Can Scotland forge a healthy start-up partnership? Chief entrepreneur Mark Logan on plans to boost the healthcare tech economy
20 October 2023
Good afternoon and welcome to the weekly Futurescot Newsletter, keeping you up-to-date with news and analysis across the public technology and innovation sector.?
In our lead story today, we bring you news of plans to forge a 'healthy partnership' between Scotland's tech sector and the NHS. Mark Logan, Scotland's chief entrepreneur, says the link-up between Techscaler - the nationwide tech education programme - and NHS Innovation Hubs will support the development of more tech startups from within healthcare.
Read the piece in full below as well the rest of our tech stories from the week. And don't forget to get in touch with your stories at [email protected]?or send a tweet or DM to?@futurescot_news, and please do share with your colleagues.
INNOVATION
Can Scotland forge a healthy start-up partnership?
Exclusive: Two constituencies came together in September for an event designed to stimulate activity in an emerging technology cluster. At the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, members of the tech community met with academics and medical experts involved in innovation in the NHS. The meeting was fronted by Mark Logan, Scotland’s “chief entrepreneur”, and Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, the Scottish Government’s chief scientific adviser for health, who has led calls for the faster adoption of innovation in healthcare.?MORE?
HEALTH
Healthcare innovators urged to sign up to NHS ‘clinical entrepreneur’ programme
Healthcare innovators in Scotland are being urged to sign up to an NHS ‘clinical entrepreneur’ programme. The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP) is designed to help healthcare professionals rapidly turn their ideas into new diagnostics and treatments for frontline service delivery. MORE?
STARTUPS
High-growth tech firms to be supported by new ￡100m venture capital fund
High-growth potential tech firms in Scotland and across the north of the UK will be supported by a new ￡100m venture capital fund. Par Equity announced its first close of ￡67m for the fund, with investments from Scottish National Investment Bank, Strathclyde Pension Fund and British Business Investments.?MORE?
ECONOMY
Scotland’s tech economy makes ‘significant strides’ but report highlights ongoing rural digital divide
Scotland’s tech economy has made ‘significant strides’ in the last 12 months but a new report has highlighted ongoing issues around the rural digital divide. The latest Local Digital Index by techUK has revealed the estimated 14,504 companies in Scotland’s tech sector – some 400,000 people – have grown by 2.8 per cent this year. MORE?
SKILLS
Northcoders seeks to boost digital skills provision in Scotland
Northcoders – a Manchester-based digital skills bootcamp – is promoting its programme in Scotland following the demise of CodeClan. The tech education firm is making its suite of courses ‘more accessible’ north of the Border, after Scotland’s digital skills academy collapsed in August. MORE?
AI
Workers in Scotland turning to generative AI to boost productivity, new research shows
Workers in Scotland are increasingly turning to generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT in order to boost productivity, new research has shown. Business consultancy Accenture’s latest UK labour force survey has shown office and remote workers are both using the technology – and report increased job satisfaction as a result.?MORE?
BUSINESS
Business group welcomes government plans for ‘impact test’ of new regulations
Business leaders in Scotland have welcomed government plans to introduce an ‘impact test’ for new regulations. The Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the Scottish Government’s implementation plan for a ‘new deal’ for businesses, claiming it will help ‘reset’ relations. MORE?
领英推荐
UPCOMING EVENTS
Digital Justice & Policing: 7 November, Glasgow
Digital and data are transforming the way we deliver justice services in Scotland, from an enhanced user experience for victims and witnesses, to better coordination of evidence between policing and the courts.?Register now to join us for Scotland’s only Justice & Policing conference??
DigitalScotland Summit: 21 November, Edinburgh
Bringing together digital and data professionals from across the public sector, DigitalScotland is the leading forum to hear about how digital and data are transforming the way our public services operate and fulfil their mission to be modern, responsive and designed around the needs of citizens.?Don't miss out, register now to secure your seat at the conference??
BRIEFINGS
Scotch distillers could save ￡30m by using 5G
Whisky distilleries in Scotland could save ￡30 million over five years by investing in 5G technology, a new report has found. The Scotland 5G Centre commissioned technical professional services firm Jacobs to explore the potential use of fifth-generation (5G) wireless network technology in whisky distilleries.?MORE?
Schools in south-east Scotland to receive environmental IoT sensors
All schools in south-east Scotland are to be equipped with environmental sensors connected to the country’s IoT (internet of things) Schools Network, the University of Edinburgh has said.
The work is taking place under a ￡9.5 million programme covering schools in Edinburgh, Fife, the Lothians and Borders.?MORE?
Scotland Turns Rubbish Bins Into Smart Sensors
Some 11,000 rubbish bins in the Scottish city of Edinburgh are now operating with smart sensors as part of the first phase of the capital’s smart city project. The sensors installed by U.K. IoT company North enable "clever waste management" by detecting waste levels and predicting usage trends, allowing the council to optimise collection and manage routes more efficiently. MORE?
PUBLIC SECTOR IT CONTRACTS
North Ayrshire Council awards roads AI software contract?
North Ayrshire Council has awarded a ￡119,000 'roads AI software' contract to Bury St Edmunds-based Vaisala Ltd. MORE?
Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service seeks digital jury case management system
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Services (SCTS) is seeking information regarding the design and development of an end-to-end digital jury case management system to capture the personal details and availability of potential jurors, issue jury citations, deal with excusal requests, issue automated notifications and reminders and provide the required lists of assize to ensure the availability of jurors for both the Sheriff and High Courts throughout Scotland. MORE?
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