Upcoming Innovation Events
We work to maximise opportunities for companies to interact with researchers and health and care professionals – a conversation can often spark new innovative ideas.
Keep up to date and find out more about the latest innovation events from across Scotland.
Introduction to Horizon Europe 2026
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 25th February 2026, 10:00 – 11:00
📍Location: Online
Event Info:
Horizon Europe is the world’s largest Research and Innovation funding programme, providing over €95.5Bn between 2021 and 2027. In addition to providing access to significant amounts of funding, Horizon Europe provides participating organisations substantial benefits including opportunities to:
- Collaborate with the best of the best from across Europe, and beyond
- Share risks & costs to achieve the otherwise unachievable
- Contribute to solving significant global challenges
- Access to cutting-edge international expertise, talent and facilities
- Increase global competitiveness, create new international supply-chain positions and open new foreign markets
This one-hour webinar on Wednesday, 25th February is purposefully designed to help those with no or low recent knowledge about Horizon Europe gain an understanding of the opportunities it offers, and the basics about how to explore these opportunities further for yourself.
Delivered by Perry Guess, Innovate UK, the UK Horizon Europe Cross-Cutting National Contact Point, it will provide attendees with an overview of:
- The structure of Horizon Europe
- The types of funding mechanisms
- Finding funding calls
- Understanding Work Programmes
- Finding partners
- The support available
Horizon Europe Health 2026/27 – Introduction and Overview Session
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 25th February 2026, 10:00 – 11:00
📍Location: Online
Event Info:
The European Commission has recently published the 2026-2027 Work Programmes with €14 billion of research and innovation funding opportunities.
The UK is a Horizon Europe Associated Country, so UK organisations can participate as beneficiaries and as coordinators – although occasional restrictions may apply to a particular calls/call topics.
The webinar on Wednesday, 25th February will give a brief introduction to Horizon Europe. It will then cover the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding opportunities related to Health, including from the Health Work Programme, Cancer Mission, and Health Partnerships. It will also cover funding opportunities under the Horizon Europe Health partnerships and will explain how each partnership has specific eligibility conditions.
Register here
Techscaler Health & Medtech Innovation Summit
📅 Date and Time: Tuesday, 24th February 2026, 12:00 – 16:00
📍Location: Edinburgh Futures Institute
Event Info:
Join Scotland’s health & medtech community to connect, share ideas, and explore opportunities with founders, investors, and partners.
On Tuesday, 24th February, Techscaler Health & Medtech Innovation Summit will bring together Scotland’s thriving health and medtech startup ecosystem for an event designed to connect, inspire, and showcase innovation in the industry. With a focus on founder-led insights and sector-specific challenges, the summit offers a unique platform to spotlight Scottish startups, share knowledge, and foster meaningful collaborations across the ecosystem.
Register here
Patient and Public Involvement Event 2026
📅 Date and Time: Tuesday, 3rd March 2026, 10:00 – 16:00
📍Location: Stirling Court Hotel, FK9 4LA
Event Info:
Returning for a third year, the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Event, hosted by NHS Research Scotland, will take place on Tuesday, 3rd March at Stirling Court Hotel.
PPI Partners, Professionals, Researchers, including Early Career Researchers, and Policymakers working in, and with an interest in, developing their PPI practice and activities are encouraged to attend.
Following a successful event in 2024 and 2025, NHS Research Scotland are delighted to bring the community together in a larger venue, with an expanded programme providing improved interactivity, increased networking opportunities and a greater showcase of PPI projects across Scotland.
A diverse range of topics will be explored with five interactive workshops including:
- Stepping forward together: Overcoming barriers in Public Involvement
- Real-world dilemmas in Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement: pragmatic observations from working with under-served groups
- Building inclusive knowledge spaces, one LEGO® brick at a time: Involving underrepresented communities in data research
- Patient and public involvement in evidence syntheses (systematic reviews)
- Trauma-Informed Practices for Ethical Patient and Public Involvement Research.
Webinar - AI in UK Hospital Medicine: From Innovation to Implementation
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 11th March 2026, 11:00 – 12:00
📍Location: Online
Event Info:
AI has the potential to significantly enhance patient care within the UK’s increasingly pressured hospital system, but turning promising research into safe, effective clinical tools remains complex. As AI use grows, healthcare professionals need a clear understanding of how these technologies move from innovation to real-world implementation.
For this webinar, held on Wednesday, 11th March, we’ll be joined by Dr Dervla Carroll from the Digital Health Validation Lab to explore key insights from her recent publication and provide a structured overview of the AI adoption pathway in UK hospital medicine. The session will highlight the practical challenges and opportunities at each stage, including:
- Using healthcare data to train and validate AI algorithms
- Generating robust evidence of clinical performance and patient safety
- Navigating regulatory requirements for access to the UK market
- Selecting appropriate AI tools through local procurement processes
- Integrating AI into everyday clinical workflows
- Monitoring AI systems over time to ensure ongoing safety and effectiveness
This webinar is designed for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals seeking a clear, practical understanding of how AI can be responsibly implemented in hospital settings. A Microsoft Teams link to join the webinar will be provided following registration.
Register here
Scotland's Cluster Showcase Event
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 11th March 2026, 09:00 – 17:00
📍Location: Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow
Event Info:
Scotland’s Cluster Showcase Event on Wednesday, 11th March will bring together businesses and stakeholders from across the country’s innovation landscape to highlight the growth, economic potential and real‑world benefits of cluster development in Scotland. The event will showcase how industry‑led clusters, supported by the Scottish Government, academia and enterprise agencies, are accelerating innovation, strengthening collaboration and opening new opportunities across priority sectors including FinTech, Life Sciences, Critical Technologies, Space, Robotics, Built Environment, Artificial Intelligence and Clean Energy.
With Scotland’s cluster ecosystem expanding through strategic investment, innovation and exciting collaborations, this event offers organisations a unique opportunity to learn how clusters can enable businesses to innovate faster, access new markets and build competitive advantage.
Register here
Health & Social Care Transformation 2026
📅 Date and Time: Thursday, 12th March 2026, 08:15 – 16:30
📍Location: University of Strathclyde, Technology & Innovation Centre, Glasgow
Event Info:
Registration is now open for the Transforming Health & Social Care Scotland 2026 Conference, taking place on Thursday, 12th March at the University of Strathclyde Technology & Innovation Centre, Glasgow.
Scotland’s health and social care system is entering one of its most significant periods of change in a generation. With MyCare.scot set to begin its first live deployment at the end of 2025, the focus now turns to how services, pathways, and data will evolve to meet the expectations of a modern, digitally enabled NHS.
On 12th March, the Transforming Health & Social Care Scotland 2026 Conference will bring together national leaders, clinical innovators, and international experts to explore what this next chapter looks like in practice — from AI-enabled decision-making and integrated digital pathways to workforce readiness and system-wide redesign.
This year’s agenda will examine:
- The phased rollout of the Digital Front Door and what it means for citizens and clinicians
- How policy is shifting from strategy to delivery across health and social care
- The rise of AI, predictive analytics and data-driven planning
- New approaches to telehealth, virtual care and integrated pathways
- The culture, leadership and skills needed to embed digital change
Connecting for Impact: Community-Driven Digital Solutions for People at Risk of Drug Harm
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 18th March 2026, 10:00 – 15:00
📍Location: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Roseburn St, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ, UK
Event Info:
This DLS conference on Wednesday, 18th March will focus on the latest placed-based system-change phase of the Digital Lifelines programme. Looking at how cross-sector collaboration, person-led co-design and digital services are being harnessed to reduce drug harm and improve access to support.
The event will explore how DLS is facilitating Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to embed a sustainable, digitally enabled system tailored to people with multiple and complex challenges requiring multi-agency support. Throughout the event attendees will be able to identify how digital services and digital inclusion can drive the change and improvements outlined in what will be the newly published Drugs and Alcohol Strategy for Scotland.
The afternoon session of the event will be opened by the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol, Ms Maree Todd.
Register here
Connecting for Impact: Community-Driven Digital Solutions for People at Risk of Drug Harm
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 18th March 2026, 09:00 – 15:30
📍Location: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Roseburn St, Edinburgh EH12 5PJ, UK
Event Info:
This DLS conference on Wednesday, 18th March will focus on the latest placed-based system-change phase of the Digital Lifelines programme. Looking at how cross-sector collaboration, person-led co-design and digital services are being harnessed to reduce drug harm and improve access to support.
The event will explore how DLS is facilitating Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to embed a sustainable, digitally enabled system tailored to people with multiple and complex challenges requiring multi-agency support. Throughout the event attendees will be able to identify how digital services and digital inclusion can drive the change and improvements outlined in what will be the newly published Drugs and Alcohol Strategy for Scotland.
The afternoon session of the event will be opened by the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol, Ms Maree Todd.
Register here
The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards
📅 Date and Time: Thursday, 19th March 2026
📍Location: Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling
Event Info:
The finalists of Scotland’s flagship awards celebrating collaboration between business, academia, the public sector and the third sector have been selected by an independent panel of expert judges.
Now in its 11th year, the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards, organised by Interface, shine a spotlight on innovative partnerships between business, the third sector, the public sector and academia.
The awards recognise and reward exceptional collaborations that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits for Scotland.
Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, said: “What stood out this year was the strength of collaboration across sectors. We’re seeing businesses, public bodies and third sector organisations working with colleges, research institutions and universities in ways that are delivering real impact for Scotland, from tackling net zero challenges to improving health and well-being. That’s exactly what these awards are here to recognise.”
The awards ceremony will take place at the Macrobert Arts Centre, University of Stirling, on 19th March.
Public Sector Data & AI Summit 2026
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 18th March 2026, 10:00 – 16:15
📍Location: Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh
Event Info:
On Wednesday, 18th March, Holyrood’s Public Sector Data & AI Summit 2026 will once again provide a vital platform for shared learning, cross-sector collaboration, and fresh thinking. As Scotland prepares for the next parliamentary election, the strategic use of data and ethical application of AI will play an important role in shaping the policy agendas and delivering better services for communities.
This event will focus on how Scotland’s public sector can advance its use of data and AI – responsibly, innovatively, and in ways that build trust and deliver tangible benefits to citizens. Join us for a day of high-impact keynotes, hands-on case studies, and strategic insights designed to support everyone – from data analysts to chief data officers – as they navigate the complex data challenges and opportunities ahead.
Register here
MDMC Conference 2026
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 27th May 2026, 09:00 – 16:00
📍Location: James Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt University
Event Info:
Medical Device Manufacturing Centre is excited to announce the 5th Annual MDMC Conference will be taking place on Wednesday, 27th May 2026 at the James Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt University.
Their award-winning collaboration between Heriot-Watt University, The University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Dundee and Robert Gordon University, all supported by Scottish Enterprise, brings the best of the sector together.
They’re bringing the NHS, Industry, and Academia together at Heriot-Watt University for a day of serious MedTech innovation and chat.
Why you should be there:
- Network: Connect with leaders from academics, NHS and industry.
- Innovate: Discover the latest in medical device manufacturing.
- Showcase: Dive into poster sessions featuring cutting-edge research.
DataFest 2026
📅 Date and Time: Wednesday, 27th May 2026 & Thursday 28th May 2026
📍Location: Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
Event Info:
DataFest 2026 returns on 27th–28th May at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. Tickets go on sale in October — join The Data Lab Community for exclusive early-bird access and be among the first to secure your spot at Scotland’s leading data and AI event.
Register here
DigitalScotland 2026
📅 Date and Time: Tuesday, 24th November 2026
📍Location: Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Event Info:
Digital Scotland is the annual summit for technology and policy leaders engaged in building Scotland’s future public services. In 2025 we showcased the new national Digital Strategy, designed and led by Scottish Government and the local government umbrella organisation, COSLA.
Keynote Speakers for 2025:
- Ivan Mckee, Minister for Public Finance, Scottish Government
- Joe Griffin, Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government
- Geoff Huggins, Digital Director, Scottish Government
- Ann-Marie Gallacher, Chief Information Officer, NHS
We take a deep dive on the constantly-evolving story of AI, and its implications for public services, with emerging use cases and inspiring examples of how that technology – and others – are reshaping the citizen experience. Featuring over 70 speakers, 100 exhibitors and 1,200 delegates, the conference is the biggest forum for public sector technology leaders, with case studies from across the UK, as well as partner nations, including Denmark, Estonia and Finland.
The conference tapped into the public tech zeitgeist – covering the latest from the global GovTech movement, digital ID, cloud services, payments, AI, IoT and Cybersecurity.
Digital Scotland is the meeting place where government ministers interact with technology upstarts and disruptors engaged and motivated by the goal of creating world-class digital experiences for citizens of the future. Be part of the conversation.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the strategic direction for government digital policy and programmes with a new national Digital Strategy.
- Hear how GovTech leaders from across the UK and Europe are pursuing technology-led transformation of government services.
- Experience best-in-class technology projects from an array of public services, from healthcare to social services, local government, environment and justice.
- Learn playbook approaches to tech implementation from experienced public-sector technology leaders.
- Attend industry masterclasses spanning user-centred design, data, AI, cloud, cybersecurity and IoT