April 2024 Newsletter

South-East Scotland NHS Innovation Intrapreneur Course – Limited places!

Limited places remain for our one-day course on Thursday, 30th May 2024 at The National Robotarium to discover the world of “Innovation Intrapreneurship” and learn how you can contribute and inspire others in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the NHS through the co-production of innovative products, services, and processes. NHS staff/students, local authority, academic and industry partners are invited from across the South East Scotland region (Borders, Fife, and Lothian only) regardless of banding, role, profession, or discipline. We welcome all who have a passion for problem solving and thinking outside of the box!

NHS Fife and St Andrews Innovation Creativity & Innovation Cafe

NHS Fife and St Andrews Innovation will be hosting a Creativity & Innovation Cafe in May 2024 at the Eden Innovation Campus. They will focus on the current challenges facing the NHS with emphasis on the priorities identified by NHS Fife. Based on World Café methodology the Cafe is an interactive process for stimulating conversations, enabling group work with different people, on different topics.  The Café consists of several rounds, giving everyone the opportunity to contribute their thoughts, ideas, suggestions, and perspectives. By the end of the Creativity & Innovation Café, there should be some potential joint projects identified for tackling challenges and delivering innovation and 5 initial steps that need to be taken to get projects off the ground.

The University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator – Applications Open!

The University of Edinburgh AI Accelerator is now open for applications for the 2024/25 cohort. Interested in taking part in the AI Accelerator? Come along and find out more about the programme and the selection process. Applications will be open from 8th April until 19th May 2024. Information sessions will take place on Tuesday 23rd April 2024 (Online only – Teams) from 16:00 – 16:45 and Wednesday 3rd May 2024 (In Person Only – Bayes Centre) from 15:00 -15:45. Don’t miss out! The next AI Accelerator programme will be focused around 3 key themes:

• AI for climate change
• AI for health
• AI for social benefit

Techscaler Annual Report 2023

Techscaler are pleased to share their first annual report, which reveals they have supported over 500 startups in the first year of the Techscaler programme. The CSO and Techscaler partnership enhances collaboration between academia, industry, and the NHS to develop innovative healthcare solutions and entrepreneurship.

British Heart Foundation Healthcare Innovation Fund 2024/25 Application Process Open

Through the Healthcare Innovation Fund, British Heart Foundation (BHF) is seeking to test and evaluate innovative approaches to the delivery of improved services for patients with cardiovascular disease. By innovative approaches we mean the application of an idea that is not considered to be routine practice elsewhere in the NHS. The BHF are seeking applications on ideas that have been:

• scoped by an appropriate group of stakeholders and are ready to be tested and evaluated in practice or,
• tested locally by an appropriate group of stakeholders and are ready for early stage of scaling.

Applications must be support by an NHS Scotland Innovation Hub. Applications open on Monday, 15th April 2024 and close at 12noon on Monday, 12th June 2024.

NHS Scotland adopts Quris nationally

NHS Scotland has adopted the Quris Clinical Companion platform across all health boards to deliver national and local decision support resources (guidelines, protocols, pathways, policies and more). Quris improves front-line staff productivity by providing clinicians with quick and easy access to the right information, at the right time, all the time. Clinicians across all NHS health boards in Scotland now have easy access to clinical guidelines and validated decision support tools using Quris Clinical Companion via the Right Decision Service (RDS), built on the Quris platform. The RDS is a once-for-Scotland national project funded by the Scottish Government and run by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Read more capacity during winter.

NIHR i4i Webinar Recording: Call for New MedTech Funding Applications

The recording of the NIHR i4i Webinar: Call for New MedTech Funding Applications which took place on Wednesday 27th March 2024 is now available to view online. Invention for Innovation (i4i) is the NIHR translational research funding programme for medtech innovations. The stage 1 deadline for Product Development Awards Call 28 is 1pm on 29th May 2024.

Guidance for NHS Boards seeking to develop mechanisms for considering advice on health technologies

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG), part of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and the Scottish Government have published a guide for NHS boards seeking to put in place formal processes to receive, consider and communicate SHTG advice. The guide supports Boards to develop a mechanism that will work well within their structures, matches their available skills, facilitates decision making and accountability, and promotes local ownership.

Developing a formal process for the consideration of SHTG advice is intended to support Boards to:

• optimise patient outcomes and safety;
• ensure value for money, through efficiency savings and improved resource utilisation;
• identify health and care system benefits;
• enhance the consistency and transparency of decision making on health technologies and thereby increasing understanding of issues around equity of access.

Connecting Scotland’s Healthcare Buyer & Supplier Community

Officially supported by NHS National Services Scotland, P4H Scotland – the Procurement Event for Health 2024 ‒ connects buyers and suppliers from across Scotland’s healthcare procurement community – worth more than £2.5bn annually. Registration is now open, taking place at Murrayfield Stadium on Thursday 25th April 2024. Free to attend for the public sector, P4H Scotland will bring together over 800 key decision makers and provides a unique platform for networking, collaboration, education, and innovation.

With the theme this year of Working Together for the People of Scotland, this is s a unique event that enables all stakeholders to learn about the latest developments shaping the future of Scotland’s healthcare procurement – featuring skills development, networking, collaboration and product showcase opportunities for public sector buyers and private sector organisations alike.

Four Scottish universities to benefit from £1 billion investment in new technologies

Four Scottish universities will benefit from a UK-wide £1 billion investment in new technologies including AI, green tech, quantum computing, semiconductors, and telecoms. The universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, and Heriot-Watt will all be supported through a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding package unleashing new innovation. Under the plans, 65 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) centres for doctoral training (CDTs) totalling more than £1 billion will be established across the UK.

MDMC Annual Conference 2024

Join the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC) for the highly anticipated 3rd Annual Conference on Thursday 23rd May 2024 from 9:30 – 16:00. This exclusive event brings together key players from the industry, NHS, and academia for discussions on the cutting-edge services shaping the life sciences and healthcare sector. Explore unique insights into NHS and Scottish government initiatives, discover the innovative services offered by MDMC, and stay ahead with the latest advancements from industry leaders. Whether you’re seeking the newest MedTech updates or valuable tips for business growth, seize this unparalleled opportunity to network with fellow professionals, companies, and stakeholders within the vibrant Scottish life sciences and healthcare community.

Software as a Medical Device (SaMD): Key considerations for SaMD success

Digital transformation by Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) in medicine and healthcare is not just a potential, it is a reality that is rapidly shaping the future of healthcare. With the increasing use of devices and data, we are seeing a transformation in how health is identified, monitored, diagnosed, triaged, managed, and treated.

This article will highlight the essentials of SaMD, so you can better understand what it is, how it works, and why your medical practice or healthcare business would benefit from its integration into your daily activities.

Royal College of Emergency Medicine Industry Research Symposium

Taking place in central London on Thursday 23rd May 2024, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Industry Research Symposium will explore the capacity and potential for commercial research in Emergency Medicine settings. The day will facilitate meaningful networking and collaboration among diverse stakeholders interested in advancing emergency care through innovative research and industry partnerships.

The Scotsman Annual Data Conference: Data, Deepfakes and Democracy

Data and artificial intelligence have played an increasingly prominent role in elections in recent years. 2024 is packed with democratic elections, in countries including the UK, United States and India, but what impact will data and AI have – both positive and negative? The Scotsman Annual Data Conference is back for 2024 and the website is now live to book your free ticket.  This event will take place on Thursday 26th September 2024 at The Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh.

Secure your FREE place at Public Sector Digital Transformation 2024

Holyrood Connect’s 11th annual flagship Digital Transformation event for the Scottish Public Sector will be returning on 11th June 2024, at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. The trend of digital transformation shows no sign of slowing as more and more organisations across Scotland shift their systems to digital.

During the event, you will hear from senior government speakers and thought leaders within the public sector to learn about the progress of the Digital Strategy for Scotland. You will also hear engaging discussions surrounding the shifting landscape of public sector organisations and the foundations needed for a successful digital transition.

Latest funding opportunities

https://hises.edinburghbioquarter.com/funding/

Check out the latest health and care funding opportunities from across the sector on the funding section of our website.