Formal NHS Scotland partner InnoScot Health insists that the momentum created by Scotland’s inaugural National Innovation Week ‘must translate into meaningful, sustained action’.
The organisation believes the week (22-26 September) is “potentially transformative” for the country’s inward investment ambitions – but believes that it must be “just the start of a committed, systematic approach to attracting global interest” in Scotland’s many world-leading capabilities.
Innovation Commercialisation Manager Fiona Schaefer said: “National Innovation Week is a tremendous opportunity to showcase exactly what Scotland offers on the global stage, and what makes it so attractive to investors.
“It is also a great barometer of success, identifying where the successes have been and where the gaps must be closed.
“Our country has so much to offer – from life sciences breakthroughs, leading data and digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and technologies enabling the energy transition, to Scotland’s key role in shaping the industries of the future.
“Its vast bank of knowledge and accrued expertise is a huge asset, so we must make the most of Innovation Week’s busy calendar of events by turning it into the starting point for much more – the beginning of a legacy which solidifies Scotland’s reputation as a place to both innovate and do business.”
She added: “This major gathering of the ambitious and like-minded must be just the start of a committed, systematic approach to attracting global interest with learnings helping to draw out a roadmap for the meaningful, sustained action that needs to follow.”
InnoScot Health’s latest educational webinar, entitled ‘Accelerating healthcare innovation readiness through the vital procurement process’ is part of the Innovation Week calendar, helping to offer inspiration to healthcare’s forward thinkers on Wednesday 24 September.
It is one of many engaging events taking place from Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September, which will serve to throw the spotlight on the country’s rich heritage of world-leading breakthroughs and future growth strategy.
Featuring a centrepiece summit taking place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Thursday 25 September, the Innovation Week will showcase the country’s global leadership in pioneering the transformative technologies as well as its role in driving the industries of the future.
On the same day will be an online showcase of Project CAELUS – “a drone-enabled medical logistics network for NHS Scotland serving a variety of validated real-life use cases across urban and rural environments”.
Other life sciences and healthcare highlights include a Techscaler x NHS Innovation Hubs Webinar, including an introduction to NHS Scotland's three Innovation Hubs; a Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) open day at Heriot-Watt University; and BioDundee Business Brunch.
Fiona added: “We look forward to being part of National Innovation Week.
“It is our belief that, with the right support, NHS Scotland staff can be key to identifying health service improvements while playing an instrumental role in placing our country on the world map as a leading hub of clinical creativity.”
The week’s organisers note that “innovation is essential to drive progress, transform industries, improve lives, and tackle the grand challenges of our time”.
