MyCare.scot is the single biggest digital innovation in Scotland’s health and social care system and will revolutionise how people manage and receive their healthcare.

“The introduction of this app will be a landmark moment for Scotland and aligns with the commitments this Government has made to bringing down waiting lists, and making care more personal and closer to home.

“Our initial launch in NHS Lanarkshire will help us ensure the MyCare app is robust, safe, secure, and meets peoples’ needs. I am delighted we will then see a population-wide rollout from April and we have today published a high-level summary rollout plan setting out our approach.

“We have worked closely with NHS Education for Scotland and key stakeholders to develop MyCare.scot, and I want to thank everyone who has worked hard to help us reach this stage and to ensure we deliver rollout of the app across the country from April.” 

Further information is available at Digital Front Door – Digital Healthcare Scotland

Scottish Government: Embracing the economic potential of AI

Support to help businesses harness artificial intelligence

A new programme helping Scottish companies seize the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched.

Supported by nearly £1 million of Scottish Government funding, it will offer small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) a range of support – including tailored consultancy services and grants – to introduce or expand the use of AI in order to develop new products and services, grow market share and attract new investment.

The programme will be delivered by enterprise agencies – Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise – together with The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence and the Scottish AI Alliance.

It is the first initiative to be delivered as part of AI Scotland, a transformation programme designed to support the adoption of AI. Businesses can find out more about support available on the Find Business Support website.

To launch the programme, Business Minister Richard Lochhead visited the Edinburgh Trams depot at Gogarburn in Edinburgh. Edinburgh Trams has been working with Edinburgh-based technology consultants Integrated Human Factors to develop a wearable fatigue monitoring device.

The Minister said: “Artificial intelligence is a hugely powerful, rapidly-evolving tool that can support and drive our economy. It can enable businesses to work smarter, to innovate and empower and support its workforces. The project being developed by Integrated Human Factors and Edinburgh Trams is a great example of this.

“This national programme will help ensure SMEs across the country have the right support and guidance in place to explore and develop how the adoption of AI could support expansion, competitiveness and open new markets. I’d urge all businesses to find out more about the support and guidance now available to them.

“The programme also marks an important first step in establishing AI Scotland, a true partnership bringing together expertise from across the public and private sectors to help ensure our economy, and indeed our society, is well placed to harness AI as a tool for economic growth and a force for good across society.”

Managing Director of Productivity & Business Growth at Scottish Enterprise Rhona Allison said: “The potential for AI to drive efficiency and productivity gains and increase companies’ competitiveness is immense. Yet research shows that three quarters of Scottish SMEs aren’t using any AI technologies and don’t have plans to adopt AI in the short term.

“We understand that businesses might be finding it difficult knowing where to start on AI adoption. That’s why the delivery partners have drawn on their experience to develop this ambitious Scotland-wide programme.

“It highlights the transformative potential of AI, considers the challenges of adoption, and makes practical support available to companies looking to embed AI in their operations.”

The Business Minister announced the national AI adoption programme as part of Scotland’s National Innovation Week. 

National Innovation Week