April 2025 Newsletter

National Contract Awarded to Industry Partner working with HISES

In 2023, The South East Innovation Hub (HISES), funded through the Chief Scientists Office (CSO), completed Phase 2 of a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) challenge competition, Kindocoin: Creating digitally connected communities focusing on avoiding delayed discharges from hospital. We are delighted to announce that one of the five industry partners who participated in the SBRI challenge TeamKinetic, has been awarded a national contract to customise the new Volunteer Management System (VMS) for NHS Scotland Volunteering teams. The SBRI challenge centred around reducing delayed hospital discharges by harnessing the support of volunteers and third sector organisations — a powerful example of how collaboration drives meaningful change.

NHS Scotland Event 2025: HISES Successful Poster Abstract Submission

The 2025 NHS Scotland Event will take place at the Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde in Glasgow on 9^th June 2025. This year’s poster exhibition will feature around 200 projects that are taking place across NHS Scotland and partner organisations to support our key priorities. Almost 300 abstract submissions were received, and we are delighted that our abstract NHS Lothian trial AI Digital back pain clinic to help extend patient choice in UK first, has been selected to be included as part of the year’s Event. The poster will showcase Flok Health’s Digital Back Pain Clinic which has been piloted in NHS Lothian, as part of a collaboration between Flok, NHS Lothian and HISES. Uptake for this pilot was excellent, and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Analysis of the evaluation data is currently underway. The NHS Scotland Event 2025 programme and registration will launch at the end of April 2025.

Sweden-Scotland Healthcare Innovation Exchange

Across 9^th-10^th April 2025, the Chief Scientists Office (CSO) hosted a Scotland Healthcare Innovation Exchange in Edinburgh with Swedish colleagues to 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. The Swedish delegation, representing companies, healthcare innovators, and academia, visited Scotland to explore its dynamic life sciences and healthcare ecosystem. Focus areas included innovation, sustainability, and healthcare solutions. We were delighted to be part of this visit to harness the power of research and innovation to transform healthcare delivery and look forward to future opportunities for a reciprocate visit in the autumn.

Celebrating Student Innovation: Tackling Loneliness through Design

The HISES team were delighted to participate in the final presentations of our collaboration with third-year Product Design students at the Edinburgh College of Art, part of the University of Edinburgh. Throughout a series of workshops, students were challenged to develop solutions aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation—key societal issues that also place growing pressure on NHS services. What stood out was the students’ mindset to look beyond conventional app-based solutions. Instead, many focused on innovative, real-world approaches to fostering human connection and social engagement. Congratulations to everyone involved in this collaboration!

Harnessing technology to help people with dementia remain at home

Heriot-Watt University, the University of Strathclyde and Age Scotland are leading a new network that will focus on how technology can enhance the social, mental, and physical capacities of people living with dementia.  The £2million CONSOLIDATE network is one of four announced by UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the NIHR) in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society. HISES welcomes this opportunity to be a partner in the CONSOLIDATE network as it presents an opportunity to be part of a UK based research collaboration utilising broad stakeholder engagement with service users, academia, industry partners, regulatory bodies, and service providers, to improve future care pathways for older people. An additional area of research that aligns with NHS priorities on sustainability will be the exploration of delivering carbon neutral future models of care that will enable older people to live healthier longer lives, safely in their own home, with early intervention when required.

NIHR i4i Transformative and disruptive innovations to reduce waiting lists and waiting times – April 2025 applications open!

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme invites applications to enhance timely access to care through the development, clinical validation and/or real-world evidence generation of transformative and disruptive technologies. This funding opportunity, therefore, supports the development of innovative health technologies aimed at reducing waiting times and waiting lists for individuals in need of care, in any setting. This is a one-stage, commissioned funding opportunity which is uncapped. The information webinar recording is available on YouTube and can be viewed online here. Application closing date is 1pm on 7^h May 2025.

NIHR i4i THRIVE – April 2025 applications open!

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is accepting applications to their new researcher and clinician-led THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training opportunity. THRIVE aims to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.

THRIVE offers up to £150,000 over 9 months to support the development of the technology and a structured programme of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, peer support and networking.  Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship). This is a one stage application process. Application closing date is 1pm on 16^h May 2025.

NIHR i4i Product Development Awards – April 2025 applications open!

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is inviting outline applications to its Product Development Awards (PDA) funding opportunity. This is a two-stage funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage, you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application. i4i PDA is participating in several funding opportunities with separate applications on the awards management system. Applicants should read each one carefully before applying to the relevant one. Application closing date is 1pm on 28^th May 2025.

BHF Healthcare Innovation Fund – Round 4 applications closing soon!

Round 4 applications are closing soon for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Innovation Fund. 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.
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 supported by a regional innovation board which in Scotland will be one of the three regional Innovation Hubs. Applications close on Monday 28^th April 2025 at midday.

NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan sets out actions to improve aspects of healthcare delivery

The Scottish Government has published the operational improvement plan for NHS Scotland, detailing actions to improve specific aspects of NHS Scotland delivery to build on NHS board planning for 2025-26. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, announced that the plan focuses on four critical areas that the Government is committed to delivering, to help protect the quality and safety of care, supported by the increased investment for health and social care in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget. These critical areas are:

• improving access to treatment
• shifting the balance of care
• improving access to health and social care services through digital and technological innovation
• prevention – ensuring we work with people to prevent illness and more proactively meet their needs

Could robots unlock a new economic boom for Scotland’s public services?

Robotics solutions are already delivering tangible benefits across multiple public sectors. In healthcare, Edinburgh-based Bioliberty’s soft robotic glove is revolutionising stroke rehabilitation with sensors that tailor exercises to individual patients. Scotland possesses world-class innovation assets but faces systemic challenges in connecting promising technologies with both public service deployment and local manufacturing. Our innovation ecosystem still struggles to provide clear pathways from successful pilots to widespread adoption and domestic manufacturing. To break this cycle, we must reimagine public procurement as a strategic economic tool that considers potential for local manufacturing, job creation, and export opportunities alongside immediate service benefits. The key lies in creating stronger connections between public service needs, innovation programmes, and manufacturing capabilities. Bioliberty illustrates this challenge perfectly.

Improving health through innovation: Funding for scientific and technological health projects

More than £6 million will be invested as part of the Accelerated National Innovations Adoption (ANIA) programme to help people with type 2 Diabetes, stroke patients and babies born with a rare genetic condition. A national digital intensive weight management programme will support 3,000 people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. With £4.5 million invested over three years the project is expected to help around 40% to achieve remission from the condition by the end of their first year in the programme. Two additional projects will look at pharmacogenetics – how a person’s genetics affect their response to certain drugs.

CPD course on Management and Adoption of Healthcare Technology

The MDMC is pleased to invite applications to join a 2-day CPD course starting Tuesday 29^th April 2025, delivered jointly with InnoScot Health, British Standards Institute (BSI), Citizen Medtech, and NIHR Devices for Dignity. Developed with support from Tay Health Tech via the UKRI EPSRC Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) Funding. The course is held in a hybrid form (online through Teams, while in-person at Heriot-Watt University). The CPD course provides an overview of medical device regulatory affairs and how their integration fits with the management of healthcare technology and the processes involved in adopting and monitoring medical devices. The course aims to provide SMEs, Healthcare Professionals and Researchers with an understanding of how to liaise with the medical sector such that a higher uptake of innovative medical devices can be achieved within care settings.

Tackling a challenge that needs fresh thinking? Join a CivTech Drop-In Session!

If you work in the public or third sector, explore how CivTech can help you solve challenges through innovation. The next CivTech Drop-In Session will take place on Tuesday, 29th April 2025 from 12pm – 1pm.

Why attend?

• Discover how CivTech connects public sector organisations with tech and innovation
• Find out about match funding opportunities to support your challenge
• Hear real success stories and explore CivTech Round 11

If your organisation is facing a challenge, CivTech provides a fast, collaborative approach to problem-solving, offering a structured process and up to 75% match funding to support solution development. CivTech welcome anyone from the public or third sector to attend this event—whether you’re leading organisational change or simply seeking fresh, creative solutions.

Digital Access Solutions in Primary Care: The Role of Technology Webinar

Digital communication systems sit at the heart of primary care technology. Their aim is to improve the quality of care through enhancing the patient’s experience of services and enable GPs to become more efficient to cope with patient demand. Technologies such as cloud-based telephony, AI tools, and the NHS app all contribute to reducing pressures on GP surgeries and improving communication between primary care professionals and patients.

This webinar taking place 10 – 11am on 29^th April 2025 will delve into the opportunities and challenges of digital technologies, with a particular focus on:

• How we effectively manage capacity and demand
• Where innovative technologies are being used successfully
• Overcoming barriers to adoption, such as digital skills and funding
• Empowering patients and facilitating access to the right care

This event is free to attend for those working in the public and third sectors.

InnoScot webinar set to spotlight key developments in drive for improved innovation in neonatal care

A free to join webinar run by InnoScot Health later this month will highlight innovations which are providing important enhancements in the care of newborns. The educational session on 30^th April 2025 is entitled ‘Aiming for better lifelong outcomes from birth through enhanced innovation’ and will encourage NHS forward-thinkers to think both progressively and inclusively. The ‘lunch and learn’ webinar from 12.00-12.45 will be presented by Regulatory Project Manager Paula Sweeten. She will be joined by guest speaker Neil Patel, Consultant Neonatologist and Clinical Innovation Director at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children who will talk about, and lend his insights, on how equitable innovation can help to provide the best possible care from the first precious moments of life.

FUTURESCOT Transforming Public Services 2025

The Transforming Public Services Scotland Conference is taking place on 8^th May 2025 at Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The Scottish public sector is embracing AI, cloud technologies, and data-driven transformation like never before. At this one-day event, you’ll:

• Gain insight into Scotland’s national AI strategy and digital innovation priorities
• Hear from leaders delivering real-world transformation across government, health & social care, and local services
• Learn from case studies on cloud modernisation, automation, and data maturity
• Network with peers, policy makers, and tech leaders across sectors

This national event brings together digital transformation leaders from across Scotland’s public sector to explore the opportunities and challenges of cloud, data, and AI in delivering better, fairer, and more efficient public services.

DataFest 2025

Hosted by The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, DataFest is Scotland’s leading data & AI conference, where experts gather to discuss and shape the future of data & AI. The last few years have seen an unprecedented shift in the way AI technologies are viewed and used. AI has been thrown into the limelight and is permeating throughout industries from law to construction and everything in between. At DataFest 2025 there will be help for you to navigate through the world of data & AI with expert guides as we seek to understand how we can leverage these technologies for maximum impact. DataFest 2025 will take place across 12^th – 13^th May 2025 at Edinburgh’s beautiful Assembly Rooms.

EIE25: Scotland's Tech Investor Showcase

Hosted by the University of Edinburgh, EIE25 presents the leading spinouts, startups, and scaleups from Scotland’s top universities, all focused on tackling global challenges.

Co-hosted with the Tech Tour Growth Deeptech event, EIE25 provides a premier networking platform for global investors to explore impactful opportunities and engage with Scotland’s vibrant innovation ecosystem. EIE25 Showcase Day will be hosted at the John McIntyre Conference Centre on 15^th May 2025. This year’s event will showcase new fields of emerging tech born from Scotland’s world class universities and academics, whilst highlighting the startups and scaleups at the cutting edge of tech in Scotland.

MDMC Annual 4th Conference 2025

Join the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre’s (MDMC) Annual Conference on 28^th May 2025. This exclusive event brings together top professionals from the industry, NHS, and academia to discuss the groundbreaking services shaping the life sciences and healthcare sectors. Gain valuable insights into NHS and Scottish government initiatives, explore the innovative offerings at MDMC, and stay up to date with the latest advancements from leading industry experts. Whether you’re looking for the latest MedTech developments or strategies to grow your business, this is an unmissable opportunity to connect with professionals, companies, and stakeholders in Scotland’s dynamic life sciences and healthcare community.

Attendees will also have the chance to take part in lab tours, showcasing state-of-the-art equipment in large analytical facilities and cutting-edge research laboratories at MDMC.

Public Sector Digital Transformation 2025

Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Digital Transformation event will return to Edinburgh on 12^th June 2025, to delve into Scotland’s strategic direction of travel and how the digital landscape has evolved in recent years. Join us for a day packed with networking, interactive panel discussions and masterclasses and learn about:

• The future of Scotland’s public services
• Modernising IT to enhance the citizen experience
• Real-life examples of public sector digital transformation
• The importance of AI, regulation, and transparency

Event announcement: AI & Cloud Innovation Summit 2025

Holyrood Connect’s revamped AI & Cloud Innovation Summit is back! Join us on 11^th September 2025 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh to explore the future of digital public services in Scotland. As AI reshapes the way government operates and cloud technologies drive efficiency and security, this summit will bring together experts, policymakers, and public sector technology professionals to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and strategies for harnessing AI and cloud technology. This event is designed for public sector professionals involved in technology, digital transformation, IT infrastructure, data management, and AI implementation.

HDR UK Conference 2025 – Registration now open!

Delegate registration is now open for the HDR UK Conference 2025 – the UK’s No.1 conference on health data science! Details of the keynote speakers, abstract submission and registration can be found on the website. The 2-day hybrid conference will take place across 15^th and 16^th October 2025 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Exhibition Way, Glasgow. The event will celebrate progress and bring people together to accelerate the trustworthy use of health data for public benefit. This is an event dedicated to celebrating how health data science can improve people’s lives. With leading exhibitors and a variety of networking events, this is an event to add to your calendar!

HISES LinkedIn

HISES are on LinkedIn! Keep up to date with the latest news from the South East Innovation Hub and wider Innovation ecosystem in Scotland via our new LinkedIn page.