February 2025 Newsletter

STV Broadcast Lothian AI Physio Clinic Pilot

HISES are delighted that our current AI-powered physiotherapy clinic pilot within NHS Lothian recently featured on STV News, showcasing the great work being done in the region.

NHS Lothian in Scotland is the first NHS organisation in the UK to make the new AI clinic, called Flok Health, available to patients across a range of community healthcare settings. The new service has been deployed as a collaboration between NHS Lothian, Flok Health, and the Health Innovation South East Scotland (HISES) Hub, funded through the Chief Scientists Office (CSO). The NHS Lothian pilot means anyone registered with one of the 116 GP practices within NHS Lothian can now self-refer directly to Flok’s digital MSK clinic via existing self-referral portals or can be referred by participating GP practices.

From Air to Care: Project CAELUS Showcase Event

Aviation and healthcare innovators gathered last week at Glasgow Science Centre to witness the next chapter in medical logistics. Around 70 delegates from across the country attended the AGS-led Project CAELUS Showcase, where key findings and innovations from the trailblazing initiative were unveiled. The 16-member consortium has been working to revolutionise healthcare logistics by developing Scotland’s first national medical drone network. The event, attended by industry leaders, also featured key addresses from UK Aviation Minister Mike Kane and Scottish Business and Innovation Minister Richard Lochhead, underscoring the project’s national significance. From pioneering drone technology to shaping the future of healthcare logistics, this event was a testament to what’s possible when collaboration meets innovation.  We’re excited to share a video highlight capturing the energy and innovation of the day.

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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.

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NHS Scotland Event 2025 – Call for Posters Now Open!

This year’s NHS Scotland Event will take place on 9th June at the Technology & Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. 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. Submissions are welcome from NHS Scotland employees, voluntary and partner organisations, and other public or private sector organisations on any aspect of work they are undertaking in, with or on behalf of NHS Scotland.

Poster Authors download and complete poster abstract form and once completed submit to Poster Co-ordinator/Employer Governance for comment by 25th February 2025 with closing date for submitting poster abstract submissions is 18th March 2025.

Scottish Government’s ‘Techscaler’ programme helps start-ups raise £66 million

Tech startups on a Scottish government business startup scheme have raised £66 million in public and private investment over the course of the last year, according to new figures.

The number of companies enrolled on the flagship Techscaler programme – run by the tech ecosystem builder CodeBase – have also nearly doubled in the last 12 months, according to the scheme’s annual report released last week. The capital investment comes from both private and public sources and is supporting businesses in sectors such as medical technology, artificial intelligence, and space.

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 15th 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.

Scottish Enterprise High-Growth Spinout Programme

The High-Growth Spinout Programme is run by Scottish Enterprise and provides funding to support the commercialisation of advanced technologies developed at Scotland’s universities, research institutes and NHS boards. The objective is to create new high-growth companies with the potential to generate significant economic impact in Scotland. The purpose of the funding is to address gaps in the business plan for the prospective technology. The grant can support up to 100% of the direct costs of a project, up to a maximum of £75,000. This call is open to all universities, research institutes and NHS boards in areas of Scotland served by Scottish Enterprise.

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 29th 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.

UK Research and Innovation Pre-announcement: Proof of Concept Funding

Apply for proof-of-concept funding to support the commercialisation of research to enable spinouts or social ventures, licencing, or other commercialisation pathways. The programme will not support discovery-driven research. You must be based at a UK research organisation.

The full economic cost (FEC) can be up to £250,000 for 12 months duration with a minimum of £100,000 for 6 months. UKRI will fund 80% FEC. The intention to submit is a mandatory step and the deadline is 3rd March 2025 at 4pm. This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The full funding opportunity will open on 12th March 2025.

NIHR i4i Connect 9 Launch

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme is a translational research funding scheme aimed at supporting SMEs to de-risk early-to-late-stage medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and high-impact patient-focused digital health technologies for ultimate use in the NHS or social care settings. The NIHR i4i Programme will launch the 9th round of its Connect awards on 18th February 2025. Offering up to £150,000 per project over a 6–12-month period, its primary aim is to help SMEs get to a point where they can apply for further funding or to support projects at any stage of the translational research and development pathway to further de-risk them for follow-on investment.

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 12th – 13th May 2025 at Edinburgh’s beautiful Assembly Rooms.

The EU AI Act Unpacked: What It Means for Digital Health and Innovation

AI is transforming healthcare—but with the EU AI Act, the rules of the game are changing and the objective to create excellence through trustworthy AI in Europe is coming into sharp focus. Will your AI-powered solutions be adopted at scale and thrive or hit regulatory roadblocks? Join a webinar on 25th February 2025, hosted by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, to break down what this landmark legislation really means for the healthcare sector, from compliance hurdles to opportunities to upskill the healthcare workforce and educate patients. Get expert insights and the strategies you need to stay ahead. Whether you’re developing AI solutions or navigating policy, this is your roadmap to the future of AI in healthcare!

Digital Health & Care Awards 2025 Shortlist Announced

Head over to the Holyrood Events website to find out who has been shortlisted for the Digital Health & Care Awards 2025. The awards will take place on the evening of 18th February 2025 at The Caledonian in Edinburgh. There’s still time to book your place at the awards ceremony and celebrate the exceptional achievements and innovation of individuals and teams across the public sector, who are driving better health and care outcomes every day.

Holyrood Digital Health and Care Scotland Conference 2025

Holyrood’s flagship Digital Health and Care Conference returns to Dynamic Earth on 18th and 19th February 2025. Bringing together representatives from across the public and third sectors with those working in industry, Holyrood’s annual Digital Health and Care conference will consider the latest policy developments and technological advancements. Through a range of panel sessions, masterclasses and keynote addresses, delegates will have the opportunity to engage in discussions around remote monitoring, e-prescribing, AI and cyber security. It provides a platform to collaborate and share learnings as we look to drive innovation and speed up implementation of technology within the health and social care space

Health & Care Transformation 2025

FutureScot Health & Care Transformation 2025 will take place on 11th March 2024 at the University of Strathclyde, Technology of Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

Featuring domestic and international expertise, the event will showcase the transformative impact of digital technology and data across Scotland’s NHS and social care sector, bringing together tech and policy leaders with industry and academia in a ‘triple helix’ effect – unlocking the innovation and collaboration required to bring AI, machine learning, telehealth, and integrated care systems increasingly to Scotland’s healthcare frontline

Public Sector Digital Transformation 2025

Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Digital Transformation event will return to Edinburgh on 12th 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

Public Sector Data Summit 2025

Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Data Summit is returning to Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh for another year! Join us on 13th March 2025 to hear about the latest developments in data and AI and learn how to maximise their potential. Through a variety of session formats, including keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions and masterclasses, you will hear valuable insights on making the most of your data, how to store it securely, and how to address concerns around AI and ethics.

Save the Date – HDR UK Conference 2025

Save the date for HDR UK Conference 2025 – the UK’s No.1 conference on health data science! Next year’s hybrid conference will take place across 15th and 16th October 2025 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Exhibition Way, Glasgow.

The conference will feature world-class keynote speakers and opportunities to share your science through submitted talks and posters. With leading exhibitors and a variety of networking events, this is an event to add to your calendar now. We expect to open registration in February 2025 with full details of tickets and prices. You can download the ‘Save the Date’ calendar hold and find out more here.