News
£125,000 Microfinance Fund launched to boost Scotland’s academic innovation pipeline
The Scottish Government and Converge have today joined forces to launch a new £125,000 Microfinance Fund aimed at accelerating Scotland’s pipeline of academic start-ups.
Designed to help students, graduates and university staff take that all important first step towards starting a business, the new initiative will allocate £5,000 to each of Scotland’s 19 universities with grants distributed through university channels.
Tech top of agenda for deputy first minister on Canada trade visit
The tech sector will be top of the agenda for a forthcoming trade visit by deputy first minister Kate Forbes to Canada – which she hopes will encourage investment into Scotland. Forbes jets to Toronto and Nova Scotia today where she will meet banks and assets managers – with a focus on getting more investment into Scotland through key sectors such as digital technology, fintech, renewables and clean energy.
Source: FUTURESCOT
New innovation framework launched to drive Scotland’s bold vision
The Innovation Collaboration Framework, published by Innovate UK, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, aims to help Scotland realise its bold vision to become one of the most innovative small nations in the world.
Converge 2025: Awards, Record Funding and New Partnership
Converge has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards, from life-saving food safety technology to breakthrough medical devices, with 22 prizes sharing a total prize pot in excess of £400,000.
This year’s cohort celebrates another exceptional year of university-led innovation, demonstrating Scotland’s position at the forefront of global entrepreneurship and research commercialisation.
Associate feature: A Manifesto for Health and Growth
Every advance in medicines – from vaccines to treatments that extend life – depends on strong partnerships between government, the NHS, academia and industry. This “triple helix” drives Scotland’s life sciences growth, contributing over £1.7 billion to the economy and supporting 15,000 high-value jobs.
Source: Holyrood
Scottish Government backs 'innovative industries' with £5 million
The Scottish Government has announced a nearly £5m investment package backing businesses in innovative industries.
It will provide more than £2m of support for new market clusters set out in Scotland’s Innovation Strategy, including space, robotics and critical technologies like semiconductors and quantum systems.
Source: Business Insider
Innovation must remain ‘Scotland’s greatest export’, says business secretary
Innovation must remain “Scotland’s greatest export”, business secretary Richard Lochhead has said as the first National Innovation Week begins. More than 80 events are set to take place across the country over the next five days, with more than 200 delegates expected to attend an Innovation Summit in Edinburgh on Thursday.
Source: STV News
Scotland’s National Innovation Summit, Celebrating Scottish Innovation
Business Minister Richard Lochhead has announced Scotland’s first National Innovation Week will take place later this year..
Taking place from Monday 22 September to Friday 26 September, it will celebrate Scotland’s proud legacy of innovation while showcasing the country’s global leadership in pioneering the transformative technologies and industries of the future.
Scottish Health-Tech Trade Mission Heads to Japan
A trade mission from Scotland’s health technology sector is set to visit Japan next week to strengthen trade and innovation ties and promote Scottish expertise on the world stage. Led by health secretary Neil Gray, the delegation will feature a host of forward-thinking health-tech firms highlighting Scotland’s strengths in digital health and life sciences at a series of events, including Japan Health 2025 in Osaka and a programme at the UK Pavilion at Expo 2025.
Source: DIGIT
Boosting university spin-outs
New initiatives taking advantage of Scotland’s world-class reputation as an innovation nation have been announced by the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. A new package of funding has been launched to help transform Scottish university and college spin-outs into growing businesses. Just over £4.5 million will be split across the Proof of Concept Fund, the Spinout Pipeline Project, the Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint, and a scheme to help prepare future generations for careers in tech-based businesses.